Christine Radogno is a Republican

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

 member of the Illinois Senate

Illinois Senate

The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the state of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. The Illinois Senate is made up of 59 senators elected from...

, representing the 41st Legislative District in Cook, DuPage, and Will counties since 1997. She currently serves as the Minority Leader

Minority leader

In U.S. politics, the minority leader is the floor leader of the second largest caucus in a legislative body. Given the two-party nature of the U.S. system, the minority leader is almost inevitably either a Republican or a Democrat, with their counterpart being of the opposite party. The position...

, the first woman leader of a political party in the Senate.

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

Master of Social Work

The Master of Social Work is a master's degree in social workand especiality of sociology.- United States :In the United States, MSW degrees must be received from a graduate school that has been approved by the Council on Social Work Education...

 from Loyola University Chicago

Loyola University Chicago

Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...

.

Before running for the Senate, Radogno served as Village of LaGrange, trustee (1989–1996). She earlier worked as a social worker at Mercy Center for Health Care Services. In 2006, she was the Republican nominee for Illinois State Treasurer

Illinois State Treasurer

The Treasurer of Illinois is an elected official of the U.S. state of Illinois. The office was created by the Constitution of Illinois.-Current occupant and duties:, the Treasurer of Illinois is Dan Rutherford, a member of the Republican Party...

 and was defeated by Democrat

Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

 Alexi Giannoulias

Alexi Giannoulias

Alexander "Alexi" Giannoulias is an American politician who served as Illinois Treasurer from 2007 to 2011. A Democrat, Giannoulias defeated Republican candidate State Senator Christine Radogno in November 2006 with 54 percent of the vote, becoming the first Democrat to hold the office in 12...

.

Illinois Senate

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

Radogno is considered leading budget expert and negotiator for the Senate Republican Caucus.

Personal life

Radogno lives with her husband, Nunzio, in Lemont, Illinois

Lemont, Illinois

Lemont is a village located in Cook, DuPage, and Will Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, and is roughly southwest of Chicago. The population was 16,625 at the 2007 Special Census.-History:...

. They have three adult daughters.

She has received numerous awards throughout her legislative career, particularly awards honoring her commitment to health care and human services, economic development and Illinois agriculture.

External links

• Illinois General Assembly - Senator Christine Radogno (R) 41st District official IL Senate website
  • Bills, Committees
• Senator Radogno