Christine Radogno

Christine Radogno (born December 21, 1952) is an American politician and former Republican member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 41st Legislative District in Cook, DuPage, and Will Counties from 1997 to 2017. Radogno served as the Minority Leader, the first female leader of a political party in the Illinois Legislature. She resigned from the Illinois State Senate on July 1, 2017 amid the Illinois budget crisis.^[5][6]

Christine Radogno
Minority Leader of the Illinois Senate
In office February 2009 – July 1, 2017
Preceded by	Frank Watson
Succeeded by	Bill Brady
Member of the Illinois Senate from the 41st district
In office January 4, 2003 – July 1, 2017
Preceded by	Kirk Dillard[1]
Succeeded by	John Curran[2]
Member of the Illinois Senate from the 24th district
In office January 8, 1997 – January 4, 2003
Preceded by	Robert Raica[3]
Succeeded by	Kirk Dillard[4]
Personal details
Born	(1952-12-21) December 21, 1952 (age 72) Oak Park, Illinois, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Nunzio Radogno
Children	3
Residence	Lemont
Alma mater	Loyola University, Chicago

Early life, education and career

Radogno was educated in the Chicago area. She graduated from Lyons Township High School. She received both her Bachelor's and Master's degree in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago.

Before entering politics, she worked as a social worker at Mercy Center for Health Care Services. Her interest in politics began when she decided to prevent the opening of a fire station on her street,^[7] and Radogno ran successfully for Village of LaGrange Trustee (1989–1996). In 1996, she ran for the Illinois State Senate and narrowly defeated incumbent Robert Raica in the Republican primary. In 2006, she was the Republican nominee for Illinois State Treasurer and was defeated by Democrat Alexi Giannoulias.

On October 12, 2015, she was named as Illinois state chair of John Kasich's presidential campaign.^[8]

On July 1, 2017, Rodagno resigned from the state Senate.

Illinois Senate

Her committee memberships includes:

• Committee on Rules (Minority Spokesperson)
• Human Services (Minority Spokesperson)
• Appropriations I
• Appropriations II
• Appropriations III
• Executive
• Public Health
• Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability

Personal life

Radogno lives with her husband, Nunzio, in Lemont, Illinois. They have three adult daughters, one of whom, Lisa, was struck by a car on May 8, 2014 in Washington, D. C. and died on June 18.^[9][10]