Mattie Hunter is a Democratic state senator representing Illinois' 3rd District since 2003. A native Chicagoan raised in the Robert Taylor Homes, she serves as Assistant Majority Leader, with leadership roles including Majority Caucus Chair, Chairperson of the Senate Executive Committee and Human Services Committee, Vice Chair of Public Health and Transportation Committees, and member of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus. Notable achievements include passing over 400 bills on breast cancer, substance abuse treatment, health care access, youth employment, education, and environmental issues; co-chairing task forces on missing and murdered Chicago women, kidney disease prevention, health and human services, and Medicaid oversight; and earning awards like Legislator of the Year in health care and education, plus a Lifetime Fellowship in the National Academy of Public Administration.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: B.A. in Government from Monmouth College; M.A. in Sociology from Jackson State University; Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Monmouth College ; certified alcohol and drug counselor and prevention specialist in Illinois and Indiana.
• Political Experience: Grassroots community organizer; legislative intern for Congressman Ralph Metcalfe; political strategist for Mayor Harold Washington; delegate for 2004 and 2008 campaigns. Previously Vice President of Human Resources Development Institute and Managing Director for the Center for Health and Human Services in Johannesburg, South Africa . Active in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, National Conference of State Legislatures, Women in Government, and Chicago Sister Cities International.