Kam Buckner

Though he only joined the General Assembly in 2019, state Rep. Kambium “Kam” Buckner, a self-styled progressive Democrat, has jumped into some of Springfield’s hottest issues, serving as one of the lead negotiators on the state’s clean energy package and the SAFE-T Act, sponsoring legislation that requires serialization of so-called ghost guns and that allows college athletes to be paid for use of their name and likeness, and backing legislation creating an elected school board in Chicago. He has not avoided controversy: Buckner has been charged twice for driving under the influence.

Since joining the mayoral race, Buckner, a former football player at the University of Illinois, has been steadily rolling out policy proposals, including improving CTA service and safety, boosting the city’s environmental commitments, and filling vacancies at the Chicago Police Department.

Age: 37

Born: Chicago

Personal: Married to Bernardette Salgado-Buckner; a son, Kas

Education: Bachelor’s degree, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; law degree, DePaul University

Neighborhood: Bronzeville

Current job: State representative; vice president of governmental affairs, Outfront Media

Government experience: State representative (2019-current); adviser for then-New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu (2012-13); aide to U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (2007-12)

Political experience: Government and neighborhood relations for Chicago Cubs (2013-15); House chairman, Illinois Legislative Black Caucus (2020-current)

Campaign slogan: ”From Chicago. For Chicago.”

Campaign website: kamformayor.com