Jesse Jackson, Jr.
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Jesse Louis Jackson, Jr. (born March 11 1965) is a member of the United States House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Illinois (map (http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/il02_109.gif)). He is the son of civil rights movement leader Rev. Jesse L. Jackson.
Born in Greenville, South Carolina, he was educated at St. Albans School, Le Mans Academy, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Chicago Theological Seminary and the University of Illinois. Before entering the House, he was the national field director of the National Rainbow Coalition and a member of the Rainbow/PUSH Action Network. He is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.
He took his seat in the House after winning a special election in December 1995, following the conviction of Representative Mel Reynolds on sex charges and his subsequent resignation.
He remains one of the highest vote-getters in the U.S. House of Representatives. Jackson was an early supporter of both U.S. Senator Barack Obama of Illinois and former Governor Howard Dean of Vermont.
In March of 2005, he revealed that he had lost 50 pounds due to weight loss surgery.
External links
- Jesse Jackson Jr.'s website (http://www.jessejacksonjr.org/)
- Campaign finance (http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.asp?cycle=2004&cid=N00012457)
- Official House site (http://www.house.gov/jackson/)
| Preceded by: Mel Reynolds | U.S. Representative of Illinois's 2nd Congressional District 1995- | Succeeded by: Incumbent |