Statewide Constitutional and Regional Officials

https://crokeforillinois.com/

Why are you a Democrat?

I am a Democrat because I believe the government should be a force for improving people’s lives, expanding opportunity, and protecting the dignity of every person. I believe in policies that lift up working families, ensure every community has the resources it needs to thrive, protect reproductive freedom, support labor, and build an economy that works for everyone. I have also dedicated much of my career to helping elect leaders who share these values. I worked on Hilary Clinton’s 2016 campaign and I served as JB Pritzker’s Director of Women’s Outreach during his first campaign for governor, working to bring women across Illinois into the political process and ensure their voices shaped the future of our state. Those experiences reinforced my belief that when Democrats organize, elevate diverse perspectives, and fight for working families, real progress follows. Most importantly, these values matter to me because of my three young children. I want them to grow up in a state where fairness, opportunity, and compassion guide our choices. These are the principles I will continue to carry with me throughout the rest of my career and hopefully as your next Comptroller.

Accomplishments

After serving as Governor Pritzker’s Women’s Outreach Director during the 2018 campaign, I helped lead efforts on his transition team to rebuild Illinois and end the Rauner administration’s strongly anti-union agenda. As Deputy Chief of Staff at the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, I oversaw efforts to modernize and strengthen major statewide initiatives in economic development, infrastructure investment, grantmaking, and workforce development. This work was critical to getting Illinois back on track and reestablishing our priorities, including supporting and strengthening the labor movement. 

As a member of the House Dobbs Working Group, formed after Roe was overturned, I have worked to advance strong protections for women’s health in Illinois, voting for and strongly supporting House Bill 1464 to shield Illinois providers from other states’ punitive abortion laws and House Resolution 94 to secure full funding for Planned Parenthood. I also led the passage of landmark legislation, HB 3709, which expands access to infertility insurance coverage by broadening the definition of infertility beyond heterosexual couples and ensuring coverage parity, strengthening reproductive healthcare access for thousands of Illinoisans.

As Chief Co-Sponsor of HB562, I led efforts to expand background checks on all gun sales in Illinois and modernize the FOID/CCL system. This legislation also secured funding for mental health programs in communities most affected by gun violence. Throughout my legislative career, I have consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to keeping our communities safe and prioritizing public safety.

Priorities When Elected

I will modernize outdated financial systems to increase transparency in state spending from appropriation to payment, while simplifying processes for small vendors, nonprofits, and municipalities through dedicated technical assistance and proactive compliance guidance.

I will reform the Vendor Payment Program (VPP) so financial firms make blind, state-backed investments rather than selecting vendors, increasing access for small and medium-sized businesses and improving cash-flow stability during constrained revenue periods. 

I will prioritize payments to social service agencies and small and medium sized non-profits who play a critical role in our communities with minimal resources.

Margaret Deserves Your Vote Because…

As a legislator, I have built a proven track record of fighting for responsible budgets that protect critical services for Illinois families while keeping our state on a stable fiscal path so we can continue investing in our communities for years to come. I have brought together diverse coalitions of stakeholders, advocates, and legislators to pass meaningful, people-focused legislation, from expanding IVF insurance coverage to advancing tax credits that drive economic development and support well-paying union jobs across Illinois. As Chair of the House Financial Institutions Committee, I have become the state’s leading voice on depositories, payment processing, and financial technology, experience that uniquely positions me to modernize the Office of the Comptroller for the future. My time as Deputy Chief of Staff at the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity taught me what it takes to run one of Illinois’ largest agencies and oversee the billions of dollars that move through it. I saw firsthand how efficiency, transparency, and collaboration can deliver real results for working families. Above all, I am running because I am a mom of three young children, and I want to build a state that gives every child the stability, opportunity, and future they deserve. I am committed to doing the hard, detail-oriented work that keeps Illinois strong not just for today but for the next generation. I hope voters see in me someone guided by both experience and purpose, and someone who will bring integrity, competence, and heart to the Comptroller’s office.

I am a Democrat because I believe that our community, state and country’s success is tied not to how we individually do, but rather how we support and help lift each other up to achieve success. I believe it is a fundamental responsibility of units of government to help those it governs.

Accomplishments

• Public School Teacher of 29 years

• Multiple leadership roles in unions, including serving on both the National Education Association and Illinois National Education Board of Directors for 6 years and being the co-president of my local 

• Coordinating multiple community events and meetings as a member of the Indivisible Naperville Leadership Team

Priorities When Elected

• Return the Regional Superintendent’s office to a welcoming space for educators, administrators, support staff, parents, and community members to access services, share feedback, and find solutions together. 

• Support all our DuPage schools through the current climate of uncertainty due to federal policy changes - assist our county districts to recruit and retain staff 

Rebecca Deserves Your Vote Because…

I live by my belief that public education is the way that we ensure success for our communities now and in the future and that it takes everyone in the community to realize that success.  My passion for public education and the success of all of our students is something that is foremost in all aspects of my work and life.