Mike quigley
didn’t grow up with money, connections, or political aspirations…
AND HE’S NEVER FORGOTTEN WHO HE WORKS FOR.
Where Mike’s Been
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 put himself through undergraduate studies at Roosevelt University, a master's program in public policy at the University of Chicago and law school at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, often living out of his car to make ends meet.
He started his career as an aldermanic aide, before winning a seat on the Cook County Board, where he fought for reform against the waste and patronage of a powerful political machine. He then won his seat in Congress in a crowded special election despite being outspent 10-to-1.
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 has never been afraid to stand on principle, even when it was politically dangerous, and is ready to bring that fighter's spirit to Chicago’s City Hall.
Mike still plays hockey every weekend and is a rabid Cubs and Blackhawks fan. He lives in a two-flat in Lakeview with his wife, Barb, and their two dogs, Maise and Fineas.
What Mike’s Done
Votes like a progressive because he is one. Mike has a congressional voting record virtually identical to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s on Voteview’s ideology score, while delivering billions in federal investment for Chicago and taking on powerful interests at home and in Washington. Voteview currently scores AOC at -0.333 and Mike at -0.324 on its ideology measure.
Took on Chicago’s political machine and won. Mike exposed patronage, waste, and insider baseball while on the County Board through his Reinventing Cook County reports, then helped turn those reforms into real results for working Chicagoans.
Fought pay-to-play politics and government corruption. Mike championed competitive bidding, procurement reform, campaign finance reform, stronger ethics rules, and greater transparency to make government work for working people, not political insiders.
Never abused public service as a way to get rich. Mike has never played the stock market or used his job in Congress to grow his personal wealth. In fact, in a Washington filled with millionaire politicians, he has consistently ranked among the 10 least wealthy members of Congress. He has spent his career fighting for tougher ethics and transparency rules because public office should be about serving people, not enriching yourself.
Relentlessly fought to hold Trump accountable. As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, Mike investigated Russian interference in the 2016 election and played a crucial role impeaching Trump.
Fought for transgender rights when it was politically dangerous. On the Cook County Board, in 2003, Mike fought for and passed first of their kind protections for trans Chicagoans against discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations, years before many elected officials were even willing to talk about marriage equality.
Fought for LGBTQ+ equality long before it became mainstream. Mike supported marriage equality before it was politically safe, helped pass the Respect for Marriage Act, and fought discriminatory blood-donation restrictions targeting LGBTQ+ Americans.
Fought for survivors of domestic violence. After working in a domestic violence shelter, Mike helped create Cook County’s first dedicated Domestic Violence Courthouse to better serve and protect survivors.
Stood up for immigrants against ICE’s illegal and brutal actions. Mike introduced legislation to prevent local police from being forced into federal immigration enforcement, pushed for investigations into abusive ICE activity in Chicago, has long supported Dreamers and a pathway to citizenship, and aided in rapid response during Midway Blitz.
Was fighting climate change before it became a national political priority. Mike authored Cook County’s Bird-Safe Buildings Ordinance, advanced groundbreaking green-building standards, launched the Green Courthouse Initiative, supported the Chicago Climate Exchange, and was an original cosponsor of the Green New Deal.
Fought for clean water and environmental justice. Mike secured federal investments in stormwater infrastructure, Great Lakes restoration, and lead-pipe replacement while fighting for broader action on climate change.
Stood with Jewish communities and fought antisemitism wherever it appears. Mike has fought to keep Jewish communities safe, supported federal funding to protect synagogues and other houses of worship, championed Holocaust education and condemned the alarming rise in antisemitism.
Delivered billions for public transit and Chicago neighborhoods. Mike secured federal investments for CTA modernization, Metra improvements, Union Station, and other transportation infrastructure, including billions for the long-promised Red Line Extension connecting Far South Side communities after decades of broken promises.
Turned the fight against ALS into federal law. Mike wrote and unanimously passed ACT for ALS, expanding access to experimental treatments and creating major new federal investments in research into ALS, dementia, Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.