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Kwame Raoul
Member of the Illinois Senate from the 13th district
Incumbent
Assumed office  November 6, 2004
Preceded by	Barack Obama
Born	September 30, 1964 (1964-09-30) (age 45) Chicago, Illinois
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Kali Raoul
Alma mater	Chicago-Kent College of Law (J.D.) DePaul University (B.A.)
Profession	Attorney
Religion	United Church of Christ

Kwame Raoul (born September 30, 1964) is an American politician and a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 13th district since his appointment to fill the seat vacated by Barack Obama in 2004. He is the Senate chair of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus.

Early life

Raoul was born in Chicago to Haitian immigrant parents, Dr. Janin and Marie Raoul, whose parents' roots are from present-day Ghana. Raoul earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from DePaul University and went on to receive his law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law.

Outside the Senate

Raoul is a former Cook County prosecutor and continues to work as Senior Attorney for the City Colleges of Chicago. He has also directed volunteer legal clinics in his district. He is the founder and director of the Janin and Marie Raoul Foundation, which promotes health care as a human right. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Cook County Bar Association and the Cook County Bar Foundation. He has coached Hyde Park Biddy Basketball and has been an AYSO soccer volunteer. He has participated in voter registration campaigns with Rainbow/PUSH and has served as a volunteer Election Day lawyer.

Senate career

Raoul with wife Kali at 2008 Democratic National Convention

Raoul was appointed on November 6, 2004 to fill the state Senate vacancy caused by the resignation of his predecessor, Barack Obama, who had just been elected to the United States Senate.

Raoul has sponsored a bill that would require that the grants distributed by Illinois State Board of Education to early childhood education and preschool programs to use those funds to improve and expand the quality of services. He has also backed legislation aimed at easing the reintegration of ex-offenders into the community. His legislation allows good conduct credit to be awarded to inmates who earn their high school diplomas or GEDs, as well as inmates who participate in substance abuse programs.

Raoul is vice-chairperson of the Pension and Investments Committee. He serves on the Senate Commerce, Commerce and Economic Development, Health and Human Services, Higher Education, and Judiciary Committees.

Raoul was among the candidates Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich considered to fill Obama's Senate seat upon Obama's victory in the 2008 presidential election. Raoul withdrew his name from consideration, wary of entering into a quid pro quo with the governor, who later became embroiled in a fraud scandal over his attempt to sell the appointment.^[1]

Personal life

Raoul lives in the Hyde Park/Kenwood area with his wife Kali and their two children, Che and Mizan^[2]. They attend the Trinity United Church of Christ.

References

External links

• Illinois General Assembly - Senator Kwame Raoul (D) 13th District Official IL Senate website
  • Bills Committees
• Project Vote Smart - Senator Kwame Raoul (IL) profile
• Follow the Money - Kwame Raoul
  • 2006 campaign contributions
• Illinois State Senate Democrats - Senator Kwame Raoul profile