Donna Lynn Miller, a proud product of Chicago’s public schools and a dedicated public servant, on Wednesday, July 9, officially launched her campaign for Congress in Illinois’ 2nd District. The announcement, shared via video, ties her family’s legacy of service to her own record as Cook County Commissioner for the 6th District, where she has made significant strides in healthcare, economic development, and equity.
“My great grandfather was a Pullman Porter; he helped build the Black middle class. My grandmother, mother and sister were all teachers, and my dad wore this country’s uniform his entire career. I’ve carried that legacy forward,” Miller says in the clip. As commissioner, she has expanded access to healthcare, focused on lowering costs, and delivered better care—particularly for women and communities of color.
Born Donna Black on September 7, 1965, Miller was raised on Chicago’s South Side, graduating from Lane Technical High School in 1983, earning a business administration degree from Howard University in 1987, and later pursuing graduate studies at Pepperdine University. She married Dr. David E. Miller in 2001, and today they reside in Lynwood with their two sons.
Before entering elective office, Miller built a robust career in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, working as a healthcare consultant and account specialist. She leveraged her expertise in public health to improve equity—collaborating with providers to add cystic fibrosis to Illinois newborn screenings, spearheading community blood drives, and advocating loudly on maternal morbidity. Her work earned her a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from President Joe Biden for contributions to medical equity.
Her civic leadership is reflected in her tenure as chair of Planned Parenthood of Illinois and its political action committee, vice president of Illinois Democratic Women, and president of Democratic Women of the South Suburbs. She also interned on Capitol Hill and volunteered with the Red Cross.
Miller first sought public office in 2012, running for the Illinois Senate in the 15th District. She finished second in the Democratic primary to Napoleon Harris. In 2018, she successfully ran for Cook County Board, representing the 6th District—a diverse region covering parts of the South Suburbs. She was re-elected in 2022.
As commissioner, Miller has played a high-profile role in numerous committees: chairing Asset Management, Contract Compliance, Veterans, and Forest Preserve District Capital Development & Ecological Restoration, while also serving as vice chair of Workforce, Housing & Community Development. She authored Cook County’s first Black Infertility and Reproductive Health Week, highlighting disparities in maternal care.
During the COVID 19 pandemic she orchestrated the deployment of federal relief, FEMA aid, food drives, and small business grants within her district. One of her signature initiatives, a countywide CPR/AED training program, earned a National Association of Counties award. Miller has consistently championed mental health access and flagged disparities in billing practices at Cook County Hospital.
In her campaign launch video, Miller reflects on U.S. Rep. John Lewis’s reminder that “ours is not the struggle of a day… it is the struggle of a lifetime.” She adds, “But today, Washington is tearing up so much of our progress for working families and giving tax breaks to billionaires. I refuse to let them. I’m running for Congress because I am determined to rise to the challenge of this fateful moment. Let’s build a healthy future together that everyone can afford.”
Miller formed an exploratory committee in May. With U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly retiring to pursue a Senate seat, the 2nd District is an open race. Her exploratory committee includes Southland mayors from Dolton, Flossmoor, Homewood, Lynwood, Markham, Olympia Fields and South Holland, signaling growing regional momentum.
Her candidacy enters a competitive primary field that already includes state Sen. Robert Peters, consultant Eric France and nonprofit leader Adal Regis. But Miller’s depth of experience—from grassroots advocacy and county governance to health policy and crisis response—positions her as a formidable contender.
In an era of widening inequality, weakened care systems, and stalled progress, Donna Miller offers a narrative rooted in legacy and action. As a commissioner, she has expanded healthcare, lowered costs, championed maternal and mental health, and secured critical funding for families and small businesses. Now, pressing into federal service, she is asking voters to join her “struggle of a lifetime” to ensure that hard work leads to affordability, dignity, and shared opportunity.