Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
| image = Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz 20180807 192350 (cropped1).jpg
| state_house = Illinois
| district = 17th
| term_start = January 6, 2019
| term_end =
| predecessor = Laura Fine
| successor =
| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|55|2024|10|18}}
| birth_place = Oak Park, Illinois, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Democratic
| spouse =
| children = 3
| education = Indiana University, Bloomington (BA)
Loyola University Chicago (JD)
Northwestern University (LLM)
| website = {{url|1=https://ilga.gov/house/rep.asp?MemberID=3352|2=Official biography}}
}}
Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (born 1968/1969){{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyherald.com/20241018/illinois-state-politics/jennifer-gong-gershowitz-2024-candidate-for-illinois-house-district-17/|title=Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz: 2024 candidate for Illinois House District 17|date=October 18, 2024|website=Daily Herald}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.gonggershowitz.com/about-jennifer/|title=Bio}} is a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives for the 17th district. The 17th district includes all or parts of Evanston, Glenview, Golf, Morton Grove, Northbrook, Skokie and Wilmette.{{cite web|url=http://ilhousedems.com/redistricting/2011-maps/Legislative_Districts_Public_Act/LD9.pdf|title=PA 97-0006 Legislative District 9|date=May 18, 2011|access-date=November 8, 2018}}
Electoral career
Gong-Gershowitz received the Democratic nomination in the election to succeed Rep. Laura Fine, who was not seeking re-election and instead running for Illinois State Senate. Gong-Gershowitz won the 2018 general election with 69.2% of the vote and was re-elected in 2020. She was sworn in to her second term in 2021. She is the second Chinese American to serve in the Illinois General Assembly after Theresa Mah.{{cite interview|last=Gong-Gershowitz|first=Jennifer|title=Democratic candidate for Illinois House, 17th District: Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz|interviewer=Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board|publisher=Chicago Sun-Times|location=Chicago, Illinois|date=March 5, 2018|access-date=November 11, 2018|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/jennifer-gong-gershowitz-democratic-candidate-illinois-house-17th-district-2018-primary/|quote=My name is Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz. I’m the granddaughter of Chinese immigrants whose legacy inspired me to do human rights and social justice work.}}
Illinois House of Representatives
=Committees=
Gong-Gershowitz currently serves on four committees: the Immigration & Human Rights committee; the Energy & Environment committee; the Judiciary - Civil committee; and the Mental Health & Addiction committee. Additionally, she is the chairperson for both the Immigration & Human Rights committee and the Judiciary - Civil committee.
=Legislation=
Gong-Gershowitz has introduced several bills that have gone on to become law. This includes HB0376, which requires Illinois schools to create a unit of curriculum dedicated to studying Asian-American history,{{cite web |title=Bill Status of HB0376 |url=https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocTypeID=HB&DocNum=376&GAID=16&SessionID=110&LegID=128327 |website=ilga.gov |publisher=Illinois General Assembly |access-date=4 March 2022}} as well as HB0709, which required the Illinois Department of Human Services "to conduct a public information campaign to educate immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and other noncitizens residing in Illinois of their rights under the U.S. Constitution and Illinois laws that apply regardless of immigration status."{{cite web |title=Bill Status of HB0709 |url=https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocTypeID=HB&DocNum=709&GAID=16&SessionID=110&LegID=129228 |website=ilga.gov |publisher=Illinois General Assembly |access-date=4 March 2022}}
Personal life
Gong-Gershowitz is of third-generation Chinese-American descent through her father, and Irish through her mother.Gonghttps://www.luc.edu/law/stories/alumni-profiles/jennifer-gong-gershowitz-history-maker/ She resides in Glenview with her husband and three sons. She is a human rights attorney by trade.{{cite web|title=Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D)|url=http://ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=101&MemberID=2744|access-date=24 March 2025}} She is Jewish.{{Cite web|url=https://www.juf.org/news/local.aspx?id=447130|title=JUF News : Introducing the new Jewish state representatives|website=JUF News}}
Electoral history
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Illinois 17th Representative Democratic Primary, 2018{{cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=vYruVI445yc%3d&OfficeType=TPsWaFcg2f%2bZHFrYI%2b6FR4Fu5cxamu0awn%2bLrIqClxk%3d&T=637800101159827959|title=Election Results 2018 GENERAL PRIMARY|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections|access-date=February 10, 2022}}{{Dead link|date=October 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
| votes = 7800
| percentage = 36.61
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Candance Chow
| votes = 7165
| percentage = 33.63
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Mary Rita Luecke
| votes = 3526
| percentage = 16.55
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Alexandra Eidenberg
| votes = 1812
| percentage = 8.51
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Pete Dagher
| votes = 1002
| percentage = 4.70
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 21305
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Illinois 17th Representative District General Election, 2018{{cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=fkzkoIBAmBE%3d&OfficeType=TPsWaFcg2f%2bZHFrYI%2b6FR4Fu5cxamu0awn%2bLrIqClxk%3d&T=637799206388795684|title=Election Results 2018 GENERAL ELECTION|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections|access-date=February 10, 2022}}{{Dead link|date=October 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
| votes = 34328
| percentage = 69.20
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Illinois Republican Party
| candidate = Peter Lee
| votes = 15281
| percentage = 30.80
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 49609
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
| title = Illinois 17th Representative District General Election, 2020{{Cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=prSXs26mKQc%3d&OfficeType=TPsWaFcg2f%2bZHFrYI%2b6FR4Fu5cxamu0awn%2bLrIqClxk%3d&T=637799212198404851|title=Election Results 2020 GENERAL ELECTION|date=December 4, 2020|access-date=February 10, 2022|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections}}{{Dead link|date=October 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (incumbent)
| votes = 42471
| percentage = 67.62
| change = -1.58%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Illinois Republican Party
| candidate = Yesoe Yoon
| votes = 18728
| percentage = 29.82
| change = -0.98%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Green Party of the United States
| candidate = Christopher Kruger
| votes = 1606
| percentage = 2.56
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 62805
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
| title = Illinois 17th Representative District General Election, 2022{{Cite web |url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=MVJQPFIDZQo%3d&OfficeType=TPsWaFcg2f%2bZHFrYI%2b6FR0aY47e3tS2y |title=Election Results 2022 GENERAL ELECTION |access-date=2023-12-04 |publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections }}{{Dead link|date=October 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party of Illinois
| candidate = Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (incumbent)
| votes = 29057
| percentage = 71.38
| change = +3.76%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Illinois Republican Party
| candidate = Bradley Martin
| votes = 11648
| percentage = 28.62
| change = -1.20%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 40705
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=101&MemberID=2744 Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D)] at the Illinois General Assembly
- [https://www.gonggershowitz.com Legislative website]
- [https://jenggforrep.com/ Campaign website]
{{Illinois House of Representatives|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gong-Gershowitz, Jennifer}}
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:21st-century members of the Illinois General Assembly
Category:Asian-American state legislators in Illinois
Category:Democratic Party members of the Illinois House of Representatives
Category:Women state legislators in Illinois
Category:American people of Chinese descent