Alice Palmer (politician)
Alice J. Palmer (née Roberts, June 20, 1939 – May 25, 2023) was an American educator and politician who served as a member of the Illinois Senate. Known as a longtime progressive activist, Palmer represented the state's 13th Senate District from June 6, 1991, until January 8, 1997. At the time, the district spanned an economically diverse area and included the Chicago communities of Hyde Park, South Shore and Englewood.
Alice Palmer | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Illinois Senate from the 13th district | |
| In office June 6, 1991 – January 8, 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Richard H. Newhouse Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Barack Obama |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Alice J. Roberts June 20, 1939 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | May 25, 2023 (aged 83) |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Edward Palmer |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Indiana University (BS) Roosevelt University (MA) Northwestern University (PhD) |
| Occupation | Educator, politician |
First appointed to fill the vacant seat of retired state senator Richard H. Newhouse, Jr., Palmer successfully ran for election in 1992 and served a four-year term that ended on January 8, 1997. She ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1995, and was disqualified from running in the Democratic primary for her Illinois Senate seat by Barack Obama, who was running against her and successfully challenged her petition signatures. Obama succeeded her in office.