Sara Feigenholtz

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Sara Feigenholtz

|image = Sara Feigenholtz.jpg

|state_senate = Illinois

|district = 6th

|term_start = January 21, 2020

|term_end =

|predecessor = John Cullerton

|successor =

|state_house1 = Illinois

|district1 = 12th

|term_start1 = January 11, 1995

|term_end1 = January 21, 2020

|predecessor1 = Ellis B. Levin

|successor1 = Yoni Pizer

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|12|11}}

|birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

|death_date =

|death_place =

|party = Democratic

|education = Northeastern Illinois University (BA)
University of Illinois, Chicago (MPH)

}}

Sara Feigenholtz (born December 11, 1956) is a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate who has represented the 6th District since 2020.[http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?MemberID=1371 Representative Sara Feigenholtz page, Illinois General Assembly website], accessed 12 April 2011 The District includes the lakefront neighborhoods of Lake View, Lincoln Park, Buena Park and the Near North Side in the city of Chicago.

Previously, she served thirteen terms in the Illinois House of Representatives.{{Cite web |title=Illinois General Assembly - Senator Biography |url=https://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?MemberID=3168&GA=103 |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=www.ilga.gov}}

Background

Sara Feigenholtz's political interests and activity, notably in the areas of adoption, women's issues and health care, reflect her personal experience and family background. Her adoptive mother, Florence Buky, an immigrant from Białystok, Poland, worked her way through medical school to become an obstetrician. Many of Dr. Buky's patients were unable to care for their children and this was how she came to adopt Sara and her brother.[http://sarafeigenholtz.com/biography/ Sara Feigenholtz website, Biography page], accessed 12 April 2011 Feigenholz attributes the origin of her political commitment to health care as a basic right to the childhood experience of patients calling to see Dr. Buky at the family home in Lake View, Chicago, and her mother never turning anyone away, even those unable to pay.

Feigenholtz earned her bachelor's degree in political science and speech and performing arts from Northeastern Illinois University. and went on to earn a fellowship degree from the University of Illinois School Of Public Health. In 2011, she completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at Harvard Kennedy School.

She worked as Chief of Staff to State Representative John Cullerton before becoming a fund-raiser for progressive causes.

Illinois House of Representatives

Feigenholtz was elected to her first term as state representative of Illinois’ 12th District in 1994, defeating long-standing incumbent Ellis B. Levin.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=78245|author=COSDem|title=Levin, Ellis B.|date=September 2, 2009|accessdate=July 16, 2017|publisher=Our Campaigns}} She chose to focus her attention on health care and human services reform. She was a lead sponsor of the Family Health Care Bill. She also campaigned for the introduction of the All Kids program.

In 2010, she sponsored the Original Birth Certificate Access Bill. This law provides for the release of the original birth certificate to an adopted person upon written request, provided he or she is over the age of 21.

As part of the Affordable Care Act implementation, Feigenholtz sponsored the 2013 expansion of Medicaid in Illinois. This legislation extended coverage to thousands of Illinoisans who were shut out of the health care system.

In 2017, Feigenholtz sponsored House Bill 40 in the 100th General Assembly, which will keep abortion legal in Illinois if Roe v. Wade is overturned by the Supreme Court of the United States. It also extends insurance coverage of abortion to state employees and women insured through Medicaid.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/illinois-abortion-law-anniversary-falls-on-day-of-kavanaugh-vote-494639231.html|author=NBC Chicago|title=Illinois Abortion Law Anniversary Falls on Day of Kavanaugh Vote|date=September 27, 2018|accessdate=November 13, 2018|publisher=NBC Chicago}}

Sara Feigenholtz served as Assistant Majority Leader from 2013 through 2019. She currently chairs the Adoption & Child Welfare Committee, and most recently served on the Appropriations-Human Services, Tourism, Hospitality and Craft, Mental Health, Environment, and Energy Committees.{{cite web|url=http://www.ilga.gov/house/RepCommittees.asp?MemberID=2295|author=Illinois General Assembly|title=Representative Sara Feigenholtz (D), 12th District Committees|date=November 13, 2018|accessdate=November 13, 2018|publisher=State of Illinois}}

In 2018, Democrat J. B. Pritzker appointed Feigenholtz a member of the gubernatorial transition's Healthy Children and Families Committee.{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Rich|title=Pritzker announces new health-related transition committee|date=November 15, 2018|newspaper=Capitol Fax|accessdate=December 9, 2018|url=https://capitolfax.com/2018/11/15/pritzker-announces-new-health-related-transition-committee/}}

Special congressional election

Feigenholtz came in third place to Mike Quigley in the Illinois's 5th congressional district special election, 2009 to fill the district seat vacated by Rahm Emanuel, who resigned to serve as President Barack Obama's Chief of Staff.

Illinois Senate

Feigenholtz assumed the office of State Senator for Illinois' 6th District on January 21, 2020.

Feigenholtz was a guest of U.S. Representative Mike Quigley at Joe Biden's 2023 State of the Union Address.{{Cite web |title=Who's going to the State of the Union? Illinois lawmakers reveal their guests |url=https://www.shawlocal.com/news/2023/02/07/whos-going-to-the-state-of-the-union-illinois-lawmakers-reveal-their-guests/ |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=Shaw Local |date=7 February 2023 |language=en}}

= Committees =

In the 102nd General Assembly, Feigenholtz was the Chair of the Appropriations - Human Services Committee; the Tourism and Hospitality Committee; and the Redistricting - Chicago North Committee. She also served on the Senate Appropriations - Business Regulations and Labor Committee; Behavioral and Mental Health Committee; Health Committee; Insurance Committee; Licensed Activities Committee; Pensions Committee; Subcommittee on Children & Family; and the Subcommittee on Medicaid.{{Cite web |title=Illinois General Assembly - Senator Committees |url=https://ilga.gov/senate/SenCommittees.asp?MemberID=2977 |access-date=2022-07-04 |website=ilga.gov}}

In the 103rd General Assembly, she is the Chair of the Financial Institutions Committee. She also serves on the Appropriations Committee; Appropriations - Health and Human Services Committee; Behavioral and Mental Health Committee; Licensed Activities Committee; and Revenue Committee.

Other

In 2001 Feigenholtz was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame as a Friend of the Community.{{Cite web|url=http://www.glhalloffame.org/index.pl?page=inductees&todo=year|title=Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame|website=www.glhalloffame.org|access-date=2016-08-01|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017032241/http://www.glhalloffame.org/index.pl?page=inductees&todo=year|archivedate=2015-10-17}}

Controversy

In 2024, local Muslim leaders called for the resignation of state Sen. Feigenholtz over anti-Arab social media posts. {{cite web | url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2024/11/01/sara-feigenholtz-muslim-social-media | title=Muslim leaders call for resignation of state Sen. Sara Feigenholtz after anti-Muslim social media posts | date=November 2024 }}

Electoral history

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 12th State House District General Election, 1994{{Cite book|title=Illinois blue book, 1995-1996|publisher=Office of Illinois Secretary of State|year=1996|pages=410|url=http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/bb/id/41023/rec/1|access-date=October 15, 2019}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Sara Feigenholtz

| votes = 16467

| percentage = 73.96

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Illinois Republican Party

| candidate = William J. Enright

| votes = 5797

| percentage = 26.04

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 22264

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 12th State House District General Election, 1996{{Cite book|title=Illinois blue book, 1997-1998|publisher=Office of Illinois Secretary of State|year=1998|pages=412|url=http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/bb/id/42197/rec/1|access-date=October 15, 2019}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Sara Feigenholtz (incumbent)

| votes = 27659

| percentage = 76.97

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Illinois Republican Party

| candidate = Beret A. Olson

| votes = 8275

| percentage = 23.03

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 35934

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 12th State House District General Election, 1998{{Cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=8AaB9rHXPK0%3d&OfficeType=Mzn1hIdK%2bXutYfUM2d1xMWiS86JkPgwC9%2b%2fR01%2frhdc%3d|title=Election Results 1998 GENERAL ELECTION|access-date=2019-10-08|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Sara Feigenholtz (incumbent)

| votes = 19978

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 19978

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 12th State House District General Election, 2000{{Cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=SVHxAvAUMSw%3d&OfficeType=Mzn1hIdK%2bXutYfUM2d1xMWiS86JkPgwC9%2b%2fR01%2frhdc%3d|title=Election Results 2000 GENERAL ELECTION|access-date=2019-10-08|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Sara Feigenholtz (incumbent)

| votes = 31706

| percentage = 74.82

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Illinois Republican Party

| candidate = Robert Huntington

| votes = 10670

| percentage = 25.18

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 42376

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 12th State House District General Election, 2002{{Cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=wJsCqqjRM60%3d&OfficeType=Mzn1hIdK%2bXutYfUM2d1xMWiS86JkPgwC9%2b%2fR01%2frhdc%3d|title=Election Results 2002 GENERAL ELECTION|access-date=2019-10-08|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Sara Feigenholtz (incumbent)

| votes = 22448

| percentage = 74.23

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Illinois Republican Party

| candidate = Michael G. Weiler

| votes = 7793

| percentage = 25.77

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 30241

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 12th State House District General Election, 2004{{Cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=3WHwMrzJ6QQ%3d&OfficeType=Mzn1hIdK%2bXutYfUM2d1xMWiS86JkPgwC9%2b%2fR01%2frhdc%3d|title=Election Results 2004 GENERAL ELECTION|access-date=2019-10-08|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Sara Feigenholtz (incumbent)

| votes = 36671

| percentage = 75.63

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Illinois Republican Party

| candidate = Marie-Elana Leone

| votes = 11814

| percentage = 24.37

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 48485

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 12th State House District General Election, 2006{{Cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=GJnulrZjDlY%3d&OfficeType=Mzn1hIdK%2bXutYfUM2d1xMWiS86JkPgwC9%2b%2fR01%2frhdc%3d|title=Election Results 2006 GENERAL ELECTION|access-date=2019-10-08|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Sara Feigenholtz (incumbent)

| votes = 23749

| percentage = 81.13

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Illinois Republican Party

| candidate = Richard A. Caner

| votes = 5524

| percentage = 18.87

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 29273

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 12th State House District General Election, 2008{{Cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=xj8bneOa8Fk%3d&OfficeType=Mzn1hIdK%2bXutYfUM2d1xMWiS86JkPgwC9%2b%2fR01%2frhdc%3d|title=Election Results 2008 GENERAL ELECTION|access-date=2019-10-04|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Sara Feigenholtz (incumbent)

| votes = 38502

| percentage = 84.43

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Green Party of the United States

| candidate = Tim Quirk

| votes = 7100

| percentage = 15.57

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 45602

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 5th Congressional District Democratic Special Primary, 2009

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Mike Quigley

| votes = 12118

| percentage = 22.37

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = John A. Fritchey

| votes = 9835

| percentage = 17.89

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Sara Feigenholtz

| votes = 9194

| percentage = 16.72

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Victor A. Forys

| votes = 6428

| percentage = 11.69

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Patrick J. O'Connor

| votes = 6388

| percentage = 11.62

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Charles J. Wheelan

| votes = 3681

| percentage = 6.69

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Tom Geoghegan

| votes = 3342

| percentage = 6.08

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Paul J. Bryar

| votes = 1111

| percentage = 2.02

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Jan H. Donatelli

| votes = 892

| percentage = 1.62

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Frank Annunzio

| votes = 755

| percentage = 1.37

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Cary Capparelli

| votes = 714

| percentage = 1.30

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Carlos A. Monteagudo

| votes = 521

| percentage = 0.95

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Roger A. Thompson III

| votes = 10

| percentage = 0.02

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 54989

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 12th State House District General Election, 2010{{Cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=uBmhfnAP6sE%3d&OfficeType=Mzn1hIdK%2bXutYfUM2d1xMWiS86JkPgwC9%2b%2fR01%2frhdc%3d|title=Election Results 2010 GENERAL ELECTION|access-date=2019-10-04|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Sara Feigenholtz (incumbent)

| votes = 22272

| percentage = 68.95

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Illinois Republican Party

| candidate = Dave Lenkowski

| votes = 10031

| percentage = 31.05

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 32303

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 12th State House District General Election, 2012{{Cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=iX7bNPizmS8%3d&OfficeType=Mzn1hIdK%2bXutYfUM2d1xMWiS86JkPgwC9%2b%2fR01%2frhdc%3d|title=Election Results 2012 GENERAL ELECTION|access-date=2019-10-04|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Sara Feigenholtz (incumbent)

| votes = 40397

| percentage = 99.96

}}

{{Election box candidate no change

| party = Write-in votes

| candidate = Frank Rowder

| votes = 17

| percentage = 0.04

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 40414

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 12th State House District General Election, 2014{{Cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=z%2fR%2feACUG%2bY%3d&OfficeType=Mzn1hIdK%2bXutYfUM2d1xMWiS86JkPgwC9%2b%2fR01%2frhdc%3d|title=Election Results 2014 GENERAL ELECTION|access-date=2019-10-04|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Sara Feigenholtz (incumbent)

| votes = 25512

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 25512

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 12th State House District General Election, 2016{{Cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=MdSiWa1xQus%3d&OfficeType=Mzn1hIdK%2bXutYfUM2d1xMWiS86JkPgwC9%2b%2fR01%2frhdc%3d|title=Election Results 2016 GENERAL ELECTION|access-date=2019-10-04|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Sara Feigenholtz (incumbent)

| votes = 43858

| percentage = 75.59

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Illinois Republican Party

| candidate = Gene Witt

| votes = 14161

| percentage = 24.41

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 58019

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 12th State House District General Election, 2018{{cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=JVM3BFfJbYc%3d&OfficeType=Mzn1hIdK%2bXutYfUM2d1xMWiS86JkPgwC9%2b%2fR01%2frhdc%3d|title=Election Results 2018 GENERAL ELECTION|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections|accessdate=September 9, 2019}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Sara Feigenholtz (incumbent)

| votes = 46346

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 46346

| percentage = 100.0

}}

References

External links

[http://www.ilga.gov/house/rep.asp?MemberID=2525 Representative Sara Feigenholtz (D) 12th District] at the Illinois General Assembly
By session: [http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=100&MemberID=2295 100th], [http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=99&MemberID=2081 99th], [http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=98&MemberID=1830 98th], [http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=97&MemberID=1593 97th], [http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=96&MemberID=1371 96th], [http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=95&MemberID=1150 95th], [http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=94&MemberID=912 94th], [http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=93&MemberID=626 93rd]
[http://www.staterepsara.com/ Representative Sara Feigenholtz] constituency website
[http://www.sarafeigenholtz.com/ Sara Feigenholtz for House Representative]
{{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=6323 | fec=H0IL05062 | congress= }}
[http://www.housedem.state.il.us/members/feigenholtzs/index.htm Sara Feigenholtz ] at Illinois House Democrats

Category:1956 births

Category:21st-century American Jews

Category:21st-century American women politicians

Category:American adoptees

Category:Democratic Party Illinois state senators

Category:Democratic Party members of the Illinois House of Representatives

Category:Jewish state legislators in Illinois

Category:Jewish American women in politics

Category:Living people

Category:Northeastern Illinois University alumni

Category:Politicians from Chicago

Category:University of Illinois alumni

Category:Women state legislators in Illinois

Category:21st-century members of the Illinois General Assembly