Robyn Gabel

Robyn Gabel (born February 7, 1953) is the Majority Leader of the Illinois House of Representatives. A Democrat, she has represented the 18th District since April 19, 2010.^[1][2][3] The district includes the suburbs of Evanston, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Northbrook, Northfield, Winnetka and Glencoe.

Robyn Gabel
Majority Leader of the Illinois House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office January 11, 2023
Preceded by	Greg Harris
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 18th district
Incumbent
Assumed office April 19, 2010
Preceded by	Julie Hamos
Personal details
Born	(1953-02-07) February 7, 1953 (age 72) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Children	1
Education	Beloit College (BA) University of Illinois, Chicago (MPH) Loyola University Chicago (MJur)

Early life and career

Gabel has a Bachelor of Arts from Beloit College, a Master of Science in Public Health from University of Illinois Chicago's School of Public Health, and a Master of Jurisprudence in Health Law from Loyola University of Chicago. From 1988 to 2010 she was the executive director of the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition.^[4] On March 16, 2009, she was appointed to the Commission on the Elimination of Poverty.^[5] The Commission was established to address poverty in Illinois consistent with international human rights standards.^[6]

Illinois House of Representatives

Gabel was appointed to the Illinois House of Representatives in April 2010 after Representative Julie Hamos was made Director of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services,^[4] and she won election to the seat that fall, and reelection every two years. In 2018, Gov. J. B. Pritzker appointed Gabel to Powering Illinois’ Future transition committee, which is responsible for infrastructure and clean energy policies.^[7]

As of July 3, 2022, Representative Gabel is a member of the following Illinois House committees:^[8]

• Appropriations - Human Services Committee (HAPH)
• Energy & Environment Committee (HENG)
• Financial Impact Subcommittee (HMAC-IMPA)
• Human Services Committee (HHSV)
• Insurance Committee (HINS)
• (Chairwoman of) Medicaid Subcommittee (HHSV-MEDI)
• Museums, Arts, & Cultural Enhancements Committee (HMAC)
• State Government Administration Committee (HSGA)
• (Chairwoman of) Wages & Rates Subcommittee (HAPH-WAGE)

On January 13, 2023, House Speaker Chris Welch named Gable the House Majority Leader. She succeeds Greg Harris in the position.^[9]

Electoral history

Illinois 18th Representative District Democratic Primary, 2010^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robyn Gabel	4,488	27.74
	Democratic	Patrick Keenan-Devlin	4,104	25.36
	Democratic	Eamon Kelly	3,958	24.46
	Democratic	Jeffrey Paul Smith	1,923	11.89
	Democratic	Edmund B. Moran, Jr.	1,707	10.55
Total votes			16,180	100.0

Illinois 18th Representative District General Election, 2010^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robyn Gabel (incumbent)	28,154	99.60
	Write-in		114	0.40
Total votes			28,268	100.0

Illinois 18th Representative District General Election, 2012^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Robyn Gabel (incumbent)	32,545	62.78	−36.82%
	Republican	Eric Joseph Lieberman	19,292	37.22	N/A
Total votes			51,837	100.0

Illinois 18th Representative District General Election, 2014^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Robyn Gabel (incumbent)	28,256	100.0	+37.22%
Total votes			28,256	100.0

Illinois 18th Representative District General Election, 2016^[14]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Robyn Gabel (incumbent)	36,794	64.13	−35.87%
	Republican	Jessica Tucker	20,580	35.87	N/A
Total votes			57,374	100.0

Illinois 18th Representative District General Election, 2018^[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Robyn Gabel (incumbent)	37,966	72.09	+7.96%
	Republican	Julie Cho	14,697	27.91	−7.96%
Total votes			52,663	100.0

Illinois 18th Representative District General Election, 2020^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Robyn Gabel (incumbent)	43,607	72.31	+0.22%
	Independent	Sean Matlis	16,699	27.69	N/A
Total votes			60,306	100.0

Illinois 18th Representative District General Election, 2022^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Robyn Gabel (incumbent)	32,808	81.31	+9.00%
	Republican	Charles Hutchinson	7542	18.69	N/A
Total votes			40,350	100.0