Lakesia Collins


Lakesia Collins is an American union organizer and politician who is the Democratic nominee for the 9th district in Illinois' House of Representatives. The 9th district includes parts of the community areas of the Near West Side, the Near North Side and North Lawndale in Chicago. Collins won the Democratic primary election for the seat in the 2020 election, and is running unopposed in the general election.

Early life and career

Collins attended Proviso East High School in Maywood, Illinois and received her Certified Nursing Assistant certificate from the Samland Institute in Chicago. She worked as a nurse in nursing homes, and later became an organizer in her union, SEIU Healthcare Illinois. During her tenure as a union organizer, she advocated for legislation on nursing home reform, the proposed Illinois Fair Tax, and a higher minimum wage.
In October 2019, she began her campaign for the Illinois House of Representatives' 9th district in the 2020 election. Incumbent State Rep. Art Turner had decided not to run for re-election after holding the seat since 2011. Collins faced six other candidates in the Democratic primary election, including Aaron Turner, brother of the incumbent representative. She was supported by several labor unions including SEIU Healthcare Illinois and the Chicago Teachers Union and progressive organizations such as United Working Families, and received endorsements from the Chicago Sun-Times local elected officials such as Byron Sigcho-Lopez, Jeanette Taylor, and Brandon Johnson. On March 17, 2020, she won the primary election with 45.9% of the vote. She is running unopposed in the general election, which will be held on November 3, 2020. If elected in the general election, Collins will become the first woman to represent the 9th district.

Personal life

Collins is a single mother of three children.

Electoral history