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Kina Collins
Personal details
Born (1991-03-08) March 8, 1991 (age 33)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationCarthage College
Louisiana State University (BA)
WebsiteOfficial website

Kina Isis Collins[1] is an American community organizer and activist, whose work has focused on issues of gun control, criminal justice reform, and universal healthcare.[2][3] Collins was a candidate in the Democratic primary for the 2024 U.S. House election for Illinois' 7th congressional district, and was previously a primary candidate for the same seat in the 2020 and 2022 elections, winning 13.8% and 45.6% of the vote respectively.[3][4][5][6][7][8]

Early life and education

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Collins was born and raised in the Austin neighborhood on the West Side of Chicago.[3][5] She was a student in the Chicago Public Schools system, during which time she served as a Summer of Service Learning Ambassador.[9] She attended Carthage College and Louisiana State University, where she studied international political economy and sociology respectively.[3][9][10]

Activism and career

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Community organizing and non-profit work

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From 2015 to 2017, Collins worked as a regional organizer from Louisiana for Generation Progress, a youth-centered research and advocacy group formed under the Center for American Progress.[11][10] During 2016–17, she was selected as a member of Generation Progress' #Fight4AFuture National Leadership Council, which developed campaigns on gun violence prevention and criminal justice reform.[12][13]

In 2017, she founded an organization called the Chicago Neighborhood Alliance, with the goal of empowering activists to end gun violence in Chicago through civic engagement.[3][14][15][16] From 2018 to 2019, she worked as a national organizer for Physicians for a National Health Program.[3][17][10] As of 2020, she serves as the Executive Director of the Gun Violence Prevention Education Center and Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, a statewide organization focused on gun violence prevention.[18][19]

Electoral politics and government

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Collins was a staff member in J. B. Pritzker's campaign for governor of Illinois in 2018, but resigned after recordings of conversations between Pritzker and Rod Blagojevich in 2009 where Pritzker made racially insensitive remarks were publicly released.[20] Later in that election cycle, she served as the political director for Sameena Mustafa's unsuccessful campaign for Illinois' 5th congressional district.[20][21]

In 2018, Collins co-authored the Illinois Council on Women and Girls Act, which created a council to advise the governor and state lawmakers on issues concerning women and girls.[3][9][22] She served as the Council's inaugural chairwoman.[until when?][23][24][25] During her tenure as the Council's chair, Collins was also selected by Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia to serve on the Status of Women and Girls in Chicago working group.[26]

During the 2019 Chicago aldermanic election, Collins helped form a coalition of organizations called Brand New Council, which aimed to elect progressive candidates of color to Chicago City Council.[27][15][28] The coalition endorsed 16 candidates and worked to register new voters.[27][29]

Recognition

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She received the Vernita Grey Community Activist Award from the Chicago chapter of the National Organization for Women in 2018.[9]

Candidacy for Congress

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2020 election

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See also: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois § District 7

Collins announced her candidacy for U.S. Representative from Illinois's 7th congressional district on May 13, 2019.[30][3] She challenged incumbent congressman Danny K. Davis in the Democratic Party primary election for the seat in March 2020, in addition to two other challengers, Anthony Clark and Kristine Schanbacher. Collins highlighted single-payer healthcare, research and resources for gun violence prevention, and criminal justice reform as her three top priorities if elected.[4][31] She received endorsements from several local officials, including Chicago alderman Jeanette Taylor, Illinois House Representative Anna Moeller, two Oak Park village trustees, two River Forest village trustees, and two local school board members.[32] She was also endorsed by several organizations including the Center for Popular Democracy,[33] Women's March Illinois,[34] and Northside Democracy for America.[35] In the March 17, 2020, Democratic primary election, she placed second with 13.8% of the vote.

2022 election

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See also: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois § District 7

Collins announced her candidacy for Illinois's 7th congressional district in 2022 on June 1, 2021.[6][7] Along with the launch of her campaign, she announced an endorsement from Justice Democrats.[6] Collins outraised incumbent Representative Danny Davis in both of the first two quarters of her campaign.[36][37] In the June 28, 2022, Democratic primary election, she placed second with 45% of the vote.[38]

2024 election

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See also: 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois § District 7

Collins again announced her candidacy for Illinois's 7th congressional district in 2024 on July 10, 2023.[8] She concurrently announced endorsements from several local elected officials, including Chicago City Council members Angela Clay, Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth, Daniel La Spata, and Byron Sigcho-Lopez.[8]

On March 8, 2024, The Strokes performed a benefit concert for Collins. This is the second time they have performed for her campaign, the first being in 2022.[39]

Electoral history

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2020 Democratic primary for Illinois' 7th congressional district[40][41][42]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Danny K. Davis (incumbent) 79,813 60.2
Democratic Kina Collins 18,399 13.8
Democratic Anthony Clark 17,206 13.0
Democratic Kristine Schanbacher 17,187 13.0
Total votes 132,605 100.0
2022 Democratic primary for Illinois' 7th congressional district[43]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Danny K. Davis (incumbent) 35,366 52.0
Democratic Kina Collins 31,054 45.6
Democratic Denarvis Mendenhall 1,626 2.4
Total votes 68,046 100.0

References

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  1. ^ "FEC Form 2: Statement of Candidacy" (PDF). Federal Election Commission. May 31, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  2. ^ "Kina Collins". IMDb. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Kapos, Shia; Hurst, Adrienne. "LIGHTFOOT's Council challenge — TRUDEAU hits Chicago — Activist will face DANNY DAVIS". POLITICO. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Kina Collins". Ballotpedia. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Meet Kina". Kina Collins for Congress. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  6. ^ a b c Marans, Daniel (June 1, 2021). "Progressive Activist Kina Collins Announces Primary Against Rep. Danny Davis". HuffPost. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  7. ^ a b Krieg, Gregory (June 1, 2021). "Anti-gun-violence activist Kina Collins announces primary challenge to Illinois Democrat Danny Davis". CNN. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  8. ^ a b c Kapos, Shia (July 10, 2023). "Hazing scandal's ripple effect". POLITICO. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d Chicago NOW (September 28, 2018). "Meet our 2018 Woman Who Dared: Kina Collins". Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  10. ^ a b c Collins, Kina. "Kina Collins | LinkedIn". LinkedIn. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  11. ^ "STATEMENT: Generation Progress #Fight4AFuture Network Members on Recent Police Shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile". Generation Progress. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  12. ^ "RELEASE: Generation Progress Names 20 Young People to National Leadership Council for Gun Violence Prevention and Criminal Justice Reform". Generation Progress. May 2, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  13. ^ "Meet The 2016-2017 #Fight4AFuture National Leadership Council". Generation Progress. May 2, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  14. ^ "Inspirational Woman 2018: Kina Collins". skinlessproject.com. June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  15. ^ a b Spielman, Fran (October 10, 2018). "Same activists who won justice for Laquan set sights on City Council races". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  16. ^ Armentrout, Mitchell (November 21, 2018). "Domestic violence, gun control in spotlight at vigil for Mercy shooting victims". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  17. ^ "PNHP Board of Directors and Staff". PNHP. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  18. ^ Jones, Tia Carol (October 7, 2020). "Organizer aspires for change in community and Congressional chambers". Citizen Weekly. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  19. ^ Sullender, Andrew (January 31, 2021). "Chicago area gun dealers say record sales since Jan. 6 driven by 'fear, plain and simple'". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  20. ^ a b "Pritzker staffer who quit over racial comments speaks out". ABC7 Chicago. February 13, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  21. ^ Li, Amy (March 5, 2018). "Northwestern alumna Sameena Mustafa runs for Congress in Illinois". The Daily Northwestern. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  22. ^ Staff, WICS/WRSP (April 9, 2019). "Kick-off celebration held for new Illinois Council on Women and Girls". WICS. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  23. ^ "Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia taps female power players to improve status of city's girls and women". Chicago Foundation for Women. October 22, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  24. ^ WGN News (June 3, 2018), IL Council for Women and Children, retrieved June 19, 2019
  25. ^ "Gov. Pritzker announces 21 new members of Illinois Council on Women and Girls". CIProud. April 10, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  26. ^ Stevens, Heidi (October 22, 2018). "Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia taps female power players to improve status of city's girls and women". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  27. ^ a b Woelfel, Mariah (February 5, 2019). "Young Chicago Activists Have A Plan: Take Over City Hall". WBEZ. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  28. ^ The Chicago Crusader. "Activists aim to vote out Black aldermen after Van Dyke rulings | Gary/Chicago Crusader". Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  29. ^ Brand New Council (February 6, 2019). "Endorsed are the following candidates". @ChicagoBrandNew. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  30. ^ Collins, Kina (May 13, 2019). "Today, I announced that I am running for the #IL07 Congressional District seat! Please follow my new campaign account, @Kina4Congress for updates, and read all about my campaign …". @KinaCollins_. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  31. ^ "Policy Platform". Kina Collins for Congress. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  32. ^ Sheridan, Stacey (January 30, 2020). "Austin congressional hopeful nabs suburban endorsements". austinweeklynews.com. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  33. ^ "Endorsements". Kina Collins for Congress. Archived from the original on April 8, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  34. ^ Women's March Illinois (January 24, 2020). "Meet Women's March - Illinois supported candidate, Kina Collins, and let's help get a new powerhouse representative from Chicago to DC on March 17, 2020!". facebook.com. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  35. ^ "Northside Democracy for America". Northside Democracy for America. Archived from the original on January 4, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  36. ^ Ackley, Kate (July 16, 2021). "House Democrats build cash reserves ahead of 2022 midterms". Roll Call. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  37. ^ Kapos, Shia (October 14, 2021). "Police union's anti-vax posturing gets mayor's eyeroll". Politico. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  38. ^ "U.S. Rep. Danny Davis Wins Over Challenger Kina Collins in 7th Congressional District: AP". WTTW News. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  39. ^ Mercado, Melody (February 1, 2024). "The Strokes Playing Chicago Show To Benefit Kina Collins Campaign". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  40. ^ "Election Results 2020 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 17, 2020.[permanent dead link‍]
  41. ^ "Election Results 2020 Primary - DEM - 3/17/2020". Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  42. ^ "Suburban Cook County Election Results March 17, 2020 Presidential Primary Election". Cook County Clerk's Office. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  43. ^ "Here are the key primary election results from Illinois". NPR. June 28, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
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