Press Release
Father Michael Pfleger Endorses Robin Kelly for U.S. Senate, Citing Unrivaled Leadership
Father Michael Pfleger Endorses Robin Kelly for U.S. Senate, Citing Unrivaled Leadership
CHICAGO — Father Michael Pfleger, renowned activist and Senior Pastor of Saint Sabina Church, today announced his strong endorsement of Robin Kelly for U.S. Senate, praising her exceptional and nationally recognized leadership on issues affecting our communities, especially the fight against gun violence.
Pfleger, a tireless advocate for peace and justice on Chicago’s South Side and across the nation, is backing Kelly for her proven track record in Congress, bold leadership delivering for people across Illinois, and dedication to gun violence prevention that set her apart as the only choice to represent Illinois in the Senate.
“From the moment Robin entered Congress, she has been a local and national champion on not just gun violence prevention but issues that improve our communities,” Pfleger said. “Robin is present, available, and always standing with us. We need Robin’s voice and proven ability to drive change in the U.S. Senate now more than ever. Robin Kelly doesn’t just talk about making people’s lives better. She gets results."
"I’m deeply honored to receive Father Pfleger’s endorsement,” Kelly said. “His commitment to fighting for peace, justice, and community is an inspiration to me and everyone who cares about making people’s lives better and safer. In the Senate, I will continue to draw on the wisdom of leaders like Father Pfleger and use my national experience to push for transformative, life-saving legislation that lifts communities across Illinois.”
In Congress, Kelly has led on the issue of gun violence prevention, serving as the Vice Chair of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Gun Violence Prevention Task Force:
Kelly took on the NRA to deliver historic gun violence prevention legislation that expands background checks to get guns out of the hands of violent abusers.
Kelly fought to include important gun trafficking and community violence intervention provisions in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that became federal law in 2022.
Following the Pulse nightclub shooting, she helped plan and led the 2016 House Gun Violence Sit-in with the late Congressman John Lewis that shut down the House floor for 26 hours to protest House Republicans’ inaction on America’s gun violence epidemic. .
Kelly recently introduced and passed the Prevent Gun Trafficking Act in the House and introduces the Wear Orange resolution every year in honor of Hadiya Pendleton, who was shot and killed in a Chicago park. The resolution also designates June as National Gun Violence Awareness Month, which keeps the issue of gun violence at the forefront of Congressional action.
Kelly fought to recognize gun violence as a public health emergency, which would direct the US Department of Health and Human Services to submit an annual report to Congress about the public health effects of gun violence. In 2024, US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy followed her calls and declared gun violence as a public health emergency.
Since 2021, Kelly has led the annual appropriations letter to fund the Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative, successfully disbursing over $300 million in CVIPI grants starting in FY2022.
Kelly has introduced over 30 bills addressing gun violence in the House since being elected. The very first bill she introduced in Congress was to end the exemption of firearms from the Consumer Product Safety Act, now called the Firearm Safety Act.
Kelly notably authored the “Kelly Report,” the first Congressional document to accurately frame gun violence as a public health crisis — a groundbreaking moment that helped shift the national conversation toward evidence-based, data-driven, comprehensive solutions.
Kelly also champions gun safety solutions like safe storage solutions to address gun incidents that are accidents, as opposed to violence.
Father Pfleger’s endorsement adds to growing support and endorsements of Kelly for the U.S. Senate, including: U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, Brady PAC, the nation’s oldest gun violence prevention organization; leaders in the gun violence prevention community; members of Congress, including members of the Congressional Black Caucus; the Congressional Black Caucus PAC; Elect Democratic Women, the only member-led political action committee dedicated to increasing the number of women in Congress; Jotaka Eaddy, founder of Win with Black Women and a nationally renowned business executive, social impact strategist, and investor; nearly 70 members of the state’s LGBTQIA+ community and local leaders across Illinois.
More information on Robin Kelly, her leadership in Congress, and her candidacy for the U.S. Senate can be found on her website.