Robert W. Churchill (born April 10, 1947) is a former American politician and lawyer. Born in

Waukegan, Illinois ''(Fortress or Trading Post)'' , image_flag = , image_seal = , blank_emblem_size = 150 , blank_emblem_type = Logo , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_type1 = State , subdivisi ...

, Churchill received his bachelor's degree in history and political science from

Northwestern University Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. Charte ...

and his

Juris Doctor The Juris Doctor (J.D. or JD), also known as Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D., JD, D.Jur., or DJur), is a graduate-entry professional degree in law and one of several Doctor of Law degrees. The J.D. is the standard degree obtained to practice law ...

degree from

University of Iowa College of Law The University of Iowa College of Law is the law school of the University of Iowa, located in Iowa City, Iowa. It was founded in 1865. Iowa is ranked the 28th-best law school in the United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or U ...

. He practiced law at Grayslake Law Firm in

Grayslake, Illinois Grayslake is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States. It is located in the Chicago metropolitan area, about 40 miles (64 km) north of Chicago's downtown, 14 miles (23 km) west of Lake Michigan, and 15 miles (24 km) sout ...

, since 1972, and lived in

Lake Villa, Illinois Lake Villa is a village in Lake County, Illinois United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 8,741. Lake Villa lies within Lake Villa Township and about 50 miles north of Chicago and is part of the United States Census Bureau's Chicag ...

. Churchill was involved with the

Republican Party Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party. Republican Party may also refer to: Africa *Republican Party (Liberia) * Republican Part ...

. In the 1982 general election, Churchill defeated Robert Gesiakowski of

Antioch Antioch on the Orontes (; grc-gre, Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐπὶ Ὀρόντου, ''Antiókheia hē epì Oróntou'', Learned ; also Syrian Antioch) grc-koi, Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐπὶ Ὀρόντου; or Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐπ� ...

. Churchill served in the

Illinois House of Representatives The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The House under the current constitution as amended in 1980 consists of 118 re ...

from 1983 to 1999 and from 2003 to 2007. After the Republicans took control of the House during the

Republican Revolution The "Republican Revolution", "Revolution of '94", or "Gingrich Revolution" are political slogans that refer to the Republican Party (GOP) success in the 1994 U.S. mid-term elections, which resulted in a net gain of 54 seats in the House of ...

, Churchill was named Majority Leader by Speaker

Lee A. Daniels Lee Albert Daniels (born April 15, 1942) is an American politician who served as a Republican Party (United States), Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1975 until 2007 including two years as List of Speakers of the Il ...

. In 1998, Churchill ran for the Republican nomination for

Illinois Secretary of State The Secretary of State of Illinois is one of the six elected executive state offices of the government of Illinois, and one of the 47 secretaries of states in the United States. The Illinois Secretary of State keeps the state records, laws, libr ...

, ultimately losing to former state legislator

Al Salvi Albert J. Salvi (born April 25, 1960) is an American attorney, politician, and former radio talk show host. Salvi served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives and was a Republican nominee for the United States Senate and Illinois S ...

. After the 2001 decennial redistricting process, Churchill successfully ran for the Illinois House of Representatives from the 62nd district. Churchill continued in the Illinois House until a failed bid for the Republican nomination to face Democratic incumbent

Melissa Bean Melissa Luburich Bean (born January 22, 1962) is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for from 2005 to 2011. Bean is a member of the Democratic Party. Early life, education, and business career Bean attended Maine East H ...

Illinois's 8th congressional district The 8th congressional district of Illinois is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Illinois that has been represented by Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi since 2017. Geographic boundaries 2011 redistricting The congressional district cover ...

. Churchill lost the primary to David McSweeney.

Notes

1947 births Living people People from Waukegan, Illinois People from Lake Villa, Illinois Northwestern University alumni University of Iowa alumni Illinois lawyers Republican Party members of the Illinois House of Representatives {{Illinois-Ilrepresentative-stub