Margaret Croke was first elected as the State Representative for Illinois’ 12th House District in 2020. Prior to being elected, Margaret served as Deputy Chief of Staff for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity where she managed a multitude of projects on behalf of the Director and was lead liaison to the Governor’s Office. During Governor JB Pritzker’s first gubernatorial campaign, Margaret was the statewide Women’s Outreach Director, strategically networking with stakeholders, elected officials, community groups, and progressive organizations to promote JB’s candidacy. Following his victory, she served on the Governor’s transition team.
Prior to the Pritzker campaign, Margaret was Executive Assistant to the Director of Legislative Council and Government Affairs for Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Illinois Regional Field Director for the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, and Director of Scheduling & Advance for Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer.
As State Representative, Margaret has been recognized as a dedicated public servant with a proven track record of commitment to the community, securing $4 million for capital improvements in the district. She has established herself as a leader on advancing LGBTQ+ and women’s rights, identifying opportunities for Illinois to lead in emerging industries like financial technology, expanding access to early childhood education, and building safer communities. She is also an advocate for sensible gun control measures,ethics reform and transparency in government, and fair taxation.
Margaret is a proud University of Michigan graduate, where she received her B.A. in Political Science and Communications. An Oak Park native, she currently lives in Lincoln Park with her husband, Patrick, and her three children PJ, Mary Pearl, and Hattie. She is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago, serves on the Lincoln Park Zoo Women’s Board, and is one of the three Board of Directors on JB Pritzker’s political advocacy nonprofit, Think Big America.
