# Kelly M. Burke

Kelly M. Burke is a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 36th District since January 2011. The 36th District includes all or parts of the Beverly, Mount Greenwood and Auburn-Gresham neighborhoods in the City of Chicago as well as the all or parts of the surrounding suburbs of Oak Lawn, Evergreen Park, Chicago Ridge, Hometown and Palos Hills.
Burke is not seeking reelection to the Illinois House in the 2024 general election.

## Early life and career

Kelly M. Burke has a B.A. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Juris Doctor degree from John Marshall Law School. She was a legislative aide to State Representative Andrew J. McGann while he was in office. She served on the Evergreen Park Public Library Board including a stint as its president. At the time of her election, she was a lawyer for Saint Xavier University.

## Political career
### Illinois House of Representatives

Burke was elected in the 2010 general election to succeed appointee Michael J. Carberry. On January 12, 2023, Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch appointed Burke to serve as an Assistant Majority Leader.
As of July 3, 2022, Representative Burke is a member of the following Illinois House committees:
* Appropriations - Higher Education (HAPI)
* (Chairwoman of) Campaign Finance Subcommittee (SHEE-CFIN)
* (Chairwoman of) Election Administration & Ballot Access Subcommittee (SHEE-ELEC)
* (Chairwoman of) Ethics & Elections Committee (SHEE)
* (Chairwoman of) Government Transparency & Accountability Subcommittee (SHEE-GTAC)
* Health Care Licenses Committee (HHCL)
* (Chairwoman of) Lobbying Subcommittee (SHEE-LOBY)
* Personnel & Pensions Committee (HPPN)
* Redistricting Committee (HRED)

### Mayor of Evergreen Park

In 2021, Burke was overwhelmingly elected Mayor to succeed longtime incumbent James Sexton who had declined to run for a sixth term. In her capacity as mayor, Burke is an appointee to the Cook County Land Bank Authority. She was appointed to a three year term on March 17, 2022.

### Electoral history

Burke was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 2010, and reelected against Republican candidates in 2012 and 2022 and reelected without opposition in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020.
Illinois 36th State House District General Election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Kelly M. Burke | 21,874 | 71.29 |
| | Republican | Bob Shelstrom | 8,799 | 28.68 |
| | Independent | Timothy Haines (write-in) | 8 | .03 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 30,681 | 100.0 |
Illinois 36th State House District General Election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Kelly M. Burke (incumbent) | 29,910 | 67.87 |
| | Republican | Bob Shelstrom | 14,158 | 32.13 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 44,068 | 100.0 |
Illinois 36th State House District General Election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Kelly M. Burke (incumbent) | 25,443 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 25,443 | 100.0 |
Illinois 36th State House District General Election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Kelly M. Burke (incumbent) | 38,047 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 38,047 | 100.0 |
Illinois 36th State House District General Election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Kelly M. Burke (incumbent) | 30,339 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 30,339 | 100.0 |
Illinois 36th State House District General Election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Kelly M. Burke (incumbent) | 39,536 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 38,047 | 100.0 |
Illinois 36th State House District General Election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Kelly Burke (incumbent) | 21,209 | 61.78% |
| | Republican | David Sheppard | 13,122 | 38.22% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | | |