Margaret Croke was first elected in 2020 and currently serves as the State Representative for Illinois’ 12th House District. Prior to being elected, Margaret was the Deputy Chief of Staff for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. In that position, she managed a multitude of projects on behalf of the Director and was lead liaison to the Governor’s Office. In 2017, Margaret was the statewide Women’s Outreach Director for JB Pritzker’s gubernatorial campaign and strategically networked with stakeholders, elected officials, community groups, and progressive organizations to promote JB’s candidacy. Following JB Pritzker’s Gubernatorial victory, she served on the Governor’s transition team.
Before JB’s campaign, Margaret was Executive Assistant to the Director of Legislative Council and Government Affairs for Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Office, Illinois Regional Field Director to the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, and Director of Scheduling & Advance for Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer.
In her role as State Representative, Margaret has been recognized as a dedicated public servant with a proven track record of commitment to the community, bringing back $4 million dollars to the district for capital improvements. She has emerged 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, governmental ethics reform, 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, her three children PJ, Mary Pearl, and Hattie, and her two dogs Winston and Charlie, and a rotating cohort of foster dogs through ALIVE Rescue. She serves as a member of the Economic Club of Chicago, the Lincoln Park Zoo Women’s Board, and is one of the three Board of Directors on JB Pritzker’s political advocacy nonprofit, Thing Big America.
