Toi Hutchinson

At nine years old, Hutchinson moved to Country Club Hills, Illinois, where she was raised by her mother and maternal grandparents. She attended Infant Jesus of Prague elementary school in Flossmoor, and Rich Central High School in Olympia Fields. At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in English and minoring in psychology.{{cite web |url=http://www.senatorhutchinson.com/index.php/bio|author=|title= Biography|publisher= Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus|access-date=2012-12-23}} Hutchinson returned to her old high school as an English teacher.{{cite web|url=http://www.toihutchinson.com/about-toi/|author=|title= Biography|publisher= Toi for Illinois|access-date=2012-12-23}} She graduated from Northern Illinois University's College of Law in 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.niu.edu/law/calendar/releases/archive/2014/post_commencement_may14.shtml|author=Mitchell, Melody|title=Governor Pat Quinn Gives NIU Law 2014 Commencement Address|publisher=Northern Illinois University|access-date=2014-10-06|date=2014-05-29}}

Hutchinson has worked on behalf of the State Alliance of YMCAs and for the Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce's Government Affairs Council. In 2004, she became an Executive Management Fellow in the Women and Leadership program created by Harva Kennedy School.{{cite web|url=http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?MemberID=1751|title=Senator Biography|author=|publisher=Illinois General Assembly|access-date=2012-12-23}} That same year, Hutchinson ran unsuccessfully for Supervisor of Bloom Township. The day after that election, she accepted a position on the staff of Debbie Halvorson. Hutchinson eventually became Halvorson's Chief of Staff.

Hutchinson was appointed in January 2009 to complete the rest of Debbie Halvorson's term following Halvorson's 2008 election to the United States House of Representatives. During her tenure, Hutchinson served on the Agriculture and Conservation, Labor, Local Government, Veteran Affairs, and Transportation committee.

Hutchinson left the Illinois Senate in 2019, and Patrick Joyce was appointed by local party leaders in the 40th district to succeed her.{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Rich|url=https://capitolfax.com/2019/11/08/patrick-joyce-gets-the-nod-in-former-hutchinson-seat/|title=Patrick Joyce gets the nod in former Hutchinson seat|date=November 8, 2019|newspaper=Capitol Fax|access-date=November 8, 2019}}

Hutchinson was appointed president and CEO of the Marijuana Policy Project in December 2021.{{cite press release|author=|title=Marijuana Policy Project Announces New President and CEO|url=https://www.mpp.org/news/press/marijuana-policy-project-announces-new-president-and-ceo/|location=Washington, D.C.|publisher=Marijuana Policy Project|date=December 15, 2021|access-date=July 18, 2022}}

After Jesse Jackson Jr. resigned from the United States House of Representatives after being investigated for the misuse campaign funds, Hutchinson announced her intent to run in the 2013 special election succeed him.{{cite web|url=http://homewood-flossmoor.patch.com/articles/toi-hutchinson-announces-run-for-jesse-jackson-jr-s-congressional-seat|title=Toi Hutchinson Announces Run for Jesse Jackson Jr.'s Congressional Seat|author=Sewall, Michael|publisher=Homewood-Flosmoor Patch|access-date=2012-12-23}} She was endorsed by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, and Illinois State Representatives Anthony DeLuca, Lisa Dugan, Al Riley, and Thaddeus Jones. She was also endorsed by the mayors of Flossmoor and Kankakee, Illinois.{{cite web|url=http://www.toihutchinson.com/supporters/|title=Endorsements|publisher=Toi for Illinois|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121231025153/http://www.toihutchinson.com/supporters/|archive-date=2012-12-31|access-date=2012-12-23}}{{cite news|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/110916/toi-hutchinson?categoryId=37#.VVkfHflVikq|title=Toi W. Hutchinson's Political Summary on Issue: Guns|access-date=May 17, 2015|publisher=Project Vote Smart}}{{cite news|author=Luke Johnson|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/11/debbie-halvorson-nra_n_2661230.html|title=Debbie Halvorson Attacked Over NRA Rating In New Super PAC-Backed Ad|date=February 11, 2013|work=The Huffington Post}} In the Democratic primary, Hutchinson came in fifth place out of 16 candidates. Robin Kelly was eventually elected.

On September 26, 2019, it was announced that Governor J. B. Pritzker appointed Hutchinson Illinois Cannabis Regulation Oversight Officer, a role created by the Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, to oversee the roll out of the statewide legalization of recreational cannabis.{{cite news|title=Five things you didn't know were in Illinois weed bill|author=John Pletz|newspaper=Crain's Chicago Business|date=May 20, 2019|url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/news/5-things-you-didnt-know-were-illinois-weed-bill}}{{cite news|last1=Kapos|first1=Shia|last2=Hurst|first2=Adrienne|title=TEACHERS VOTE TO STRIKE — FEDS descend AGAIN! — ILLINOIS has a WEED CZAR|date=September 27, 2019|access-date=September 30, 2019|newspaper=Politico Playbook|url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2019/09/27/teachers-vote-to-strike-feds-descend-again-illinois-has-a-weed-czar-482002}} Hutchinson will oversee relevant activities of multiple agencies including the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Public Health, Department of Revenue, Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. She will also have input over the policies of the Illinois State Police.{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Rich|title=Illinois has a new 'cannabis czar'|date=September 26, 2019|access-date=September 26, 2019|newspaper=Crain's Chicago Business|url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/marijuanacannabis/illinois-has-new-cannabis-czar}}

She is married to Paul Hutchinson, a Senior Systems Engineer. They reside in Olympia Fields with their three children.

{{Reflist}}

• [http://my.ilga.gov/Member/Index/1961?tab=1&chamber=S Biography, bills and committees] at the 98th Illinois General Assembly
• By session: [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=98&MemberID=1961 98th], [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=97&MemberID=1751 97th], [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=96&MemberID=1552 96th], [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=95&MemberID=1548 95th]
• [http://www.senatorhutchinson.com/ Illinois State Senator Toi Hutchinson] legislative website
• [http://www.senatedem.ilga.gov/index.php/sen-hutchinson-home Senator Toi W. Hutchinson] at Illinois Senate Democrats
• {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=110916 | fec= | congress= }}
• [http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/politics/government/toi-hutchinson-PEPLT00008152.topic Collected news and commentary] at the Chicago Tribune
• {{C-SPAN|122125}}

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Category:Illinois state senators

Category:Living people

Category:African-American state legislators in Illinois

Category:21st-century African-American women politicians

Category:Women state legislators in Illinois

Category:University of Illinois alumni

Category:Northern Illinois University alumni

Category:1973 births

Category:21st-century American women politicians

Category:People from Olympia Fields, Illinois

Category:21st-century African-American politicians

Category:20th-century African-American people

Category:20th-century African-American women

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