ENDORSEMENT: Samantha Simpson for Illinois House in 31st District Democratic primary

It’s not often that a first-time candidate for elective office is as prepared as Samantha Simpson to step in and do the job.

SHARE ENDORSEMENT: Samantha Simpson for Illinois House in 31st District Democratic primary
Samantha Simpson is the Sun-Times choice in the Illinois House 31st District Democratic primary.

Samantha Simpson is the Sun-Times choice in the Illinois House 31st District Democratic primary.

Rich Hein/Sun-Times

It’s not often that a first-time candidate for elective office is as prepared as Samantha Simpson to step in and do the job.

Simpson is a born-and-raised South Sider with an impressive academic record — a master’s degree from the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Johns Hopkins University. During her high school years, she commuted every day — an hour and a half each way — to Loyola Academy in Wilmette.

For six years, Simpson was a senior manager at the fledgling Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. She helped write regulations and set the agenda for the agency, which was established in 2011 to protect American consumers against the worst business abuses identified during the 2008 financial crisis.

For two years prior to that, Simpson was communications and policy manager for the Ohio attorney general’s office.

As a state representative, Simpson says, she would focus on property tax relief, improved state funding for public schools and local business development.

We endorse Simpson over incumbent Rep. Mary E. Flowers.


Illinois House 31st District map.

Illinois House 31st District map.

Illustration by Caroline Hurley


For more information about this race and others, including candidate questionnaires, go to our Illinois primary voting guide. Our newspaper is owned by a group of civic-minded and, in some cases, politically active investors; for details, see our owner information page.

Send letters to: letters@suntimes.com

The Latest
White Sox fans from all over will flock to Guaranteed Rate Field on Thursday for the team’s home opener against the Tigers.
Fans, some in costume, tailgate in the parking lots of Guaranteed Rate Field hours before the White Sox and Detroit Tigers kick off the 2024 seasons Thursday afternoon. Some weigh in on the proposed South Loop stadium.
Two weeks after the migrant eviction policy went into effect in Chicago, City Council members said not enough information on migrants exiting the shelter system has been provided.
Zoo officials were tipped off something was wrong after Bana stopped eating as much as she regularly did and appeared lethargic.