Kirk, Mark (1959-…), was a United States senator from 2010 to 2017. Kirk, a Republican, represented Illinois. Prior to his election to the Senate, Kirk served in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Mark Steven Kirk was born on Sept. 15, 1959, in Champaign, Illinois. He received a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University in 1981. In 1982, he earned a master’s degree from the London School of Economics. From 1984 to 1990, he served as chief of staff for Congressman John Porter, a Republican from Illinois. In 1989, Kirk joined the U.S. Naval Reserve, where he has served as an intelligence officer. Kirk received a law degree from Georgetown University in 1992. He later worked in the U.S. Department of State and as an attorney for a private law firm. He was counsel (lawyer) for the House International Relations Committee from 1995 to 1999.
In 2000, Kirk won election to Porter’s former seat in the House of Representatives, representing Chicago’s northern suburbs. As a congressman, Kirk focused much of his attention on international issues. In November 2010, Kirk won election to the U.S. Senate. He also won a special election to serve out the final weeks of the term of retiring Senator Roland Burris. Burris, a Democrat, had been appointed to the seat in 2008.
As a U.S. senator, Kirk worked to reduce taxes and business regulations. He served on the Senate’s committees on Appropriations, Banking, and Aging. In January 2012, Kirk suffered a major stroke. He began undergoing rehabilitation the following month. Kirk returned to the Senate in January 2013. In November 2016, Kirk lost his bid for reelection to the Senate. He was defeated by Democrat Tammy Duckworth, a U.S. representative and combat veteran.
