Daniel K. Biss

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Daniel K. Biss
Image of Daniel K. Biss

Democratic Party

Prior offices
Illinois House of Representatives District 17
Illinois State Senate District 9
Successor: Laura Fine
Predecessor: Jeffrey Schoenberg
Elections and appointments
Last election

March 20, 2018

Education

Bachelor's

Harvard University, 1998

Graduate

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2002

Ph.D

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2002

Personal
Religion
Jewish
Profession
Professor
Contact

Campaign Facebook

Personal website

Personal Twitter

Daniel K. Biss (b. August 27, 1977) was a Democratic member of the Illinois State Senate, representing District 9. He was first elected to the chamber in 2012 and served until 2019. He previously served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 2011 to 2013.

Biss was a Democratic candidate for Governor of Illinois. Biss lost the primary on March 20, 2018.

Bliss previously served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 2011 to 2013.

Biography

Biss earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University in 1998 and a Ph.D. in mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2002. His experience includes work as a professor at the University of Chicago and as a policy adviser for former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D).[1][2]

Committee assignments

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Illinois committee assignments, 2017
• Committee of the Whole
• Education
• Environment and Conservation
• Executive Appointments
• Human Services, Vice chair
• Labor, Chair
• Revenue

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Biss served on the following committees:

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Biss served on the following committees:

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Biss served on the following committees:

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Elections

2018

See also: Illinois gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 and Illinois gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (March 20 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for Governor of Illinois

J.B. Pritzker defeated incumbent Bruce Rauner, William McCann, and Grayson Jackson in the general election for Governor of Illinois on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of J.B. Pritzker
J.B. Pritzker (D)
 
54.5
 
2,479,746
Image of Bruce Rauner
Bruce Rauner (R)
 
38.8
 
1,765,751
Image of William McCann
William McCann (Conservative Party)
 
4.2
 
192,527
Image of Grayson Jackson
Grayson Jackson (L)
 
2.4
 
109,518
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.0
 
115

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 4,547,657
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Illinois

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Governor of Illinois on March 20, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of J.B. Pritzker
J.B. Pritzker
 
45.1
 
597,756
Image of Daniel K. Biss
Daniel K. Biss
 
26.7
 
353,625
Image of Chris Kennedy
Chris Kennedy
 
24.4
 
322,730
Image of Tio Hardiman
Tio Hardiman
 
1.6
 
21,075
Image of Bob Daiber
Bob Daiber
 
1.1
 
15,009
Image of Robert Marshall
Robert Marshall
 
1.1
 
14,353

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 1,324,548
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Illinois

Incumbent Bruce Rauner defeated Jeanne M. Ives in the Republican primary for Governor of Illinois on March 20, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Bruce Rauner
Bruce Rauner
 
51.5
 
372,124
Image of Jeanne M. Ives
Jeanne M. Ives
 
48.5
 
350,038

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 722,162
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Libertarian primary election

Libertarian primary for Governor of Illinois

Grayson Jackson defeated Matthew Scaro and Jon Stewart in the Libertarian primary for Governor of Illinois on March 20, 2018.

Candidate
✔
Image of Grayson Jackson
Grayson Jackson
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Matthew Scaro
Image of Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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2014

See also: Illinois State Senate elections, 2014

Elections for the Illinois State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on March 18, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was December 2, 2013. Incumbent Daniel Biss ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[3][4][5]

2012

See also: Illinois State Senate elections, 2012

Biss won election in the 2012 election for Illinois State Senate District 9. Biss was unopposed in the Democratic primary on March 20, 2012, and defeated Glenn Farkas (R) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[6][7]

Illinois State Senate, District 9, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngDaniel K. Biss 67% 69,064
     Republican Glenn Farkas 33% 34,081
Total Votes 103,145

2010

Biss won election in the state's November 2, 2010 general election, defeating Hamilton Chang.[8]

Illinois House of Representatives, District 17 (2010)
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark transparent.png Daniel K. Biss (D) 23,134 54.78%
Hamilton Chang (R) 19,096 45.22%

Campaign themes

2018

“

The Economy
State law has long favored the wealthy and disadvantaged ordinary citizens. Major corporations receive massive tax breaks, labor laws don’t protect Illinois workers, small businesses can’t grow, and the flat state income tax strips a huge chunk of income away from the middle class.

Daniel believes in creating an Illinois where everyone can prosper, and that means an economy where the wealthy pay their fair share and resources are available to everyone. Illinois needs a progressive state income tax, less red tape impeding small business owners, and labor laws ensuring that workers in the state are treated fairly and can earn a living wage. And the state needs a long-term budget solution that fully invests in programs helping everyday people.

Fixing the budget
Illinois went more than two years without a budget, and people across our state are still hurting. We may have ended the immediate crisis, but to truly solve our state’s budget problems, we’ll need a permanent change in the state constitution—this is the only way to achieve long-term fiscal stability. But in the meantime, we must make immediate changes to rebuild our state.

Tax reform
Illinois is one of only four states with a constitutionally mandated flat tax. Despite clear evidence from across the nation that Illinois is doing something wrong, Springfield has continued to force the middle class to pay more than their fair share. This decades-long mistake is hurting working families and is jeopardizing Illinois’ future. Until millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share, Illinois will continue to suffer. This is why Daniel has introduced and fought for a constitutional amendment to create a progressive income tax in Illinois, so that people who earn more pay more—just like they do for their federal taxes.

Protecting workers and increasing wages
Governor Rauner has made attacks on working families and labor unions the centerpiece of his agenda, because for some reason he believes that cutting wages in a race to the bottom is the path to prosperity. In fact, the opposite is true: in order to be economically successful, Illinois must raise wages and lift all workers up. Here is how Daniel has fought for workers:

  • Expanding workers’ rights. As chairman of the Senate Labor committee, Daniel fought Governor Rauner’s attacks on unions, and supported legislation that expands workers’ rights to negotiate for better pay and working conditions. As a result, at the beginning of this year, domestic workers like in-home caregivers started receiving protections that other professions have long enjoyed, like the right to earn a minimum wage.
  • Fighting for paid family leave. Workers should be able to earn sick days to care for themselves OR a sick child or family member, and deserve paid family leave. That’s why Daniel sponsored the Illinois Family Leave Insurance Act in 2016.
  • Raising the minimum wage to $15. The minimum wage should be a living one, and that’s why Daniel has fought for $15-per-hour. Worker’s rights must be protected, and available to all—that’s why Daniel has passed bills to crack down on wage theft and finally close the wage gap that still leaves women earning less than 80 cents on the dollar compared to their male counterparts.

Leveling the playing field
To grow the economy, Illinois needs to level the playing field and give small businesses and entrepreneurs a fighting chance at growth. The state must stop handing out special tax breaks to friends of the machine and greedy corporations. Daniel has fought for full transparency of corporate tax breaks and repeatedly voted against special tax deals.

Many regulations that protect safety and make businesses play by the rules are important. But government must also cut red tape that makes it hard for Illinoisans to start new businesses, prevents fair competition, and impedes access to capital. Daniel has passed legislation tripling the state’s investments in Illinois-based entities without costing taxpayers a dime. This is the kind of work that must make Illinois a better place to invest in.

Expanding opportunity
In spite of Illinois’ extraordinary potential, people and jobs are leaving. This is a stunning failure, and it is unacceptable. We have a lot of work to do if we want to create the economic stability needed for businesses and families to invest in Illinois. Our state has tremendous potential, but too many people are struggling to get by while the millionaires and billionaires at the top are only getting richer. If we want our state to thrive, we have to level the playing field.

Education
To make equity and economic opportunity a reality in Illinois, everyone must have access to a high quality public education, from pre-K through college. Daniel believes this, and that’s why he has cosponsored legislation expanding access to childcare, and fought to fix the state’s worst-in-the-nation school funding system, even at a cost to wealthier schools in his district. Here are a few of Daniel’s positions on education:

  • Introducing the LIFE Platform. Parents shouldn’t have to choose between their children and their job. That’s why Daniel and Litesa are is proud to introduce the Let Illinois Families Excel (LIFE) Platform — a universal family care plan that supports Illinoisans at every stage of life, and will help level the playing field for working people and families.
  • Free tuition. Everyone used to agree that people needed an elementary and high school education to earn a living; that’s why society has always provided free primary and secondary public education for all. In today’s economy, a high school diploma is often not enough to guarantee a fair shot at a middle class life. It’s time to expand the promise of free public education and make college tuition-free.
  • Fixing the school funding formula. Public education funding in Illinois has long been the most regressive in the country, hitting low-income districts across Illinois the hardest. But Bruce Rauner has spent years blocking much-needed reform to our state’s school funding system. We need a governor whose future relies on the success of Illinois schools and the support of Illinois families, not on the profits of a broken tax structure.
  • Expanding access to child care. Parents shouldn’t have to choose between earning a living and being with their children, and that’s why Daniel has fought to expand access to childcare. With expanded childcare programs, children can begin their education and parents can earn a living, or go to school and further their own education.
  • Reforming schools. Daniel supported important reforms for the Chicago Public Schools, including an elected school board for the city. Chicago is the last district without one in Illinois. The people deserve a voice in their education system.
  • Protecting student loan borrowers. At a time when a quarter of student loan borrowers are behind in their payments, we have a responsibility to ensure borrowers understand their rights and have access to resources that will prevent them from defaulting on their loans. Daniel introduced landmark legislation to make this the law in Illinois, and his colleagues in the legislature joined with him to protect student rights by overriding the governor’s veto. Read more>>

In order to achieve educational equity and justice, much work lies ahead. Schools must be kept open and financially secure, teachers must receive the support they need, and all students — not just students from a few communities — must have access to neighborhood public schools with a rich curriculum, social supports, and reasonable class sizes. As governor, Daniel will fight for progressive school reforms, an overhaul of the Illinois school funding system, and continued expansion of crucial services.

Health Care for All
The U.S. spends more money per person than any other country in the world, but millions of Americans still went uninsured before the passage of the Affordable Care Act—including many in Illinois. While not perfect, President Obama’s plan was a huge step in the right direction. It has transformed the health care system in Illinois, bringing coverage to over one million Illinoisans, and brought billions of federal dollars into Illinois while creating tens of thousands of jobs. But there’s still more work to be done. Health insurance is still too expensive for many, and too many Illinoisans still do not have access to care. Daniel will fight for Medicare for All in Illinois, so that healthcare is finally treated like a universal right. Daniel’s record on health care includes:

  • Fighting for people with pre-existing conditions. Daniel didn’t just organize against President Trump’s American Health Care Act. He also passed legislation guaranteeing that even if Trumpcare went into effect, Illinoisans could not be denied coverage simply because of a pre-existing condition.
  • Covering those with disabilities. Daniel co-sponsored a bill requiring that insurance companies cover hearing aids for all under the age of 18 who needed them.
  • Expanding Medicaid. Daniel voted for a bill expanding total Medicaid eligibility, brought billions of new federal dollars in for healthcare, and brought coverage to over 300,000 uninsured Illinois residents.

However, there’s more work to be done. Health insurance is still too expensive for many, and too many Illinoisans still do not have access to care. Daniel will fight for Medicare for all in Illinois, so that healthcare is finally treated like the universal right it should be.

Clean Energy and Protecting the Environment'
Environmental protection is more important today than ever. Daniel has always been a strong supporter of environmental protection, working closely with environmental advocates and formulating creative new ideas of his own. Here are a few of Daniel’s positions on energy and environmental issues:

  • Adhering to International Climate Regulations. As a result of the fallout from Donald Trump’s withdrawal of the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement, Daniel pledged to enter Illinois into the U.S. Climate Alliance if elected governor.
  • Reducing carbon emissions. Daniel has long advocated for commonsense environmental policies, like cutting carbon emissions in half by 2030; this will increase energy efficiency in Illinois, create jobs, and reduce global warming a great deal.
  • Investing in alternative energy. Daniel sponsored a bill authorizing the state to conduct research on wind farm development along Lake Michigan.
  • Supporting major electronic recycling law. As a new state legislator, Daniel passed a landmark electronic recycling law, keeping millions of pounds of electronic waste out of landfills and creating jobs in the recycling sector.

The work doesn’t stop there. Reducing carbon emissions needs to be a priority. Illinois must move to a fully renewable energy mix, preserve its rivers, prairies, and woodlands, and make sustainability a goal in future infrastructure investments.

Addressing Gun Violence and Police Accountability
Across Illinois, neighborhoods suffer from the scourge of gun violence and a lack of trust in the people who are supposed to be protecting them. This cannot continue. Illinois needs a solution that revitalizes affected communities and builds strong relationships with law enforcement. Daniel’s past work in these areas includes:

  • Ensuring Police are accountable. Daniel supported a bill authorizing civilians to record police officers, because he feels police accountability and holding police to the standard of law they uphold is crucially important.
  • Enacting Smart Gun Laws. Daniel sponsored a bill requiring all gun dealers in Illinois to have a license; this is one of many policies addressing gun violence by enforcing requirements that keep guns out of the wrong hands.

But there is so much more to be done. First, we must work to reduce the burden on police officers by investing in the critical social service and violence prevention programs that protect afflicted communities. We must also invest in the economic revitalization of economically struggling communities is hugely important; after all, the most powerful violence prevention program is a job. It is no coincidence that crime has spiked on the South and West sides of Chicago — they are the same communities the city and state has left behind for a generation or longer. Finally, more commonsense gun safety policies, like the gun dealer licensing bill Daniel sponsored, need to be passed to address the systemic causes of this issue.

Respecting All Illinoisans
As a citizen of Illinois, Daniel believes that his sense of duty comes not from being a politician but from being a neighbor. A prosperous community is one with social programs that people can depend on without fear of them being cut. Where rehabilitation of formerly incarcerated people can lead to a fresh start. Where women have access to the care they need, without interference from the government.

Protecting Seniors
Illinois’ population is getting older, and the state’s financial and healthcare infrastructure are not strong enough to help seniors retire and age with dignity. Here’s what Daniel has done to make this right:

  • Creating the Secure Choice Program. As a first step, Daniel created the Secure Choice program, which provides an automatic enrollment retirement account for the millions of workers whose employers do not provide retirement plans—finally giving them a decent shot at a dignified retirement. The Secure Choice Program, the first of its kind, has since become a national model.
  • Advocating for the Community Care Program. Financial security isn’t all that matters—leaders must ensure that Illinois families will have the at-home care and support they need as they grow older. It’s why Daniel advocated so strongly against changes to the Community Care Program which helps seniors stay in their own homes longer. Read more>>
  • Making nursing homes safer. Daniel has been the chief sponsor of legislation that would require nursing homes to have enough staff to provide residents with the decent, humane care that they deserve.

As governor, Daniel will continue to fight for programs letting seniors to live comfortably and securely in retirement.

Equal Rights for All
The government of Illinois has a responsibility to protect and expand the civil rights of the people of Illinois. Illinois must not only stand with people of color, immigrants, refugees, and the LGBTQ community against discrimination, but state leaders must also create systemic change that does not allow for discrimination in the first place. Here’s how Daniel has fought for social justice reforms:

  • Expanding LGBTQ equality. The incredible passion and bravery of the LGBTQ community over the years has changed minds, hearts, and changed our laws for the better. And our state is better because of their sacrifices. But being better isn’t enough — we have to fulfill our responsibility to protect and expand values of fairness and equality for all. That’s why Daniel and Litesa introduced a comprehensive platform to protect and expand equality for Illinois’ community.
  • Protecting undocumented immigrants. Daniel co-sponsored the TRUST Act in 2017, creating safe havens for immigrants in state buildings and preventing Illinois law enforcement from assisting in federal immigration actions without a warrant. Daniel has proudly fought for the rights of immigrants in Illinois.
  • Banning “gay panic” defense. Under Illinois law, the fear of someone’s sexual orientation or identity used to be an acceptable defense for violence. Daniel and Litesa sponsored and passed a bill to end this archaic practice and put Illinois on the right side of history. The bill they passed is being used as a model for other states around the country.
  • Prohibiting youth conversion therapy. Daniel sponsored the Youth Mental Health Act, which prohibits “gay conversion” therapy for minors in the state of Illinois.
  • Enacting the Equal Rights Amendment. Daniel proudly voted for the ERA in 2014 and is currently a co-sponsor of the legislation in the current legislative session. Daniel believes passing the ERA an important, overdue step towards the goal of ending gender disparities.

Illinois can only achieve its full potential when its laws and leaders ensure equal access and equal opportunity to all people.

Criminal Justice Reform
Our criminal justice system has been broken for too long. For years, Illinois politicians trying to appear “tough on crime” have instituted ever-harsher policies written out of fear, rather than evidence. Our system is worse off as a result, as communities lose trust in the police that serve them, and the law is applied unevenly across lines of race, class, and geography.

That’s why Daniel is fighting to change the culture of the criminal justice system in Illinois. Daniel has advocated for sensible criminal justice policies, including the legalization of marijuana, as well as job training and employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated people to reduce recidivism rates. Here’s how Daniel has worked to change it:

  • Advocating a FAIR approach to justice. To fix criminal justice in Illinois, our state must do four things: fund the system responsibly; address sentencing and pre-trial detention; increase accountability, transparency, and training; and reduce recidivism and support re-entry. Daniel and Litesa are proud to introduce and fight for the FAIR approach to justice.
  • Legalizing marijuana. Legalizing and regulating marijuana will increase tax revenue, reduce law enforcement costs, and bring jobs to Illinois. More importantly, the application of marijuana laws disproportionately targets African Americans despite similar rates of use between white and black Americans. This is why Daniel co-sponsored a bill that would fully legalize marijuana in Illinois.
  • Reducing recidivism. People returning home from prison often experience high levels of discrimination, which in turn leads to high levels of recidivism. These collateral consequences include discrimination in housing, education, jobs, social services, and other means to creating stable and productive lives. By dismantling this legalized discrimination, we can reduce the immense cost of recidivism to taxpayers. This is why Daniel advocates for long-term solutions to crime reduction rather than unproductively harsh punishment. Daniel also introduced and passed legislation discontinuing a law allowing the state of Illinois to sue former inmates to cover the cost of their incarceration, which Governor Rauner then vetoed.
  • Training inmates for lawful jobs. Illinois’ current approach to criminal justice does not address the root causes of criminal activity, such as poverty and lack of education. Job training provides people with histories of incarceration, many of whom come from marginalized communities, with a lawful way to support themselves after they reenter society. We need to strengthen these programs by training both incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people for careers rather than low-level jobs.

It is time to create systemic change that reflects Illinois’ priorities for the future, not the practices of the past.

Defending Women's Rights
With Donald Trump in the White House and Neil Gorsuch on the Supreme Court, women’s equality and women’s reproductive rights are under attack—and with Bruce Rauner in Springfield, conditions are even worse for women in Illinois. The rights and opportunities of all citizens should be protected.

  • Ensuring family care and paid family leave. Every Illinois worker should receive paid family leave so no one has to choose between being employed and taking care of their family. Without statewide access to paid family leave, families and the economy alike will hurt. That’s why Daniel introduced the Let Illinois Families Excel (LIFE) Platform — a universal family care plan to support Illinoisans at every stage of life and level the playing field for working people.
  • Compensating women equally. It’s 2018, and yet a conversation is still being had about whether or not women should be paid equally to men for equal work. In Illinois last year, women made an average of $41,327 to men’s $52,161. Daniel passed legislation to strengthen the Illinois Equal Pay Act by prohibiting employers from asking job seekers about their previous compensation — legislation that Bruce Rauner then vetoed. Illinois has an obligation to ensure equal compensation in the workplace.
  • Protecting the right to choose. The federal government will not tell the women of Illinois what to do with their bodies. Daniel sponsored HB40, which protects a woman’s right to choose even if Roe v. Wade is overturned.
  • Providing health care options for patients. Daniel respects health care providers’ right to deny care that is not in accord with their faith. However, Catholic hospitals handle 1/4 of all hospital admissions statewide. Daniel proposed legislation that respects the religious rights of Catholic hospitals by allowing them to deny services to patients so long as they inform the patient of alternative resources.

Equality for women should be nonpartisan and a no-brainer. As governor, Daniel will continue to fight alongside women in Illinois.

Protecting Social Programs
Community supports are often the first thing on the chopping block in a state budget crisis. Funding for human service providers has been cruelly slashed over the last decade. Why? Because they aren’t backed by big money or any political machine. Daniel has led the fight in Springfield to protect these programs:

  • Fought for human service providers. As past chair of the Senate Human Services committee, Daniel helped make sure that human service providers and, just as importantly, their clients had a voice in Springfield.
  • Expanded access to SNAP. Daniel worked hard to restore cuts to childcare programs—and to expand it. Even during the current budget stalemate, he was able to expand access to SNAP benefits so that almost 40,000 working families now have access to food.
  • Community Care Program. Daniel fought to protect the Community Care Program for seniors. And, just as importantly, Daniel fought to make sure that human service providers have adequate rates to pay frontline staff a living wage.

Daniel has and will continue to make sure that state government serves people, not big money and the machine.

Fight Money and the Machine
Daniel is running for governor because he believes every voice in Illinois deserves to be heard. That’s why he introduced Rewriting the Rules: six proposals to build a political system that serves the interests of everyday people. Daniel’s vision for Illinois takes big money out of government and restores the powerful voice that ordinary citizens are entitled to.

Daniel’s vision for Illinois takes big money out of government and restores the powerful voice that ordinary citizens are entitled to. Voter turnout is essential to ensuring the mandate of the people and the recently passed bill Daniel co-sponsored, automatically registering people to vote, will make it easier for all Illinoisans to have a high level of involvement in government.

Taking On Big Money
Money has always been a part of politics, but the Citizens United decision affirmed it would be a disturbingly out-sized influence for generations to come. Here is what Daniel has done to fight big money:

  • Equalizing campaign finance laws. Daniel has introduced a small-donor matching program in Illinois to take on the influence of big money on politics. The program would amplify the voices of regular voters while ensuring that ordinary people — who face the same economic realities as everyday Illinoisans — are among the people who can afford to run for office, and represent us.
  • Closing the Wall Street loophole. The carried interest loophole allows some of Illinois’s richest citizens — like ultra-wealthy hedge fund managers — to pay taxes at a lower rate than truck drivers and kindergarten teachers. Daniel sponsored and passed a bill out of the Illinois Senate to make Illinois the first state in the nation to fix that loophole, but there’s still plenty more to be done.

Taking on the Machine
It is no secret to anyone in Illinois that machine politics are completely broken, and that the system needs to be fixed to once again work for all Illinoisans. Here’s how Daniel has fought the machine:

  • Easing the property tax burden. Sky-high property taxes in Illinois have put the strain of the budget deficit on the back of the middle-class while billionaires reap the tax breaks given by the machine. Meanwhile, some county assessors cut the wealthiest homeowners a break by making their homes look less valuable than they really are — but tax homes in working-class neighborhoods at more than double their actual value. That is why Daniel has introduced the HOME Act to reform the way county assessors do their jobs. And by fighting for a progressive income tax, Illinois can further reduce the property tax burden on middle-class families.
  • Enacting term limits. One of Daniel’s first acts as a legislator was to introduce a measure to limit the amount of time anyone could serve as Speaker of the House or Senate President.
  • Fighting for local government consolidation. It’s time to end long-standing government structures in Illinois that have allowed for reckless fiscal policies and good ol’ boy politics as usual—they simply do not work in Illinois’ best interest. Daniel has therefore fought for ideas like municipal consolidation, which allows local governments struggling financially to join with a nearby partner, enabling them to improve services while reducing wasteful spending, while mitigating corruption.

[9]

”
—Biss for Illinois[10]

2012

Biss' campaign website listed the following issues:[11]

  • Jobs and the Economy
Excerpt: "I have a five-point plan for job creation for Illinois that includes investment in small business, technology, and education. My plan focuses on innovation and is rooted in the principles of efficiency, transparency, and sustainability."
  • Political Reform
Excerpt: "While the state faces many problems that demand creative solutions, none is more pressing than political reform that will restore the public confidence in our government."
  • Education
Excerpt: "Illinois schools must prepare our children for the future. In a global economy, American competitiveness rests on providing each student with the best possible education. Improving Illinois's schools is my top priority."
  • Healthcare
Excerpt: "As your State Representative, I will fight to fix our broken health care system. In particular, I will support efforts to provide health insurance coverage to all Illinoisans."
  • Environment
Excerpt: "Today, however, we face the largest environmental challenge in history, the threat of global warming. As your State Representative, I will work to ensure that Illinois is a leader in developing the policies and technologies needed to solve global warming and the other environmental challenges of our time."
  • Choice
Excerpt: "Experience has taught us that the best way to keep abortion safe but rare is to combine pro-choice laws with broad reproductive health education programs."
  • Smart Growth
Excerpt: "I believe that Illinois should invest in the health of existing communities, rather than subsidizing sprawling growth in largely undeveloped exurban areas."
  • Civil Rights
Excerpt: "As your State Representative, I will consistently work to pass laws that support and strengthen these rights and protections."

Campaign finance

2018

The table below presents campaign finance figures obtained from Illinois Sunshine on March 15, 2018.[12] For current campaign finance information, refer to Illinois Sunshine or the Illinois State Board of Elections' contribution and expenditure databases.


Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Daniel K. Biss campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2014Illinois State Senate, District 9Won $476,860 N/A**
2012Illinois State Senate, District 9Won $588,845 N/A**
2010Illinois State House, District 17Won $764,738 N/A**
2008Illinois State House, District 17Lost $470,233 N/A**
Grand total$2,300,676 N/A**
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.


2014

Biss won re-election to the Illinois State Senate in 2014. During that election cycle, Biss raised a total of $476,860.

2012

Biss won election to the Illinois State Senate in 2012. During that election cycle, Biss raised a total of $588,845.

2010

Biss won election to the Illinois House of Representatives in 2010. During that election cycle, Biss raised a total of $764,738.

2008

Biss lost the election for the Illinois House of Representatives in 2008. During that election cycle, Biss raised a total of $470,233.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Illinois

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Illinois scorecards, email suggestions to [email protected].







2019

In 2019, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 9 through December 31.

Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on bills that "help or hinder Illinois citizens with developmental disabilities access more included lives in their homes and communities."'
Legislators are scored on their votes on manufacturing issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.


2018


2017


2016


2015


2014


2013

Polls

2018

Illinois gubernatorial Democratic primary, 2018
Poll Pritzker KennedyBissHardimanDaiberMarshallGetzSomeone elseUndecided/OtherMargin of errorSample size
Capitol Fax/We Ask America
March 7-9, 2018		 35.37%15.65%14.58%0.87%1.46%0.68%0%0%31.39%+/-3.11,029
Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, Southern Illinois University
February 19-25, 2018		 31%17%21%2%1%1%1%1%25%+/-4.5472
ALG Research for Biss
February 6-11, 2018		 32%24%24%2%1%1%0%0%16%+/-4.4500
Global Strategy Group for Pritzker
January 29-31, 2018		 41%16%22%0%0%0%0%0%20%+/-3.5801
We Ask America
January 28-30, 2018		 29.79%11.50%17.43%1.73%0.87%0.74%0%0%37.95%+/-3.4811
Capitol Fax/We Ask America
October 17-18, 2017		 39%15%6%1%1%0%0%0%36%+/-3.01,154
Garin-Hart-Yang
June 26-29, 2017		 38%44%0%0%0%0%0%0%18%+/-4.0602
AVERAGES 35.17% 20.45% 15% 1.09% 0.76% 0.49% 0.14% 0.14% 26.33% +/-3.7 767
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to [email protected].
Illinois gubernatorial Democratic primary, 2018 (no margin of error information)
Poll J.B. Pritzker Chris KennedyDaniel BissUndecided/OtherSample Size
Global Strategy Group for Pritzker
(February 9-13, 2017)		 37%23%21%19%802
Note: A "0%" finding means the candidate was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to [email protected].


Online presence

2018

The following social media statistics were compiled on December 11, 2017.

Facebook Twitter
Candidate Followers Likes Comments on Last Ten Posts Followers Following Tweets
Democratic Party Biss 32,688 30,611 45 10,842 531 4,732
Democratic Party Kennedy 50,618 49,939 45 4,440 161 861
Democratic Party Pritzker 47,555 45,984 773 18,424 1,756 5,622


Campaign advertisements

2018

"Fired Up" - Biss campaign ad, released March 18, 2018
"Difference" - Biss campaign ad, released March 14, 2018
"Anything" - Biss campaign ad, released March 9, 2018
"Chance" - Biss campaign ad, released March 2, 2018
"Commitment" - Biss campaign ad, released February 19, 2018
"$56" - Biss campaign ad, released February 19, 2018
"More" - Biss campaign ad, released February 19, 2018
"Copy" - Biss campaign ad, released January 25, 2018
"Daniel's Story" - Biss campaign ad, released January 12, 2018
"Homework" - Biss campaign ad, released January 9, 2018
"It's Personal" - Biss campaign ad, released January 9, 2018
"Daniel Biss: The Cure for BSBS" - Biss campaign ad, released November 3, 2017


Endorsements

2014

In 2014, Biss' endorsements included the following:[15]

  • Equality Illinois Political Action Committee (PAC)

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for Daniel + Biss + Illinois + Legislature

Daniel Biss News Feed

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ LinkedIn, "Daniel Biss," accessed January 31, 2018
  2. ↑ Biss Wallace for Illinois, "Meet Daniel," accessed January 31, 2018
  3. ↑ Illinois Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed March 18, 2014
  4. ↑ Illinois Board of Elections, "General Primary Election Official Canvass," April 18, 2014
  5. ↑ Illinois Secretary of State, "Official general election candidate list," accessed March 18, 2014
  6. ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Candidate List," accessed August 4, 2011
  7. ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, “Official Vote - November 6, 2012 General Election,” accessed December 31, 2012
  8. ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Illinois Official 2010 General Election Results," accessed February 20, 2014
  9. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  10. ↑ Biss-Wallace for Illinois, "The Issues," accessed February 16, 2018
  11. ↑ Democracy for America, "Daniel Biss for State Representative," accessed February 20, 2014
  12. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named illinoissunshine
  13. ↑ Citizen Action Illinois, "99th General Assembly Legislative Scorecard 2016," accessed July 11, 2017
  14. ↑ Illinois Parents of Adults with Developmental Disabilities, "2016 Illinois Community Living Report," accessed July 11, 2017
  15. ↑ Windy City Media Group, "Equality Illinois PAC issues endorsements," January 17, 2014
Political offices
Preceded by
Jeffrey Schoenberg (D) 		Illinois State Senate District 9
2013-2019 		Succeeded by
Laura Fine (D)
Preceded by
Elizabeth Coulson (R) 		Illinois House of Representatives District 17
2011–2013 		Succeeded by
Laura Fine (D)


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