Mike Quigley Bio
Michael Bruce Quigley, born on October 17, 1958, in Indianapolis, Indiana, is an American politician, attorney, and adjunct professor who has served as the U.S. representative for Illinois’s 5th congressional district since April 7, 2009. A member of the Democratic Party, he represents much of Chicago’s North Side and several nearby western suburbs. Known for his work on fiscal reform, environmental protection, veterans’ services, and public health, Quigley has authored legislation on bird-safe buildings and other issues. In January 2026, he announced a campaign for mayor of Chicago in the 2027 election.
Early Life and Background
Michael Bruce Quigley was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on October 17, 1958, and was raised in Carol Stream, Illinois. He graduated from Glenbard North High School in 1977 and went on to attend Roosevelt University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree. After college, he moved into the Lakeview area of Chicago in 1982 and became involved in community activities, laying the groundwork for his later career in public service.
Quigley continued his education at the Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where he earned a Juris Doctor degree, and at the University of Chicago, where he earned a master’s degree in public policy. These academic experiences shaped his understanding of law, policy, and the workings of government. A member of the Sierra Club since high school, Quigley first became interested in politics through his desire to help the environment through legislation.
Path to US Politics
The start of Quigley’s political career saw him serve as a chief aide to Chicago Alderman Bernie Hansen, gaining firsthand experience in city government. In 1991, he ran for 46th ward alderman with the support of Mayor Richard M. Daley but lost a runoff election to incumbent Helen Shiller. The experience did not deter him, and he continued building his reputation as a thoughtful reformer in Chicago politics.
Quigley also taught environmental policy and Chicago politics as an adjunct professor at Loyola University Chicago, sharing his policy expertise with students while remaining active in local affairs. His combination of academic work, community involvement, and campaign experience prepared him for a successful run at the Cook County Board of Commissioners in 1998, succeeding Maria Pappas, who had been elected Cook County Treasurer.
Mike Quigley Career
Early Career (1998–2009)
Quigley was first elected to the Cook County Board of Commissioners in 1998, representing Chicago’s northside neighborhoods of Lakeview, Uptown, and Rogers Park. During his tenure, he gained a reputation as a reformer, opposing tax hikes supported by Cook County Board President John Stroger and later his son and successor Todd Stroger. Quigley contended the county could operate more efficiently and presented reports to support his position. He also challenged the practice of finding jobs for Democratic officials with the Cook County Forest Preserve District.
In 2008, while still a Cook County commissioner, Quigley authored the first bird-safe building legislation in the United States, requiring bird-safe materials and features to reduce bird-window collisions. This local work laid the foundation for his later federal efforts on the same issue. His decade on the county board established him as a fiscal watchdog and a champion of practical environmental policy.
Congressional Breakthrough (2009–Present)
In early 2009, incumbent U.S. Representative Rahm Emanuel of Illinois’s 5th congressional district resigned to become White House Chief of Staff to newly elected President Barack Obama. The resulting special election drew twelve Democratic candidates, and Quigley was endorsed by both the Chicago Sun-Times, which called him a constant advocate for fiscal responsibility, and the Chicago Tribune. He won the March special primary with 22 percent of the vote and the April 7, 2009 special election with 69 percent of the vote over Republican challenger Rosanna Pulido.
Quigley won reelection to his first full term in 2010 with 71 percent of the vote, and he has continued to win comfortably in subsequent elections. After redistricting pushed his district into DuPage County, no Democrat filed to run against him, and he has since been reelected without serious challenge. The district and its predecessors have been in Democratic hands for all but three years since 1909.
On July 12, 2017, Quigley introduced H.R. 2884, the Communications Over Various Feeds Electronically for Engagement Act, also known as the COVFEFE Act, which would require the National Archives to preserve and store social media posts by the President of the United States. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform but saw no further congressional action. Quigley has also reintroduced the Federal Bird Safe Buildings Act in each Congress, mirroring the legislation he first authored as a county commissioner in 2008.
Legislative Focus and Policy Work (2009–Present)
Quigley is known for his work on environmental protection, fiscal reform, veterans’ services, and public health. In May 2011, he sponsored an amendment to the Patriot Act prohibiting the sale of weapons to people on the FBI’s Terrorist Watch List. The bill failed on a party-line House Judiciary panel vote of 21 to 11. He has also supported the American Clean Energy and Security Act, a 2009 emissions trading bill that passed the House but was defeated in the Senate.
On healthcare, Quigley received a 100 rating from the American Public Health Association and voted against Paul Ryan’s 2011 budget plan that proposed cuts to Medicare. In March 2021, he announced his support for the Medicare for All Act of 2021 introduced by Pramila Jayapal and Debbie Dingell. He supports reproductive rights, federal funding for family planning, and LGBTQ rights, and in 2012 participated in National Coming Out Day as a show of solidarity. He has also called on the FDA to revise its policies on blood and tissue donations by gay and bisexual men.
On foreign policy and government funding, Quigley was the sole Democrat to vote against a September 30, 2023 Republican-introduced funding bill, citing its lack of aid to Ukraine. In April 2024, he voted in favor of three military aid package supplementals for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, along with most Democrats. According to a FiveThirtyEight analysis, Quigley voted with President Joe Biden’s stated position 100 percent of the time in the 117th Congress. On July 5, 2024, Quigley called for Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 United States presidential election.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of Quigley’s signature achievements is the Federal Bird Safe Buildings Act, which would require federal buildings to be constructed with bird-safe materials and features to reduce bird-window collisions, a cause he has championed since first authoring similar legislation as a Cook County commissioner in 2008. He has also worked to improve healthcare and education opportunities for veterans, including a 2013 bill to prevent veterans from entering debt to pay for tuition before GI benefits are received. In 2009, he was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame as a Friend of the Community.
Mike Quigley Career Wins
Mike Quigley has compiled a steady record of election victories since first entering public office in 1998. He won his Cook County Board of Commissioners seat that year and went on to win a competitive 2009 special primary and a commanding special election for the U.S. House. He has since been reelected multiple times to Illinois’s 5th congressional district, often facing only nominal opposition.
Congressional Highlights
Quigley won the March 2009 special Democratic primary with 22 percent of the vote in a crowded field of twelve candidates, then won the April 7, 2009 special election with 69 percent of the vote. He won his first full term in 2010 with 71 percent of the vote. Following redistricting, no Democrat filed to run against him, and he has continued to win reelection comfortably in the heavily Democratic district. If he serves another term, Quigley is expected to become the dean of Illinois’s congressional delegation when Senator Dick Durbin retires in 2027.
Other Wins and Achievements
Beyond electoral success, Quigley authored the first bird-safe building legislation in the United States in 2008 while serving as a Cook County commissioner. In 2009, he was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame as a Friend of the Community, recognizing his advocacy work. He also considered running for mayor of Chicago in 2019 and 2023 but ultimately did not enter those races.
Mike Quigley Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Quigley and his wife Barbara, to whom he has been married since 1999, have two daughters. The family has been based in the Chicago area, where Quigley has built his career in public service.