Georgetown University (B.A.- 1988), Loyola University Chicago School of Law (J.D.- 1994).
Daughter of long-time Democratic powerbroker and Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan.
Madigan was just four years out of law school when her father initiated her political career in 1998. He lined up support for Ms. Madigan to challenge to incumbent State Sen. Bruce Farley (D-Chicago), who was under investigation at the time for mail fraud. She won 63%-37% and, in a heavily Democratic North Side of Chicago district, stood unopposed in the general election.
In 2002 and with incumbent Jim Ryan (R) running for governor, Speaker Madigan cleared a path for his then 35 year-old daughter to run for Attorney General. Though she had never tried a case in her abbreviated legal career, she easily defeated John Schmidt, formerly the third-ranking official in President Bill Clinton's Justice Department, in the primary and then nudged by Republican DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett in the general election, 50.5% to 47.2%.
In 2006, easily defeated Republican challenger, Tazewell County State's Attorney Stewart J. Umholtz, 72%-24% for re-election.
Stated priorities
Protecting children from Internet predators
Aggressively investigating and prosecuting "mortgage fraud"
Preventing and prosecuting crimes against senior citizens
Opposing politicians "seeking only to help themselves"
Most of the judges on the New Mexico Court of Appeals get a failing grade when it comes to the "expansion of liability," according to a judicial evaluation report.
