28 Facts About Kwame Raoul

Kwame Raoul is an American lawyer and politician who has been the 42nd Attorney General of Illinois since 2019.

Kwame Raoul served as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Vice Chair of the Senate Criminal Law Committee, and as a member of the Executive, Gaming, Insurance and Public Health Committees.

Kwame Raoul was born in Chicago to Haitian immigrant parents Dr Janin and Marie Therese Kwame Raoul.

Kwame Raoul unsuccessfully challenged incumbent 4th ward Chicago alderman Toni Preckwinkle in both the 1995 and 1999 aldermanic elections.

Kwame Raoul was appointed on November 6,2004 to fill the state Senate vacancy caused by the resignation of his predecessor, Barack Obama, who had just been elected to the United States Senate.

Kwame Raoul's work led to the passage of laws expanding access to early voting in Illinois, and the state's Low Income Energy Assistance Program and a crack down on the Pay Day loan industry.

Kwame Raoul has sponsored a bill that would require grants distributed by Illinois State Board of Education to early childhood education and preschool programs to be used to improve and expand the quality of services.

Kwame Raoul has backed legislation aimed at easing the reintegration of ex-offenders into the community.

Kwame Raoul's legislation allows good conduct credit to be awarded to inmates who earn their high school diplomas or GEDs, as well as inmates who participate in substance abuse programs.

Kwame Raoul has championed legislation on criminal justice reform including the recent historic legislation that abolishes the death penalty and legislation creating the Torture Inquiry Commission.

Kwame Raoul championed legislation aimed at breaking the code of silence by deterring intimidation of those who cooperate with law enforcement officers.

Kwame Raoul has supported efforts to create and retain jobs in the State of Illinois including convention center reforms and a multibillion dollars capital bill.

Kwame Raoul has been the chief sponsor of legislation to extend the Economic Development for a Growing Economy tax credit to companies in order to retain and create jobs in our state.

Kwame Raoul recently championed the effort to pass comprehensive workers compensation reform that will save Illinois employers in excess of half a billion dollars.

Kwame Raoul has fought hard for pension ethics reform and has led efforts to expand opportunities for minority and women-owned financial service firms and ridding the State's pension systems of corruption.

Kwame Raoul introduced legislation that created the Illinois Voting Rights Act to protect racial and language minorities in the legislative redistricting process.

Kwame Raoul was among the candidates Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich considered to fill Obama's Senate seat upon Obama's victory in the 2008 presidential election.

Kwame Raoul was succeeded in the Illinois Senate by activist Robert Peters.

Kwame Raoul is a former Cook County prosecutor and previously worked as senior counsel for the City Colleges of Chicago.

Kwame Raoul has directed volunteer legal clinics in his district.

Kwame Raoul has served on the board of directors of the Cook County Bar Association and the North Central Province of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

Kwame Raoul has coached Hyde Park Biddy Basketball and has been an AYSO soccer volunteer.

In September 2017, Kwame Raoul launched his campaign for Attorney General of Illinois; originally he was expected to run for Mayor of Chicago in 2019 but declined.

Kwame Raoul believes that abortion should be safe, legal, and accessible.

Kwame Raoul supports increasing gun restrictions and reforming the criminal justice system.

Kwame Raoul won re-election to a second term and ran in the Democratic primary unopposed.

Kwame Raoul is a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and a member of the Chicago Chapter of 100 Black Men.

On June 16,2020, Kwame Raoul's office announced that he tested positive for COVID-19.