Ann Gillespie is a Democratic politician and current Director of the Illinois Department of Insurance, appointed by Governor J.B. Pritzker in April 2024. She previously served as Illinois State Senator for the 27th District , representing northwest Chicago suburbs including Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates, Des Plaines, Mount Prospect, Rolling Meadows, Barrington, Inverness, Palatine, Prospect Heights, and South Barrington, from 2019 until her resignation in April 2024.

Notable achievements include sponsoring legislation for Illinois' State-Based Marketplace , signed into law in 2023, which began enrolling residents in ACA plans in November 2025; chairing the Senate Appropriations Committee for Health and Human Services and the Medicaid Working Group; overhauling nursing home assessments and reimbursements; and leadership roles such as Chair of the NAIC “D” Committee on insurance market regulation and consumer protection, NAIC Executive Committee , and IAIS Implementation Assessment Committee.

A lifelong Northwest suburbs resident of Arlington Heights since 1991, she is a retired healthcare attorney, Six Sigma Black Belt, mother of two adult children, and community volunteer .

Education and Political Experience

• Education: B.A. in History from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.
• Political Experience: Elected to Illinois Senate in 2018, defeating incumbent Republican Tom Rooney; served 2019-2024 as full-time legislator, member of Senate Insurance Committee; prior professional roles include healthcare law practice, Chair of Illinois HMO Guaranty Association, and consulting for state insurance departments on HMOs in receivership.