After graduating from the University of Michigan,Margaret Croke began her career as a Project Assistant at Sidley Austin. In 2015,she became Director of Scheduling for Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer. She went on to serve as Illinois Regional Director for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and later as Executive Assistant in the Office of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. In 2018,Croke was appointed Statewide Women’s Outreach Director for Governor JB Pritzker’s campaign and served on his transition team following the election. She then served as Deputy Chief of Staff at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity,where she oversaw key initiatives and acted as a primary liaison to the Governor’s Office.[citation needed]
Illinois House of Representatives (since 2021)
Since being sworn into the Illinois General Assembly,Margaret Croke has successfully passed legislation advocating for public safety,environmental protection,fiscal responsibility,LGBTQ+ rights,and reproductive rights.[citation needed] She has been recognized as a dedicated public servant with a proven track record of delivering for the community,securing over $4 million for capital improvements in the district.[citation needed] Margaret is a member of the House Democratic New Democrats Caucus,Gun Violence Prevention Caucus,Green Caucus,Jewish Caucus and Neurodiversity Caucus.
In 2021,Croke introduced legislation to expand the definition of infertility for insurance coverage to include same-sex couples,single women,and women over 35.[2] The bill ensured broader access to fertility treatments by updating clinical definitions and prohibiting discriminatory insurance practices. The bill passed the legislature and was signed by Governor Pritzker.[3]
During the 103rd General Assembly,Croke advanced key legislation focused on student safety and well-being.[citation needed]HB 3425[4] expanded the definition of bullying to include cyberbullying and required schools to notify parents within 24 hours of an incident. HB 4175[5] expanded the ban on corporal punishment to include nonpublic schools,ensuring all students are safe in their classroom.
In the 104th General Assembly,which began in January 2025,Croke introduced HB 2456,[6] which prohibits third-party platforms from listing or selling restaurant reservations without a written agreement,allowing restaurants to pursue legal action and imposing civil penalties for violations. This legislation helps protect businesses from unauthorized bookings and safeguards the integrity of their reservation systems.[citation needed]
Margaret was elected to the district after defeating then-incumbent Yoni Pizer in the 2020 Democratic primary. Pizer was originally appointed to the seat after the district's long-time representative,Sara Feigenholtz,was tapped to fill former Illinois Senate President John Cullerton's vacancy in the Illinois Senate in the 6th district.
Margaret was sworn into office on January 2,2021.
Illinois 12th Representative District Democratic Primary,2020[9]
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