Norma Hernandez

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Norma Hernandez

| honorific-suffix =

| image =

| alt =

| state_house1 = Illinois

| district1 = 77th

| term_start1 = January 11, 2023

| term_end1 =

| predecessor1 = Kathleen Willis

| successor1 =

| prior_term =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|30|2021|3|30}}{{cite news|url=https://www.forestparkreview.com/2021/03/30/three-running-in-race-to-fill-unexpired-term-on-triton-board/|title=Three running in race to fill unexpired term on Triton board|first=Michael|last=Romain|work=Forest Park Review|date=March 30, 2021|access-date=December 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321211526/https://www.forestparkreview.com/2021/03/30/three-running-in-race-to-fill-unexpired-term-on-triton-board/|archive-date=March 21, 2023}}

| birth_place = Melrose Park, Illinois, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| citizenship =

| nationality =

| party = Democratic

| spouse =

| children =

| residence = Melrose Park, Illinois, U.S.

| education = Triton College (AA)
Aurora University (BA)
University of Illinois Chicago (MA)

| alma_mater =

| occupation =

}}

Norma Hernandez (born 1990/1991) is an American politician serving as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives for the 77th district. Elected in November 2022, she assumed office on January 11, 2023. Hernandez is a member of the Democratic Party.

Early life and education

Hernandez was born and raised in Melrose Park, Illinois.{{cite web|url=https://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?MemberID=3224|title=Representative Norma Hernandez (D)|publisher=Illinois General Assembly|access-date=December 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527231859/https://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?MemberID=3224|archive-date=May 27, 2023}} Her grandfather had immigrated to the area from Jalisco in the 1960s as part of the Bracero Program.{{cite web|url=https://www.normaforstaterep.com/about|title=Meet Norma Hernandez|publisher=normaforstaterep.com|access-date=December 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208020741/https://www.normaforstaterep.com/about|archive-date=December 8, 2023}} Both of her parents worked manufacturing jobs, and her father was a union member for almost 30 years. Hernandez is a Catholic.

Hernandez graduated from Proviso East High School in Maywood before obtaining an Associate of Arts degree from Triton College in 2013.{{cite web|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/204480/norma-hernandez|title=Norma Hernandez's Biography|publisher=Vote Smart|access-date=December 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207034021/https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/204480/norma-hernandez|archive-date=December 7, 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.vfpress.news/articles/elections/proviso-east-grad-first-latina-elected-to-77th-house-district/|title=Proviso East Grad First Latina Elected To 77th House District|first=Michael|last=Romain|work=Village Free Press|date=November 11, 2022|access-date=December 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111190856/https://www.vfpress.news/articles/elections/proviso-east-grad-first-latina-elected-to-77th-house-district/|archive-date=November 11, 2022}} She went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts in social work from Aurora University in 2016 and her Master of Arts in urban planning and policy from the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) in 2019.

Early career

Hernandez began working at the age of 14 by cleaning offices. She went on to work full-time at Walgreens for 12 years to pay for her education. From 2017 to 2018, Hernandez was a child welfare specialist at Youth Outreach Services. From 2018 to 2022, she was an urban planner at the UIC Great Cities Institute. Hernandez was also elected to a two-year term on the Triton College Board of Trustees in 2021, becoming the first Latina to ever serve in the role.

Political career

In January 2022, Hernandez announced her candidacy in the 2022 election to represent the 77th district in the Illinois House of Representatives, challenging five-term incumbent Kathleen Willis.{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2022/01/25/ctu-leaders-now-face-internal-revolt-00001719|title=Chicago Teachers Union leaders face internal revolt|first=Shia|last=Kapos|work=Politico|date=January 25, 2022|access-date=December 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025233134/https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2022/01/25/ctu-leaders-now-face-internal-revolt-00001719|archive-date=October 25, 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/suburban-life/136469493/|title=Democratic candidates focusing on health care|first=Kevin|last=Schmit|work=Suburban Life|date=June 23, 2022|access-date=December 8, 2023|page=A11|via=Newspapers.com}} She said she hoped to represent the changing demographics of the district, and that she was motivated to run due to the lack of resources available to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hernandez was endorsed by Congressman Chuy García of Illinois's 4th district, as well as progressive organizations and labor unions such as the AFSCME Council 31, Equality Illinois, United Working Families, the Mid-America Carpenters Union and the Chicago Laborers' District Council.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/suburban-life/136469449/|title=Fundraising underdogs among challengers to unseat incumbents (I)|first=Jerry|last=Nowicki|work=Suburban Life|date=July 14, 2022|access-date=December 8, 2023|page=A11|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|url=https://afscme31.org/news/2022-general-election-recommendations|title=AFSCME Recommendations: 2022 General Election|publisher=AFSCME Council 31|date=September 14, 2022|access-date=December 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209063253/https://afscme31.org/news/2022-general-election-recommendations|archive-date=December 9, 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.equalityillinois.us/our-candidates/|title=Endorsed Candidates|publisher=Equality Illinois|access-date=December 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012121141/https://www.equalityillinois.us/our-candidates/|archive-date=October 12, 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.unitedworkingfamilies.org/2022-endorsements|title=2022 Endorsements|publisher=United Working Families|access-date=December 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615160411/https://www.unitedworkingfamilies.org/2022-endorsements|archive-date=June 15, 2022|url-status=dead}} She fundraised $316,000, including $120,000 from unions, compared to Willis' $330,000 in fundrasing.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/suburban-life/136469643/|title=Fundraising underdogs among challengers to unseat incumbents (II)|first=Jerry|last=Nowicki|work=Suburban Life|date=July 14, 2022|access-date=December 8, 2023|page=A14|via=Newspapers.com}}

Hernandez upset Willis in the Democratic primary in June after running what the Herald & Review described as "a Chuy-style campaign – lots of family and friends networking, non-stop door-knocking and making sure progressive Latinos got to the polls."{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/herald-and-review/136517339/|title=Primary rough for legislative leaders|first=Rich|last=Miller|work=Herald & Review|date=July 5, 2022|access-date=December 8, 2023|page=A8|via=Newspapers.com}} She went on to defeat Republican candidate Anthony Airdo in the general election that November after winning 57.5 percent of the vote. Hernandez became the first Latina to represent the district.

=Committee assignments=

Adoption & Child Welfare
Agriculture & Conservation
Appropriations - Health & Human Services
Counties & Townships
Energy & Environment
Higher Education
Special Topics
Transportation: Regulations, Roads & Bridges

Electoral history

=2022=

{{Election box open primary begin no change

| title = 2022 Illinois's 77th House district election{{cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/electionoperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=63aIZoIunYs%3D&OfficeType=TPsWaFcg2f%2BZHFrYI%2B6FR0aY47e3tS2y|title=Election Vote Totals Results|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections|access-date=December 10, 2023}}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Norma Hernandez

| votes = 2,484

| percentage = 51.83

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Kathleen Willis (incumbent)

| votes = 2,309

| percentage = 48.17