# Robyn Gabel

Robyn Gabel (born February 7, 1953) is the Majority Leader of the Illinois House of Representatives. A Democrat, she has represented the 18th District since April 19, 2010. The district includes the suburbs of Evanston, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Northbrook, Northfield, Winnetka and Glencoe.

## Early life and career

Gabel has a Bachelor of Arts from Beloit College, a Master of Science in Public Health from University of Illinois Chicago's School of Public Health, and a Master of Jurisprudence in Health Law from Loyola University of Chicago. From 1988 to 2010 she was the executive director of the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition. On March 16, 2009, she was appointed to the Commission on the Elimination of Poverty. The Commission was established to address poverty in Illinois consistent with international human rights standards.

## Illinois House of Representatives

Gabel was appointed to the Illinois House of Representatives in April 2010 after Representative Julie Hamos was made Director of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and she won election to the seat that fall, and reelection every two years. In 2018, Gov. J. B. Pritzker appointed Gabel to Powering Illinois’ Future transition committee, which is responsible for infrastructure and clean energy policies.
As of July 3, 2022, Representative Gabel is a member of the following Illinois House committees:
* Appropriations - Human Services Committee (HAPH)
* Energy & Environment Committee (HENG)
* Financial Impact Subcommittee (HMAC-IMPA)
* Human Services Committee (HHSV)
* Insurance Committee (HINS)
* (Chairwoman of) Medicaid Subcommittee (HHSV-MEDI)
* Museums, Arts, & Cultural Enhancements Committee (HMAC)
* State Government Administration Committee (HSGA)
* (Chairwoman of) Wages & Rates Subcommittee (HAPH-WAGE)
On January 13, 2023, House Speaker Chris Welch named Gable the House Majority Leader. She succeeds Greg Harris in the position.

## Electoral history

Illinois 18th Representative District Democratic Primary, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Robyn Gabel | 4,488 | 27.74 |
| | Democratic | Patrick Keenan-Devlin | 4,104 | 25.36 |
| | Democratic | Eamon Kelly | 3,958 | 24.46 |
| | Democratic | Jeffrey Paul Smith | 1,923 | 11.89 |
| | Democratic | Edmund B. Moran, Jr. | 1,707 | 10.55 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 16,180 | 100.0 |
Illinois 18th Representative District General Election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Robyn Gabel (incumbent) | 28,154 | 99.60 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 114 | 0.40 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 28,268 | 100.0 |
Illinois 18th Representative District General Election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Robyn Gabel (incumbent) | 32,545 | 62.78 | −36.82% |
| | Republican | Eric Joseph Lieberman | 19,292 | 37.22 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 51,837 | 100.0 |
Illinois 18th Representative District General Election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Robyn Gabel (incumbent) | 28,256 | 100.0 | +37.22% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 28,256 | 100.0 |
Illinois 18th Representative District General Election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Robyn Gabel (incumbent) | 36,794 | 64.13 | −35.87% |
| | Republican | Jessica Tucker | 20,580 | 35.87 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 57,374 | 100.0 |
Illinois 18th Representative District General Election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Robyn Gabel (incumbent) | 37,966 | 72.09 | +7.96% |
| | Republican | Julie Cho | 14,697 | 27.91 | −7.96% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 52,663 | 100.0 |
Illinois 18th Representative District General Election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Robyn Gabel (incumbent) | 43,607 | 72.31 | +0.22% |
| | Independent | Sean Matlis | 16,699 | 27.69 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 60,306 | 100.0 |
Illinois 18th Representative District General Election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Robyn Gabel (incumbent) | 32,808 | 81.31 | +9.00% |
| | Republican | Charles Hutchinson | 7542 | 18.69 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 40,350 | 100.0 |