The Candidate: Michael Quigley
The Race: Candidate for the Fifth Congressional District of Illinois
The Competition: Dan Schmitt
The Buzz: Michael Quigley was elected to Congress in April 2009, replacing former representative and current Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Quigley is a strong supporter of environmental issues, human rights and universal healthcare. Quigley is also a proponent for gay rights, supporting Obama in his repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy as well as pushing for same-sex benefits for county workers. As an advocate for immigrant rights, Quigley pushed for an extension of the visa-waiver program to Poland in hopes to benefit the large Polish population in Chicago.