Iris Martinez

3137 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago, IL 60618

Committees:

Circuit Court Selection, Community Outreach, Policy

Biography:

In 2002, Senator Iris Y. Martinez became the first Hispanic woman elected to the Illinois State Senate. Martinez later became the first Latina ever appointed to senate leadership. In March of 2020 she was elected as Democratic Committeeperson of the 33rd Ward and became the Democratic nominee for Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Senator Martinez is a founding member of the Illinois Women in Leadership (IWIL) and former Vice-Chair of the Illinois Democratic Party. She currently serves as the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee Hispanic Caucus and is a member of the Executive and Rules & Bylaws committees for the DNC. Martinez is past president of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators, and member of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials, and the National Conference of State Legislators. Senator Martinez was born and raised in Chicago’s West Town community. She resides in the city’s Albany Park neighborhood and has a daughter, Jacklyn Nicole. Her senate district includes some of Chicago’s most diverse neighborhoods including Albany Park, Avondale, Belmont, Cragin, Hermosa, Humboldt Park, Logan Square and Portage Park.