Margaret Croke
Margaret Croke (Democratic Party) is a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing District 12. She assumed office on January 13, 2021. Her current term ends on January 13, 2027.
Croke (Democratic Party) is running for election for Illinois Comptroller. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2026. She advanced from the Democratic primary on March 17, 2026.
Biography
Margaret Croke was born in Oak Park, Illinois, and lives in Old Town, Illinois. Croke earned a B.A. in political science and communications from the University of Michigan. Her career experience includes working as the deputy chief of staff for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.[1]
Committee assignments
2025-2026
Croke was assigned to the following committees:
- House Financial Institutions Committee, Chair
- Gaming
- Revenue & Finance Committee
- Transportation: Vehicles & Safety Committee
2023-2024
Croke was assigned to the following committees:
- Appropriations-General Service Committee
- Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education Committee
- House Financial Institutions Committee, Vice Chairperson
- Revenue & Finance Committee
- Small Business,Technology Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Committee, Vice Chair
- Transportation: Regulation, Roads & Bridges Committee
2021-2022
Croke was assigned to the following committees:
- Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education Committee
- House Financial Institutions Committee, Vice-Chair
- Appropriations-General Service Committee
- Revenue & Finance Committee
- Transportation: Regulation, Roads & Bridges Committee
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2026
See also: Illinois Comptroller election, 2026
General election
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for Illinois Comptroller
Margaret Croke and Bryan Drew are running in the general election for Illinois Comptroller on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Margaret Croke (D) | |
 | Bryan Drew (R) | |
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Illinois Comptroller
Margaret Croke defeated Karina Villa, Holly Kim, and Stephanie Kifowit in the Democratic primary for Illinois Comptroller on March 17, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Margaret Croke | 34.6 | 391,450 |
 | Karina Villa | 32.3 | 364,523 | |
 | Holly Kim | 24.4 | 275,560 | |
 | Stephanie Kifowit | 8.7 | 98,745 | |
| Total votes: 1,130,278 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- George Danos (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Illinois Comptroller
Bryan Drew advanced from the Republican primary for Illinois Comptroller on March 17, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Bryan Drew |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Campaign finance
Endorsements
Croke received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
- Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D)
- Cook County, Ill., Democratic Party
- Dozens (Sway viewpoint group by Kate Docter)
- MowreyMovement (Sway viewpoint group by Christopher Mowrey)
2024
See also: Illinois House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Illinois House of Representatives District 12
Incumbent Margaret Croke won election in the general election for Illinois House of Representatives District 12 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Margaret Croke (D) | 100.0 | 43,586 |
| Total votes: 43,586 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 12
Incumbent Margaret Croke advanced from the Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 12 on March 19, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Margaret Croke | 100.0 | 14,002 |
| Total votes: 14,002 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Croke in this election.
2022
See also: Illinois House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Illinois House of Representatives District 12
Incumbent Margaret Croke defeated George Kemper in the general election for Illinois House of Representatives District 12 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Margaret Croke (D) | 80.2 | 31,332 |
 | George Kemper (R) | 19.8 | 7,735 | |
| Total votes: 39,067 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 12
Incumbent Margaret Croke advanced from the Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 12 on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Margaret Croke | 99.9 | 12,360 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 14 | ||
| Total votes: 12,374 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Abigail Nichols (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 12
George Kemper advanced from the Republican primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 12 on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | George Kemper | 100.0 | 1,798 |
| Total votes: 1,798 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2020
See also: Illinois House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Illinois House of Representatives District 12
Margaret Croke won election in the general election for Illinois House of Representatives District 12 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Margaret Croke (D) | 100.0 | 52,483 |
| Total votes: 52,483 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 12
Margaret Croke defeated incumbent Yoni Pizer, James Garfield, Ryan Podges, and Marty Malone in the Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 12 on March 17, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Margaret Croke | 45.8 | 12,380 |
 | Yoni Pizer | 41.4 | 11,168 | |
 | James Garfield | 6.1 | 1,652 | |
 | Ryan Podges | 3.9 | 1,061 | |
| Marty Malone | 2.7 | 741 | ||
| Total votes: 27,002 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Sara Feigenholtz (D)
- Kimberly Walz (D)
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Margaret Croke has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. Send a message to Margaret Croke asking her to fill out the survey. If you are Margaret Croke, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
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You can ask Margaret Croke to fill out this survey by using the button below or emailing volunteer@crokeforillinois.com.
Campaign websites
Croke's campaign website stated the following:
Transparency & Accountability
Taxpayers deserve to see a full picture of where our public money goes with true budget-to-billing transparency. As our Comptroller, Margaret will implement software systems to show the full lifecycle of our dollars from the line item in the state budget to the time the bills are paid and the money is out the door impacting our communities.
Innovation & Technology
State Government should be on the forefront of harnessing new technology to work for us, from how we pay our bills to how we prevent waste. As Chair of Financial Institutions in the Illinois House, Margaret serves as the foremost authority on depositories, payment processing, and financial technology. She’ll bring that same expertise to the Comptroller’s Office to modernize systems, enhance reporting for contract vendors, and use predictive modeling to enhance efficiency and reduce fraud and waste.
Balanced Budgets
During her time in the General Assembly, Margaret has played a key role in passing balanced budgets that invest in our communities, pay down the backlog of bills, and reflect Illinois’ values. She knows that a budget is more than a financial document, it’s a moral document, and she will bring that commitment to fighting for all Illinois families to the Comptroller’s office.
Illinois Prevailing Wage Act
Margaret has a 100% voting record of supporting policies that put more money in workers’ pockets and bolstering Illinois’ Prevailing Wage Act. As Illinois Comptroller, Margaret will continue Susanna Mendoza’s legacy of enforcing our Prevailing Wage Act by withholding payments to employers who underpay their workers and break the law. Margaret will dedicate additional resources to the Comptroller’s Prevailing Wage Office as needed and work with the Department of Labor so investigations are completed in a thorough and timely manner.
— Margaret Croke's campaign website (February 27, 2026)
Croke's campaign website stated the following:
Transparency & Accountability
Taxpayers deserve to see a full picture of where our public money goes with true budget-to-billing transparency. As our Comptroller, Margaret will implement software systems to show the full lifecycle of our dollars from the line item in the state budget to the time the bills are paid and the money is out the door impacting our communities.
Innovation & Technology
State Government should be on the forefront of harnessing new technology to work for us, from how we pay our bills to how we prevent waste. As Chair of Financial Institutions in the Illinois House, Margaret serves as the foremost authority on depositories, payment processing, and financial technology. She’ll bring that same expertise to the Comptroller’s Office to modernize systems, enhance reporting for contract vendors, and use predictive modeling to enhance efficiency and reduce fraud and waste.
Balanced Budgets
During her time in the General Assembly, Margaret has played a key role in passing balanced budgets that invest in our communities, pay down the backlog of bills, and reflect Illinois’ values. She knows that a budget is more than a financial document, it’s a moral document, and she will bring that commitment to fighting for all Illinois families to the Comptroller’s office.
Illinois Prevailing Wage Act
Margaret has a 100% voting record of supporting policies that put more money in workers’ pockets and bolstering Illinois’ Prevailing Wage Act. As Illinois Comptroller, Margaret will continue Susanna Mendoza’s legacy of enforcing our Prevailing Wage Act by withholding payments to employers who underpay their workers and break the law. Margaret will dedicate additional resources to the Comptroller’s Prevailing Wage Office as needed and work with the Department of Labor so investigations are completed in a thorough and timely manner.
— Margaret Croke's campaign website (February 25, 2026)
2024
Margaret Croke did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Margaret Croke did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Margaret Croke did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Illinois General Assembly in 2025.
- Illinois Environmental Council — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- The Freedom Index — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Illinois General Assembly in 2024.
- Illinois Environmental Council — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Illinois Humane Society — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to pets and wildlife.
- Illinois Realtors — Legislators are scored on votes on bills affecting real estate and private property.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Illinois General Assembly in 2023.
- Illinois Environmental Council — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Illinois Realtors — Legislators are scored on votes on bills affecting real estate and private property.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Illinois General Assembly in 2022.
- Illinois Environmental Council — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Illinois Realtors — Legislators are scored on votes on bills affecting real estate and private property.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Planned Parenthood Illinois Action — Legislators are scored on their stances on policies related to reproductive health issues.
- Technology and Manufacturing Association — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to manufacturing issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Illinois General Assembly in 2021.
- Illinois Environmental Council — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Illinois Humane Society — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to pets and wildlife.
- Illinois Realtors — Legislators are scored on votes on bills affecting real estate and private property.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Illinois Comptroller |
Officeholder Illinois House of Representatives District 12 |
Personal |
Footnotes
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Yoni Pizer (D) |
Illinois House of Representatives District 12 2021-Present |
Succeeded by - |
