Born Fighting: Robert Peters Beat The Odds. Now He’s Fighting For Us All

Illinois state Senator Robert Peters holds the South Side seat once filled by Barack Obama. Born deaf and with a speech impediment to a mother addicted to drugs, he was raised by adoptive parents and graduated from Kansas State University in 2009. He’s Black, Jewish and if he’s elected to Congress next year will be among the country’s most progressive Members. Endorsed by Bernie, he is also the first candidate backed this year by David Hogg’s Leaders We Deserve, he would represent the solid blue district— Trump drew just 29% in 2020 and 33% last year— that Robin Kelly is leaving to run for the U.S. Senate.

Although he’s passed dozens of bills in the legislature— from raising the minimum wage, expanding workplace protections and investing in affordable housing to ensuring abortion rights were protected after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, he’s probably best known for leading the charge to reform Illinois’ broken bail system in Illinois, putting him squarely in opposition to a Trump pet project.

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