Mark Kirk

A Senator and a Representative from Illinois. Born in Champaign, Champaign County, Ill. , September 15, 1959. B. A. , Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. , 1981. M. S. , London School of Economics, London, England, 1982. J. D. , Georgetown University, Washington, D. C. , 1992. United States Naval Reserves, 1989 to present. Lawyer, private practice. Staff member for United States Representative John Porter of Illinois, 1984-1990. Special assistant, United States Department of State, 1992-1993. Staff member for United States House of Representatives International Relations Committee, 1995. Elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Seventh and to the four succeeding Congresses, and served from January 3, 2001, until his resignation on November 29, 2010. Was not a candidate for reelection to the House of Representatives but was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in the November 2, 2010, special election to the term ending January 3, 2011, a seat previously held by appointed Senator Roland Burris, and at the same time elected in the general election for the six-year term ending January 3, 2017. Took the oath of office on November 29, 2010. Unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 2016.