

Robert Peters

Robert Peters
IL-02 Democratic nominee?
Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleState Senator
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
Age41 years old (Apr 26, 1985)
GenderMale
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LocationIllinois
BackgroundPolitician
EducationB.A., Social Sciences, Kansas State University
Notable personal detailsRobert James Peters is a Democratic politician who has served in the Illinois Senate (District 13) since being appointed in January 2019 and subsequently elected to full terms. He previously worked as an organizer and political director with groups including Reclaim Chicago and The People’s Lobby, and also worked with Chicago Votes. In 2025 he filed to run for the U.S. House in Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District (IL-02).
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports progressive economic policies including raising the minimum wage, eliminating the state sales tax on groceries, expanding property tax relief for seniors, and advancing Medicare-for-All and other policies to expand government-provided health coverage and benefits for working families.
Healthcare
Supports Medicare for All and making quality health care a universal guarantee; proposes rolling back attacks on Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act and expanding Medicare’s ability to lower prescription drug prices. Has sponsored and led state legislation to curb predatory insurance practices, expand mental-health coverage, ban harmful short-term plans, and increase transparency and network adequacy in Illinois. These positions indicate support for major public expansions of coverage and stronger government regulation of insurers.
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Immigration & Border
Supports welcoming immigrant communities, condemns militarized immigration raids and federal actions that separate families, and frames Illinois policy as protecting asylum seekers and immigrant rights. Emphasizes humanitarian responses and opposes federal enforcement tactics perceived as cruel or divisive.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports protecting and expanding access to abortion and reproductive health care, opposes the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, and has voted for legislation to safeguard abortion access and related reproductive services in Illinois. States Illinois should remain a welcoming place for people seeking abortion care from hostile states and has called for federal protections for reproductive rights.
Climate & Energy
Supports ambitious clean-energy and environmental-justice policies, including co-sponsorship of the Clean Energy Jobs Act that aims to reduce Illinois’ dependence on fossil fuels to zero by 2050; has promoted offshore wind development and sponsored state bills to deploy non-combustible thermal energy networks to replace fossil-fuel heating. Has been recognized by environmental groups for a pro-environment voting record and advocacy for climate action.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports expanded gun-violence prevention programs, community-based intervention funding, and state-level measures to strengthen firearm-violence prevention; has sponsored legislation to expand the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention and to create licensing and accountability for firearms manufacturers. Emphasizes investing in community services and prevention rather than punitive approaches to reduce gun violence.
News
Robert Peters is in the news as Illinois heads into a crowded 2026 primary season, driven by multiple congressional retirements and a large field of candidates competing for open seats. Coverage has focused on the fast-approaching March 17, 2026 primary, with high turnout expected and voting options including early voting, mail-in ballots, and some same-day registration. Illinois Democrats and Democratic contenders have also been spotlighted for criticizing President Donald Trump’s strikes on Iran and backing efforts to limit military action without congressional approval.
Polls

Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262026
LatestCycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements






