Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz is a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 17th district, which includes all or parts of Evanston, Glenview, Golf, Morton Grove, Northbrook, Skokie, and Wilmette. Born in 1968 or 1969, she is the granddaughter of Chinese immigrants and the second Chinese American to serve in the Illinois General Assembly. Elected in 2018 to succeed Rep. Laura Fine, she won with 69.2% of the vote and was re-elected in 2020, taking office in 2019. A full-time legislator and former human rights attorney, she focused on immigrant advocacy, including victims of child trafficking and forced marriage, and served on the Illinois Unaccompanied Children’s Task Force. She lives in Glenview with her husband and three sons, and is a member of the House Progressive Caucus, Green Caucus, Jewish Caucus, and serves as whip for the House Asian American Caucus.

Notable achievements include sponsoring the Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History Act , making Illinois the first state to mandate Asian American history in K-12 public schools, and HB0709, which launched a public information campaign on rights for immigrants and noncitizens. She chairs the Immigration & Human Rights Committee and Judiciary - Civil Committee, and serves on Energy & Environment, Mental Health & Addiction, Judiciary - Criminal, and Higher Education committees.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: B.A., Indiana University; J.D., Loyola University Chicago School of Law; LL.M., Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.
• Professional Experience: Former litigation attorney at Winston & Strawn; founding member and co-chair of the Illinois Unaccompanied Children’s Task Force; former Director of the Highland Park – Highwood Legal Aid Clinic; former board member of the Glenview Education Foundation.
• Political Experience: Illinois House Representative since January 2019 .