Mark Kirk

Mark Kirk
U.S. Senator from Illinois From: November 29, 2010 – January 3, 2017
Predecessor	Roland Burris
Successor	Tammy Duckworth
Former U.S. Representative from Illinois's 10th Congressional District From: January 3, 2001 – November 29, 2010
Predecessor	John Porter
Successor	Robert Dold
Information
Party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Kimberly Vertolli (2001-2009)(divorced)
Religion	United Church of Christ

Mark Steven Kirk (born September 15, 1959) is the jformer United States Senator from Illinois, having won the Senate seat once held by President Obama. A Republican, he previously he represented Illinois's 10th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.

In the House, Kirk was a member of the Appropriations Committee. Previously he was a Naval Reserve intelligence officer and served during conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Haiti, and Bosnia. Kirk has voted with a majority of his Republican colleagues 86% of the time during the current Congress.^[1] A liberal Republican, he received a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America and an 82% rating from the League of Conservation Voters.^[2] Kirk describes himself as someone who works to advance a suburban agenda that is "pro-defense, pro-personal responsibility, pro-environment, and pro-science." In reality, it is a leftist agenda. He was one of only eight House Republicans who voted for the cap and trade climate legislation. Kirk voted against the 2009 economic stimulus package.

Regardless of his campaign rhetoric, Kirk is very left-wing on numerous issues. He is very anti-Second Amendment;^[3][4] rivals leftist Democrats in his extremely strong support for the homosexual agenda;^[5] is a strong supporter for illegal immigration, "sanctuary cities",^[6] and amnesty for illegal immigrants;^[7][8] very strongly supports the legalized murder of unborn human beings;^{[9][10][11][12]} and supports confirming other leftists into the judiciary and executive branch;^[13][14] among other leftist positions.

For the 2016 elections, Kirk publicly and strong opposed conservative businessman and Republican nominee Donald Trump.^[15][16] However, Kirk also made several controversial and silly statements,^[17] such as calling Senator Lindsey Graham a "bro with no ho."^[18]

Despite refusing to endorse Trump, and despite running as a liberal in Illinois, Kirk still lost the 2016 election in a landslide to fellow leftist Tammy Duckworth.^[19]

Kirk has stated that "I always sought to be a representative of that moderate, Midwestern, practical, incremental, 'let's get 'er done' crowd of the American people" even though his leftist political positions, many of which were extreme fringe positions only a few decades prior, strongly suggest the opposite.^[20]

Kirk suffered a stroke on January 21, 2012, affecting the physical movement on his left side but not affecting his cognitive skills. He spent months in rehabilitation, and returned home in May 2012, but as of June, has not yet returned to the Senate.^[21] One perk Kirk receives as a senator is unlimited sick leave.^[22]

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• On the Issues