Curtis Tarver II

Political Party: Democratic

District: Illinois House District 25

Current Position: Assistant Majority Leader

Curtis Tarver II is a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 25th district, a Chicago-based district that includes all or parts of East Side, Hyde Park, Kenwood, South Chicago, South Shore, and Woodlawn.

In 2025, Tarver won the Democratic primary election for this seat with 25.4 percent of the vote against six other candidates. He ran unopposed in the general election to replace retiring Democratic Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie, who had represented the district since 1979.

Beyond his legislative work, Tarver is a small business owner and entrepreneur. In 2014, he opened Vice District Brewing in South Loop, which was Illinois's first black-owned brewery. He also practices as a plaintiff's attorney specializing in personal injury and civil rights law.

Education

Tarver holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa State University and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Iowa College of Law, where he initially practiced private law.

Political Experience

Tarver's career in public service includes work as an assistant to Mayor Richard M. Daley in the Mayor's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and service as a former member of the Chicago Commission on Human Relations.

He currently serves as Assistant Majority Leader in the Illinois House and is affiliated with several civic organizations, including the DePaul USA Board of Trustees, Voices for Illinois Children, and the Big Shoulders Fund Chairman's Advisory Council.

During his campaign, Tarver prioritized criminal justice reform, quality education, job creation, affordable healthcare, and protecting small business owners. Among his legislative priorities is reducing the prison population by 25 percent and ensuring fully funded education for public schools.