Mike Quigley wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

Mike's Dad, an orphan, grew up in the Depression and became a union worker on a microwave tower for AT&T. Mike remembers his Mom, a teacher, had to make two baskets of groceries last weeks when the union went on strike for better wages and benefits.

Mike worked his way through college, attending Roosevelt University in Chicago, the same school that produced his former Congressional colleague Bobby L. Rush. Mike later earned his JD from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, and a master's degree in public policy from University of Chicago. Mike’s daughter attended Chicago Public Schools. 

Mike served as a chief aide to Alderman Bernie Hansen, then won a seat on the Cook County Board in a crowded primary where he was wildly outspent. Quigley made his name by challenging the Chicago political machine. His “Reinventing Cook County” reports exposed waste and patronage, leading to competitive bidding, spending cuts, and modernized operations. His independence and fiscal discipline earned him a reputation as a taxpayer’s advocate.

When Rahm Emanuel left Congress to become President Barack Obama’s Chief of Staff, Mike won the Illinois 5th District seat despite being outspent 10-to-1 in a field of 12 candidates. Serving on the House Select Intelligence Committee, Mike knows how to keep Chicago safe from threats. And from his seat on the House Appropriations Committee, Mike brings home important investments in housing and transportation, including $2.1 billion to extend the CTA Red Line into the Far Southside and rebuild the Purple Line.

Mike still plays hockey every weekend and is a rabid Cubs and Blackhawks fan. He lives a stone’s throw from Wrigley Field with his wife, Barb, and their two dogs, Maisy and Finneas.