Debbie Halvorson, Democrat (IL-11)

Debbie Halvorson is one of the most senior and successful elected officials in Illinois. The first woman to serve as Majority Leader of the State Senate, Halvorson is known in the state as an elected official who gets results.

Debbie is a lifelong resident of the 11th congressional district. She grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago and currently lives in the village of Crete in eastern Will County. Her experience includes 14 years as a small businesswoman and three years as the Crete Township Clerk. She is also a teacher— lecturing at her alma mater, Governor’s State University. Debbie and her husband Jim have four children and four grandchildren. She holds degrees from Governor’s State University, Robert Morris College and Prairie State College. She attended the Darden School for Emerging Political Leaders at the University of Virginia and completed the Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard University. Currently, Rep. Halvorson serves on the House Agriculture, Small Business and Veterans’ Affairs Committees.

Halvorson believes that strong U.S. leadership is necessary to bring about an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict “so that other nations see us both as a leader and a partner,” and has been dismayed by past saber rattling on Iran, favoring a renewed attempt at tough diplomatic engagement with Iran. She was a signatory of the Cohen-Boustany-Carnahan letter to President Obama in support of his Middle East peace policies. She also opposes increased sanctions against Iran until all diplomatic efforts are exhausted.

We are pleased to re-endorse Rep. Halvorson for 2010.