Prediction Edge
Democrat
Robert Peters

Overview

Current roleState Senator

PartyDemocratic

Political ideologyProgressive Democrat

GenderMale

LocationIllinois

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BackgroundPolitician

EducationB.A., Social Sciences, Kansas State University

Notable personal detailsRobert James Peters is an Illinois State Senator (Democratic) representing the 13th Senate District, first appointed in January 2019 and subsequently elected. He has a background in community and political organizing and has worked on criminal justice reform issues, including legislation to end cash bail in Illinois. In May 2025, he filed to run for the U.S. House in Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District.

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Positions

LiberalConservative

Economy & Taxes

Supports progressive economic policies including raising the minimum wage, eliminating the state sales tax on groceries, expanding property tax relief for seniors, and advancing Medicare-for-All and other policies to expand government-provided health coverage and benefits for working families.

Healthcare

Supports Medicare for All and making quality health care a universal guarantee; proposes rolling back attacks on Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act and expanding Medicare’s ability to lower prescription drug prices. Has sponsored and led state legislation to curb predatory insurance practices, expand mental-health coverage, ban harmful short-term plans, and increase transparency and network adequacy in Illinois. These positions indicate support for major public expansions of coverage and stronger government regulation of insurers.

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Immigration & Border

Supports welcoming immigrant communities, condemns militarized immigration raids and federal actions that separate families, and frames Illinois policy as protecting asylum seekers and immigrant rights. Emphasizes humanitarian responses and opposes federal enforcement tactics perceived as cruel or divisive.

Abortion & Reproductive Rights

Supports protecting and expanding access to abortion and reproductive health care, opposes the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, and has voted for legislation to safeguard abortion access and related reproductive services in Illinois. States Illinois should remain a welcoming place for people seeking abortion care from hostile states and has called for federal protections for reproductive rights.

Climate & Energy

Supports ambitious clean-energy and environmental-justice policies, including co-sponsorship of the Clean Energy Jobs Act that aims to reduce Illinois’ dependence on fossil fuels to zero by 2050; has promoted offshore wind development and sponsored state bills to deploy non-combustible thermal energy networks to replace fossil-fuel heating. Has been recognized by environmental groups for a pro-environment voting record and advocacy for climate action.

Public Safety & Guns

Supports expanded gun-violence prevention programs, community-based intervention funding, and state-level measures to strengthen firearm-violence prevention; has sponsored legislation to expand the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention and to create licensing and accountability for firearms manufacturers. Emphasizes investing in community services and prevention rather than punitive approaches to reduce gun violence.

News

AINews Summary
Last updatedJun 11, 2026

Robert Peters is in the news because he is running in the crowded Illinois 2nd District Democratic primary, where he is one of the main candidates competing for the open seat. The race has drawn heavy attention and strong turnout as voters choose among Peters, Donna Miller, and Jesse Jackson Jr. Recent coverage also shows the broader Illinois primary environment is highly active, with many competitive races and increased early voting.

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Polls

Global Strategy Group
8%6%4%2%0%
5%
Robert Peters
R. Peters
Date (Start - End)SpreadShare
Global Strategy GroupDec 3, 2025
5.0%
Global Strategy GroupDec 3, 2025
5.0%
Lester & AssociatesJul 25, 2025
4.0%
Lester & AssociatesJul 25, 2025
4.0%

Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne

Fundraising

Latest report: Cycle 2026
Total raisedCash on hand
$1.3M
$993.0K
$662.0K
$331.0K
$0

2026

Latest
Year
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate

Cycle 2026

$1.3M
$21.4K
$1.3M
$86.8K

Source: FEC

New updates coming soon

We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.

  • Endorsements