Nikki Budzinski

Nikki Budzinski (born 1976 or 1977) is an American politician and labor union leader. In 2021, Budzinski served in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in the Joe Biden Administration.[7] She is currently a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Illinois' 13th congressional district.[8]

Nikki Budzinski
Chief of Staff of the Office of Management and Budget
In office
February 2021[1] – July 16, 2021[2]
Senior Advisor to the Governor of Illinois
In office
January 14, 2019[3] – February 18, 2021[4]
Chair of the Broadband Advisory Council
In office
January 14, 2019[5] – February 18, 2021[4]
Personal details
Born1976 or 1977 (age 44-46)
Peoria, Illinois, U.S.[6]

Early life

Budzinski was born in 1976 or 1977 in Peoria, Illinois. Her grandparents were both union members: Leonard Budzinski, her grandfather, as a painter employed by the Peoria School District, and her grandmother as a teacher at the same school district.[9]

Budzinski graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and also interned for United States Representative Dick Gephardt, United States Senator Paul Simon, and Planned Parenthood. After college, she worked for the United Food and Commercial Workers union as national political director in Washington, D.C.[10]

Governor's office

During the 2018 Illinois gubernatorial election, Budzinski led the exploratory committee of J. B. Pritzker and was later a Senior Advisor to his campaign, focusing on political strategy, messaging and outreach.[11] After Pritzker won, she was named Transition Director.[12]

When Pritzker became Governor of Illinois on January 14, 2019, Budzinski was appointed Senior Advisor.[11] She simultaneously served as Chair of the Broadband Advisory Council (BAC), a state agency "charged with...expand[ing] broadband access, adoption, and utilization" in Illinois. Budzinski announced her resignation as Chair of the BAC and as Senior Advisor to the Governor on February 18, 2021.[13]

Office of Management and Budget

In February 2021, Budzinski, recommended for the post by John Podesta, was appointed Chief of Staff of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).[7]

During her tenure as Chief of Staff, she helped set up the Made in America division in the OMB. On July 16, 2021, Budzinski resigned to return to Illinois, saying she "felt it was a good time to come back [to Illinois]...after getting things off the ground here."[14]

2022 U.S. House campaign
Main article: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois § District 13

On August 24, 2021, Budzinski announced her bid for the Democratic nomination for Illinois' 13th congressional district, newly redrawn to favor Democrats.[8][15]

References
  1. Kapos, Shia. "TEACHER TENSION DEJA VU — PRECKWINKLE FUNDRAISING — MORE MOVES to BIDEN'S TEAM". POLITICO.
  2. Kapos, Shia. "BUDZINSKI LEAVING D.C. — RACISM IN HIGH PLACES — 'TOTAL' POLICE BURNOUT". POLITICO.
  3. "Illinois Governor's Staff & Transition Team". www.ilcapitolgroup.com.
  4. "Broadband Advisory Council 2020 Legislative Report December 16, 2019" (PDF). State of Illinois.
  5. "Meet Nikki".
  6. Alpert, Lynn (November 8, 2021). "Nikki Budzinski looks to oust Rep. Rodney Davis, has growing union endorsements".
  7. Kapos, Shia. "TEACHER TENSION DEJA VU — PRECKWINKLE FUNDRAISING — MORE MOVES to BIDEN'S TEAM". POLITICO. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  8. Kapos, Shia. "IT'S BUDZINSKI v. DAVIS, OR IS IT? — PRITZKER's POWER PLAY — ALEXANDER COUNTY's DUBIOUS RANKING". POLITICO. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  9. Alpert, Lynn (2021-11-08). "Nikki Budzinski looks to oust Rep. Rodney Davis, has growing union endorsements". The Labor Tribune. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
  10. "Meet Nikki". Nikki for Congress. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
  11. "2019 Speakers". Tristate of Mind. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  12. Kapos, Shia; Hurst, Adrienne. "PRITZKER taps big names for transition — MADIGAN strikes back at Rauner". POLITICO. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  13. Schmit, Matt. "2020 Legislative Report" (PDF). Broadband Advisory Council. p. 3. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  14. Kapos, Shia. "BUDZINSKI LEAVING D.C. — RACISM IN HIGH PLACES — 'TOTAL' POLICE BURNOUT". POLITICO. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  15. Alpert, Lynn (2021-12-27). "Illinois AFL-CIO endorses Nikki Budzinski for Congress". The Labor Tribune. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
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