Politician/Jessica Meyer

Jessica Kelsey Meyer (née Jones; born February 19, 1987) is an American politician and attorney serving as the senior United States Senator from Illinois since 2027. A member of the Democratic Party, Meyer served as an Illinois State Representative and Senator before her election to the U.S Senate in 2026.

Meyer was raised in the suburbs of Chicago in 1987 graduated from the University of Southern California, and would later graduate from law school from the University of Chicago Law School. She would pass the state bar a year later and would begin her work as an Attorney for a local law firm. Where she famously defended Rapper Joey B for a defamation lawsuit.

Meyer began her political career in 2016, after being elected to the Illinois House of Representatives and serving for two terms, Meyer successfully ran for Illinois State Senate and would go on to serve 6 years in that position. In 2026 she defeated former Congressman Holden Zaytsev to become the junior United States Senator from Illinois, Meyer was sworn in on January 3rd, 2027.

In the Senate, Meyer passed legislation to implement a carbon capture mandate, high school equivalency programs, and passed legislation reducing the age of eligibility for social security benefits.

Meyer is a candidate for the 2036 Democratic nomination for President.

Early life and career
Jessica Kelsey Jones was born in Illinois in 1987 to Andrea and Martin Jones and was raised in the suburbs of Chicago, and graduated from the University of Southern California where she would later meet her husband, Carter Jones. She then graduated from the University of Chicago Law School in 2011 and would begin her work as an attorney after passing the state bar the next year, she would stay as an Attorney at a local law firm until her election as an Illinois State Representative.

During her time as an Attorney she pursued many serious criminal cases including murder and sexual assault, she also took on a high-profile case when rapper, Joey B was charged with defamation when he was accused of lying about one of his prior friends, Cornpop in a song. She would later win that case and serve as the prosecution for Cornpop in an assault case where Joey B accused Cornpop of being "a bad dude who ran a bunch of bad boys" Meyer would also win that case.

Illinois State House
After incumbent Jeremiah Bui announced his decision not to seek another term in the state house, Meyer decided to seek the open seat. She was elected to the Illinois State House in November 2016 having run unopposed in the general election. In her first week in the State House, in her first week, she would introduce legislation to establish Social Service Programs in Illinois which gained major support in the state and it passed unanimously in both chambers and was signed by Governor Charles Butler.

She would later oppose tax increases for lower-class citizens calling them a "failure to look out for the lower and middle class of our state" and would later introduce a bill to lower taxes for the 1st and 2nd tax brackets in Illinois but the bill would be rejected by the Democratic majority committee.

Meyer would win re-election in 2018 with over 65% of the vote against her Republican opponent and would go on to serve a second term.

In her second term, she introduced legislation to implement a universal background check which passed both the State House and Senate and would be signed into law by Governor Elena Roman who praised the bill as "an important step forward to an end to gun violence in the state of Illinois".

Illinois Senate
Meyer announced her candidacy for Illinois Senate on January 5th, 2020 on a social media post and filed paperwork later that day. She won her primary in June of 2020 against City Councilman; Kenneth Rivera and would win the general election against Luis Henson in November 2020. Meyer was sworn in on January 13th, 2021.

Meyer would introduce legislation for an Assualt Weapon Ban in her first week in the Illinois Senate, which caused a major backlash against many conservative members of the State Senate. Despite the opposition, the bill still passed in the State Senate but was blocked in the State House by Chairman Gary Armstrong who called it a "Complete overstep of the government's duty when it comes to guns"

She would later write legislation to provide grants to city and county jails to deal with the rehabilitation of prisoners, although it passed the State House with bi-partisan support, Chairman Gary Armstrong of the Illinois House Judiciary Committee refused to hold a hearing for the bill.

Meyer won re-election to the State Senate in 2024 having run unopposed in both the primary and general. In her second term, she was elected by her colleagues to serve as Chair of the Progressive Caucus. Using the role to influence a more reasonable progressive support to policies.

Meyer remained in the Illinois Senate until assuming office to the United States Senate in January 2027 succeeding retiring Senator Madison Riley.

2026 Election
In December of 2026 Illinois, Senator Madison Riley announced her decision not to seek a second term to the United States Senate in order to seek the office of Governor of Illinois, Meyer would announce her candidacy the following month and received top backing from Congressional and State Democrats.

Harris faced Congressman Dorian Nganga and Businesswoman Dorothy Dotson in the Democratic primary, Meyer constantly outraised both her Democratic and Republican opponents and easily won the primary in June with 47% of the vote. She was later endorsed by President Estevan Menoza and Vice President Mario Amador the following week.

In the general election, she faced former Congressman Holden Zaytsev. The two participated in one general election debate where Meyer promised to continue the policies of President Menoza in the United States Senate, while Zaytsev attacked Meyer for her liberal policy.

Meyer won the general election with 61% of the vote.

First term
Meyer was sworn into the United States Senate on January 3rd, 2027. In her first week in the Senate, she introduced a bill to implement a carbon capture mandate across the United States which successfully passed the Republican house and senate with bipartisan support. She then introduced legislation to supply unemployed citizens with a High School equivalency program that also passed with bi-partisan support.

Meyer was at odds with a majority of the Senate when she opposed a budget resolution that repealed the medicare expansion program. Calling it "A slap in the face for the people who rely on this program every single day"

Meyer voted against Sen. Damian Sessions' bill to decrease the eligibility rate for public housing. In 2028 Meyer introduced a bill to create a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants but it was blocked in committee. She also voted in favor of Senator Vera Adam's bill to decrease the required years of service in the military from 20 years to 18.

In 2029 Meyer would introduce a bill to decrease the social security eligibility get to 68 from the existing 69. The bill would pass the Republican-controlled Congress and be signed into law by President Estevan Menoza

In 2030 Meyer was the sole vote against the 2030 Budget resolution primarily due to its cuts in social services in healthcare.

Meyer introduced legislation in 2031 to reduce the amount of prison time for crimes related to drugs from an average of 3 years to an average of half a year. It passed both chambers of Congress and was signed by President Menoza.

2032 reelection campaign
Meyer announced her decision to seek re-election to the United States Senate in December of 2029 and began raising funds soon after, she faced no opposition in the primary and went on to face off former Congressional candidate, Elliot Ryan. The two participated in one general election debate where Meyer slammed her opponents' lack of experience and policy. She would go on to win the election with 56% of the vote. Her victory coincided with the election of Republican Dale Appleby to the Presidency.

Second term
In her first speech after winning a second term, Meyer promised to fight back against the divisive rhetoric from President-elect Appleby and pledged to oppose any legislation that she didn't view as beneficial for the American people. On the same day, Meyer was chosen by her colleagues in the progressive caucus to be their chair.

In 2034 Meyer was the sole vote against the joint congressional budget resolution due to its decrease in healthcare benefits, the next year in 2035 she was outed as chair of the progressive caucus by her colleagues in favor of a 5-term Senator, Darnell Wheatley of New York due to the fact many say it as a potential conflict of interest with a potential Presidential campaign.

2036 presidential campaign
Meyer was considered a top-tier choice for the Presidency since the beginning of her second term and her influx of fundraising reflected that where she brought in over $100 million dollars from previous campaigns and from independent fundraising throughout her term as Senator. Speculation increased after she released a memoir the previous year with high-profile stops in Iowa and South Carolina. On May 4th, 2035 she teased an announcement on the "Extra Late Show with Tyler Hughes" in which she said she was "definitely planning something". On May 6th, 2035 she announced her candidacy on a social media post and launched her campaign at a rally in Chicago, Illinois to an overflow crowd of 12,000 people. Meyer established her campaign headquarters in downtown Chicago in the Blue Cross Blue Shield Building.

In the first week of her campaign, she placed third in fundraising falling behind U.S Senator from Washington Fernando Quintana and the junior U.S Senator from Illinois Coretta Scott. Responding to the fundraising numbers Meyer said it was a sign of strength for her campaign.

In the first Democratic presidential debate in September 2035, Meyer pledged her support for Democratic policy and values and pledged to bring back the "Menoza era" of American politics of "American equality and hope". She continued to tout her experience and left-leaning policies in the second Democratic presidential debate, while also pledging to implement a Universal Healthcare program if elected.

Personal Life
Meyer is married to Carter Meyer since 2010 and has 3 children, one son, and two daughters. She has 3 homes, 2 in Illinois and an apartment in Washington. Meyer's parents met in South Carolina and would later move to Illinois where they had Meyer.