Winnetka environmental activist Patrick Hanley announced his bid Thursday for the Illinois State Senate seat being vacated by Laura Fine as she runs for Congress, and already has a big name backing him.
Hanley, the president of the New Trier Democrats, launched his campaign at his Winnetka home Thursday, listing sustainability and economic growth as top priorities.
Born in Evanston and raised in Northbrook, Hanley is backed by outgoing U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Evanston, who announced her decision not to seek a 15th term in Congress on Monday.
According to a statement, Schakowsky said, “Patrick is exactly the kind of bold, progressive Democratic leader — and fighter — that Illinois needs.”
Hanley helped lead Operation Swing State, an organizing group that led Illinois volunteers to knock on doors across Michigan and Wisconsin in the lead-up to November’s general election.
Hanley manages Mason Rocque, a family office investing in Midwest businesses, and previously was an associate at the consulting firm McKinsey & Company.
Hanley will face Evanstonian Rachel Ruttenberg, deputy committeeperson for the Democratic Party of Evanston and former deputy chief of staff for policy in the office of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. Ruttenberg announced her campaign Thursday.
Fine has represented the 9th Senate District in Springfield since 2018. Before her, the district was represented by now-Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss.
The district covers Evanston, Wilmette, Kenilworth and Winnetka, parts of Glenview, Northbrook and Skokie and Chicago’s far north side.
Ruttenberg’s campaign says she’s backed by Illinois House Majority Leader Rep. Robyn Gabel, State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowtiz, State Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl and former Evanston Democratic Committeeperson Eamon Kelly.
Hanley earned a bachelor’s in international affairs from George Washington University and master’s degrees in business administration and public policy from the University of Chicago.
