View source for Mark Kirk

{{Short description|American politician (born 1959)}}
{{For|the American art director|Mark-Lee Kirk}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Mark Kirk
| image               = Senator Mark Kirk official portrait.jpg
| caption             = Official portrait, 2010
| jr/sr               = United States Senator
| state               = [[Illinois]]
| term_start          = November 29, 2010
| term_end            = January 3, 2017
| predecessor         = [[Roland Burris]]
| successor           = [[Tammy Duckworth]]
| state1              = [[Illinois]]
| district1           = {{ushr|IL|10|10th}}
| term_start1         = January 3, 2001
| term_end1           = November 29, 2010
| predecessor1        = [[John Porter (Illinois politician)|John Porter]]
| successor1          = [[Bob Dold]]
| birth_name          = Mark Steven Kirk
| birth_date          = {{nowrap|{{birth date and age|1959|9|15}}}}
| birth_place         = [[Champaign, Illinois]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Kimberly Vertolli|2001|2009|end=div}}
| education           = [[Cornell University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[London School of Economics]] ([[Master of Science|MSc]])<br>[[Georgetown University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
| website             = {{url|web.archive.org/web/20170101111813/https://www.kirk.senate.gov|Senate website}} (archived)
| branch              = [[United States Navy]]
| serviceyears        = 1989–2013
| rank                = [[Commander (United States)|Commander]]
| battles             = [[NATO bombing of Yugoslavia]]<br>[[Operation Northern Watch]]
| unit                = [[Office of Naval Intelligence|Naval Intelligence]]
| module              = {{Listen |pos=center |embed=yes |filename=Sen. Mark Kirk Honors Illinois State Representative Betty Lou Reed.ogg |title=Kirk's voice |type=speech |description=Kirk honoring State Rep. [[Betty Lou Reed]].<br>Recorded July 14, 2011}}
}}
'''Mark Steven Kirk''' (born September 15, 1959) is an American retired politician and attorney who served as a [[United States Senate|United States senator]] from [[Illinois]] from 2010 to 2017, and as the [[United States House of Representatives|United States representative]] for [[Illinois's 10th congressional district]] from 2001 to 2010. A member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], Kirk describes himself as [[Cultural liberalism|socially liberal]] and [[fiscally conservative]].<ref name=moderate>{{cite news|last1=Palmer|first1=Anna|last2=Everett|first2=Burgess|title=The most endangered Republican in the country|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/mark-kirk-senate-2016-republicans-illinois-215070|access-date=February 3, 2016|publisher=Politico|date=October 27, 2015}}</ref><ref name=time>{{cite magazine|last1=Gray|first1=Steven|title=Illinois' Mark Kirk: Can a Moderate Republican Thrive in Today's Senate?|url=https://content.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,2035561,00.html|access-date=February 3, 2016|magazine=Time|date=December 11, 2010}}</ref> As of 2025, he is the last Republican to represent Illinois in the U.S. Senate.

Born in [[Champaign, Illinois]], Kirk graduated from [[Cornell University]], the [[London School of Economics]], and [[Georgetown University Law Center]]. He practiced law throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He joined the [[United States Navy Reserve]] as a Direct Commission Officer in the Intelligence career field in 1989 and was recalled to active duty for the [[1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia]]. He participated in [[Operation Northern Watch]] in [[Ba'athist Iraq|Iraq]] the following year. He attained the rank of [[Commander (United States)|Commander]] and retired from the Navy Reserve in 2013.<ref name=USNR/>

Kirk was elected to the House in 2000. During his fifth term in November 2010, he won [[2010 United States Senate elections in Illinois|two concurrent elections]]: to finish the final months of former senator [[Barack Obama]]'s term and to serve the next six-year term. He was sworn in on November 29, 2010, and began a six-year Senate term on January 3, 2011.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2012/01/sen_mark_kirk_has_stroke_surge.html |title=Sen. Mark Kirk has stroke: Surgery Monday at Northwestern Hospital |website=Chicago Sun-Times |date=January 23, 2012 |access-date=January 23, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513053200/http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2012/01/sen_mark_kirk_has_stroke_surge.html |archive-date=May 13, 2012  }}</ref> In January 2012, Kirk suffered a [[stroke]]; almost a full year passed before he returned to his senatorial duties.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Camia|first1=Catalina|title=Sen. Kirk makes dramatic return after stroke|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/01/03/mark-kirk-senate-return-stroke/1806557/|access-date=September 11, 2015|website=USA Today|date=January 3, 2013}}</ref> In [[2016 United States Senate election in Illinois|2016]], Kirk ran for re-election to a second full term, but was defeated by [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[Tammy Duckworth]].<ref name="huffpo1108">{{cite news | last1=House|first1=Jennifer Bendery White | title=Tammy Duckworth Takes Back Obama's Illinois Senate Seat For Democrats | url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tammy-duckworth-illinois-senate-mark-kirk_n_581b898de4b0aac62482f4c9 |work=[[HuffPost]] |date=November 8, 2016}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
[[File:MarkKirkSealandSerpent.jpg|thumb|150px|alt=Photo US Senator Mark Kirk.|Kirk as president of Seal and Serpent in 1981.]]
Kirk was born in [[Champaign, Illinois]], the son of Judith Ann (Brady) and Francis Gabriel "Frank" Kirk.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=130075 |title=Congressman Mark Kirk's father dies of pulmonary fibrosis |newspaper=Daily Herald |access-date=July 28, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/senators/kirk.htm |title=Mark Kirk ancestry |publisher=rootsweb.ancestry.com |access-date=January 23, 2012}}</ref> After graduating from [[New Trier High School|New Trier East High School]] in 1977 he attended [[Blackburn College (Illinois)|Blackburn College]] in [[Carlinville, Illinois]], for two years, before briefly attending the [[Autonomous University of Mexico]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.kirk.senate.gov/?p=about_senator | title=About Mark | publisher=United States Senate | access-date=June 7, 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160524213814/http://www.kirk.senate.gov/?p=about_senator | archive-date=May 24, 2016 | df=mdy-all }}</ref> and subsequently transferring to [[Cornell University]], where he graduated ''[[cum laude]]'' with a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] in History.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gitlin |first=Ben |url=http://cornellsun.com/section/news/content/2010/02/15/mark-kirk-%E2%80%9981-campaigns-illinois-senate-seat-after-winning-primary |title=Mark Kirk '81 Campaigns For Illinois Senate Seat After Winning Primary |newspaper=The Cornell Daily Sun |date=February 15, 2010 |access-date=July 28, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123091516/http://cornellsun.com/section/news/content/2010/02/15/mark-kirk-%E2%80%9981-campaigns-illinois-senate-seat-after-winning-primary |archive-date=November 23, 2010 }}</ref> While at [[Cornell University]], Kirk served as the president of [[Seal and Serpent|The Seal and Serpent Society]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sternberg|first1=Bill|title=The Moderate: Mark Kirk '81 on his stroke, his re-election race, and being the Senate's 'most endangered Republican'|url=http://cornellalumnimagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2158&Itemid=56&ed=48|access-date=February 4, 2016|publisher=Cornell Alumni Magazine|date=July 2015}}</ref> Kirk later obtained a master's degree from the [[London School of Economics]] and a [[Juris Doctor]] [[(J.D.)]] from [[Georgetown University Law Center]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2010/01/10/profile-mark-kirk-trying-to-expand-base-well-beyond-north-shore/ |title=Profile: Mark Kirk trying to expand base well beyond North Shore – Page 2 |author=Rick Pearson and Katherine Skiba |website=Chicago Tribune |date=January 10, 2010 |access-date=July 28, 2010}}</ref><ref name="2010 voter guide"/>

==Early career==
While Kirk was an undergraduate student at [[Cornell University]] he held a work–study job supervising a play group at the Forest Home Chapel nursery school. After getting his master's degree, Kirk taught for one year at a private school in London.<ref name=school>{{Cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/19/us/politics/19kirk.html?ref=jeff_zeleny |title= School Officials Say Candidate Overstated His Role |last=Zeleny |first=Jeff |website=The New York Times |date=June 18, 2010 |access-date=June 21, 2010}}</ref> He later stated in speeches and interviews that he had been a nursery and middle school teacher. A leader at the church which housed the nursery school expressed her belief that Kirk overstated his role there, saying Kirk was "just an additional pair of hands to help a primary teaching person."<ref name=school/> In discussing problems in the educational system early in his congressional career, Kirk addressed the brevity of his teaching career: "I did leave the teaching profession, but if we had addressed some of the teacher development issues, which I want to raise with you, I might have stayed."<ref name=teaching>{{Cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/us/politics/17kirk.html |title= In Illinois Race, a Teaching Career Is Questioned |last=Zeleny |first=Jeff |website=The New York Times |location=[[New York, NY]] |date=June 16, 2010 |access-date=June 21, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mark-kirks-teaching-exper_n_617721 | title=Mark Kirk's Teaching Experience 'Overstated,' Says School Representative |work=[[HuffPost]] | date=June 18, 2010 | first=Jen | last=Sabella}}</ref>

After college, Kirk worked in Congressman [[John Porter (Illinois politician)|John Porter's]] office, ultimately becoming chief of staff. After leaving Capitol Hill in 1990, he worked at the [[World Bank]] and as an aide at the [[State Department]] on the Central American peace process. Kirk spent two years practicing international law and four years as counsel to the House International Relations Committee.<ref name="aap08-bio">''Almanac of American Politics'' 2008, p. 566.</ref>

==Military service==
Kirk was commissioned as an intelligence officer in the [[United States Navy Reserve]] in 1989.<ref name="2010 voter guide">{{cite web|url=http://cbs2chicago.com/voterguide/mark.kirk.senate.2.1423262.html |title=CBS 2 Voter Guide: Mark Kirk &#124;date-January 1, 2010 |access-date=June 22, 2010 |work=CBS2Chicago.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209024241/http://cbs2chicago.com/voterguide/mark.kirk.senate.2.1423262.html |archive-date=February 9, 2010 }}</ref>

In 1999, Kirk was recalled to active duty in [[Operation Allied Force]] for the bombing of Yugoslavia. He served from April 10 to June 6, 1999, as the intelligence officer of [[VAQ-209]]. [[VAQ-209]] was combined with three other [[EA-6B]] squadrons to form an ad hoc unit called Electronic Attack Wing Aviano, Italy. [[VAQ-140]] had tactical command of the combined unit.<ref name="vaq140.ahf.nmci.navy.mil">{{cite web|url=http://vaq140.ahf.nmci.navy.mil/Command%20History.htm |title=Electronic Attack Squadron |publisher=Vaq140.ahf.nmci.navy.mil |date=October 1, 1985 |access-date=July 28, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100718203120/http://vaq140.ahf.nmci.navy.mil/Command%20History.htm |archive-date=July 18, 2010 }}</ref> In May 2000, the National Military Intelligence Association bestowed the organization's Vice Admiral Rufus L. Taylor Award to Intelligence Division Electronic Attack Wing Aviano, Italy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nmia.org/images/2000_NATIONAL_Award_Citations.pdf |title=National Military Intelligence Association 2000 Annual Awards |access-date=June 25, 2010 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070729171927/http://www.nmia.org/images/2000_NATIONAL_Award_Citations.pdf |archive-date=July 29, 2007 }}</ref>

In March and April 2000, Kirk trained with an [[EC-130]] squadron based in Turkey. Kirk took a flight over Iraq as part of [[Operation Northern Watch]], which enforced a [[no-fly zone]] over the northern section of Iraq.<ref name="The Scoop from Washington">{{cite news |url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2010/06/more_mark_kirk_military_record.html |title=More Mark Kirk military embellishments surface, including in Senate ad, on House floor |last=Sweet |first=Lynn |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |location=[[Chicago, IL]] |date=June 3, 2010 |access-date=June 25, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100606042406/http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2010/06/more_mark_kirk_military_record.html |archive-date=June 6, 2010  }}</ref> In a speech on the floor of the House in 2003, Kirk stated: "The last time I was in Iraq I was in uniform, flying at 20,000 feet, and the Iraqi Air Defense network was shooting at us". Kirk later clarified his statement, indicating that there is no record of his aircraft being fired upon and that he had incorrectly recalled the incident.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2010/06/03/kirk-apologizes-for-misstatements-about-military-career/ |title=Kirk apologizes for misstatements about military career |publisher=ChicagoTribune |date=June 3, 2010 |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Pallasch |first1=Abdon |title=Kirk says he 'misremembered' military record |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/2352440,kirk-corrects-military-record-060310.article |access-date=February 4, 2016 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |date=June 4, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605031740/http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/2352440%2Ckirk-corrects-military-record-060310.article |archive-date=June 5, 2010 }}</ref>

During his tenure in the military, Kirk was twice counseled by the Pentagon, after incidents in which he was accused of conducting political business while on duty. On one occasion Kirk commented on [[Rod Blagojevich]]'s arrest and posted a [[Twitter|tweet]] while on duty with the Navy in Afghanistan.<ref name="KirkDenies">{{cite news |url= https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mark-kirk-denies-mixing-politics-and-service/|title= Mark Kirk Denies Mixing Politics and Service|publisher=CBS News |agency=Associated Press |date=November 2, 2010 |access-date=November 1, 2012}}</ref> According to the Pentagon, Kirk was required to sign a statement acknowledging he knew the rules before returning to active duty. Kirk denied that he had ever improperly mixed politics with his military service.<ref name="KirkDenies"/>

Kirk served three individual two-week reserve deployments in Afghanistan, with the latest concluding in September 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kirk.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=283 |title=Kirk Delivers Address Following Navy Reserve Assignment in Afghanistan |publisher=Kirk.senate.gov |date=September 6, 2011 |access-date=January 23, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430123434/http://www.kirk.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=283 |archive-date=April 30, 2012  }}</ref>

Kirk retired from the Navy Reserve in May 2013, after 23 years of service.<ref name=USNR>Skiba, Katherine (December 15, 2014) – [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-mark-kirk-military-met-20141215-story.html "Naval Officials Honor Sen. Mark Kirk's Service in Retirement Ceremony"]. ''Chicago Tribune''. Retrieved December 25, 2014.</ref> A formal military retirement ceremony was held for Kirk on December 16, 2014.<ref name=USNR/>

===Awards===
In the official photograph of his retirement ceremony, Kirk's awards include:

*[[Defense Meritorious Service Medal]]
*[[Joint Services Commendation Medal]]
*[[Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal]]
*[[Joint Service Achievement Medal]]
*[[Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal]]
*[[Navy Unit Commendation]]
*[[Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation]] with [[Service Star]]
*[[National Defense Service Medal]]
*[[Kosovo Campaign Medal]]
*[[Global War on Terrorism Service Medal]]
*[[Armed Forces Reserve Medal]] with [[Armed Forces Reserve Medal#For mobilization – the "M" device|"M" device]]
*[[NATO Medal]] for the former Yugoslavia
* NATO Medal for Kosovo

His uniform also displays the [[Badges of the United States Navy#Information Warfare|Navy Information Dominance Officer]] badge and the [[Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/.a/6a00d834515c5469e201b7c720a4e8970b-pi |title=image}}</ref>

In 2010, Kirk corrected statements he had made about being awarded "Navy Intelligence Officer of the Year" after it was brought to the media's attention by his Democratic opponent, [[Alexi Giannoulias]].<ref name="Chicago Tribune">{{Cite news |url= http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2010/06/us-navy-alerted-kirk-to-questions-about-his-military-award.html |title= U.S. Navy alerted Kirk to questions about his military award |last=Pearson |first=Rick |website=Chicago Tribune |location=[[Chicago, IL]] |date=June 1, 2010 |access-date=June 22, 2010}}</ref> In a 2002 House committee hearing recorded by [[C-SPAN]], Kirk said, "I was the Navy's Intelligence Officer of the Year", an achievement he said gave him special qualifications to discuss national security spending.<ref name="Washington Post" /> In May 2010, ''[[The Washington Post]]'' reported that Kirk's claim to having been named the Navy's "Intelligence Officer of the Year" was erroneous.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/29/AR2010052903510.html |title=Illinois Republican Senate candidate admits to error on Navy award |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 30, 2010 |access-date=August 20, 2010 | first=R. Jeffrey | last=Smith}}</ref> The National Military Intelligence Association gave the Vice Admiral Rufus L. Taylor Award to the entire Intelligence Division Electronic Attack Wing at Aviano.<ref name="Washington Post">{{Cite news |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/29/AR2010052903029.html |title= Illinois Senate candidate admits claim about military award was inaccurate |last=Smith |first=R. Jeffrey |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 29, 2010 |access-date=June 22, 2010}}</ref> Kirk was the lead intelligence officer for [[VAQ-209]], one of the four squadrons assigned to the Electronic Attack Wing. [[VAQ-140]] had tactical command.<ref name="vaq140.ahf.nmci.navy.mil"/> Kirk later apologized for this and other errors, including a claim made by his office of having participated in [[Operation Desert Storm]] when in fact he did not.<ref name = pearsonchitrib>{{cite news |last=Pearson |first=Rick
|website=Chicago Tribune 
| title = Kirk apologizes, acknowledges more errors in military resume
| url = http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2010/06/kirk-apologizes-acknowledges-more-errors-in-military-resume.html
| date=June 3, 2010 |access-date=November 5, 2010}}</ref>

On June 7, 2010, [[Medal of Honor]] recipient and advocate of Veteran's benefits, [[Allen Lynch]], deemed Mark Kirk's apologies adequate, and further commented: "To me, in my opinion, it's just a bunch of nit picking. Plus, he's done a Christ ton for veterans. So I think this is being blown way out of proportion".<ref name="abc 7 new">{{Cite news |url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJoH54JyMTo&playnext_from=TL&videos=bSxmd_CfeO4&feature=sub
|title = Medal of Honor Allen Lynch on Mark Kirk's Military Record
}}</ref>

==Early political career==
Kirk worked on the staff of [[John Porter (Illinois politician)|John Porter]], the congressman for Illinois's 10th congressional district. From 1991 to 1993, Kirk was the Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of State in the U.S. State Department. Kirk was an attorney for Baker & McKenzie from 1993 to 1995. In 1995 Kirk was named as a counsel to the [[United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs|House International Relations Committee]]. He remained counsel to the [[United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs|House International Relations Committee]] until 1999.<ref name="2010 voter guide"/>

==U.S. House of Representatives==
[[File:Mark Steven Kirk, official photo portrait color.jpg|thumb|200px|Kirk during the [[107th United States Congress|107th Congress]]]]

===Elections===
Kirk was elected in 2000 to succeed the retiring Porter. He won with 51% of the vote against Democrat [[Lauren Beth Gash]], and was reelected by comfortable margins in 2002 and 2004. He defeated Democrat [[Dan Seals (politician)|Dan Seals]] by a seven points in 2006, defeating him again by the same margin in a 2008 rematch.<ref name="clerkresults">{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |title=Election Statistics |access-date=January 10, 2008 |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080730201058/http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |archive-date=July 30, 2008 }}</ref>

===Tenure===
During his time in the House, Kirk compiled a centrist voting record, tending to vote more liberally on social issues and more conservatively on foreign policy issues.<ref name="aap08-bio" />
Kirk was a member of the House Iran Working Group, the founder and co-chair of the House [[U.S.-China Working Group]],<ref>{{cite web|title=About the U.S.-China Working Group|url=http://www.nbr.org/announcements/pdf/PR_070105_USCWG.pdf|publisher=U.S.-China Working Group|access-date=February 4, 2016|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233656/http://www.nbr.org/announcements/pdf/PR_070105_USCWG.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> the co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues,<ref name="2010 voter guide"/> the co-chair of the Albanian Issues Caucus in ex Yugoslavia,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101104230205/http://kirk.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=92 House Committees], kirk.house.gov</ref> and chair of [[The Tuesday Group (United States)|The Tuesday Group]], a group of moderate Republicans in the U.S. House.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Zwick|first1=Jesse|title=Tuesday Mourning|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/82420/tuesday-group-gop|access-date=February 4, 2016|magazine=The New Republic|date=January 28, 2011}}</ref> During his House tenure, he was a member of the House Appropriations Committee.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rep. Mark Kirk|url=http://www.politico.com/arena/bio/rep_mark_kirk.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918214519/http://www.politico.com/arena/bio/rep_mark_kirk.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 18, 2010|publisher=Politico|access-date=February 4, 2016}}</ref>

Kirk was responsible for an amendment in 2004 which requires the [[Congressional Budget Office]] to annually publish a comparison of projected spending on entitlements with actual spending for the previous year.<ref name="aap08-bio" /> He also fought against spending on the Alaska "[[Gravina Island Bridge|bridge to nowhere]]" and pushed for reforms in the intelligence community.<ref name="aap08-bio" />

In 2005, Kirk stated that he was not opposed to the immigration process in the United States discriminating against young Arab males from "terrorist-producing states". He stated, "I think that when we look at the threat that's out there, young men between, say, the ages of 18 and 25 from a couple of countries, I believe a certain amount of intense scrutiny should be placed on them."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cairchicago.org/2005/11/06/chicago-sun-times-kirk-ok-with-visa-bias-against-some-arab-men/ |work=Chicago Sun-Times |title=Kirk 'OK' With Visa Bias Against Some Arab Men |date=November 6, 2005 |access-date=May 11, 2011 |publisher=CAIR–Chicago}}</ref>

In 2006, Kirk pushed for an expansion of O'Hare and worked with [[Rahm Emanuel]] on a package to clean up [[Lake Michigan]].<ref name="aap08-bio"/>

In June 2008, Kirk introduced H.R. 6257 to reinstate the assault weapons ban of 1994. The bill was co-sponsored by fellow Republicans: [[Mike Castle]], [[Mike Ferguson (New Jersey politician)|Mike Ferguson]], [[Ileana Ros-Lehtinen]], and [[Chris Shays]].<ref>{{USBill|110|HR|6257}}</ref> Four years earlier, in February 2004, Kirk had been among 11 Republican and 129 Democratic co-sponsors of H.R. 3831 to reauthorize the ban.<ref>{{USBill|108|H.R.|3831}}</ref> Both bills died in committee.

In 2009, Kirk voted for the [[American Clean Energy and Security Act]].<ref name=Slate>{{cite web |last=Weigel |first=David |date=February 2, 2011 |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/weigel/archive/2011/02/02/the-epa-must-die-for-al-gore-s-sins.aspx |title=The EPA Must Die for Al Gore's Sins |work=[[Slate.com]]}}</ref>

==U.S. Senate==
===Elections===
====2010====
{{Main|2010 United States Senate elections in Illinois}}
On July 20, 2009, Kirk announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate election for the seat held by [[Roland Burris]], which had been held by [[Barack Obama]] before his election as president. On February 2, 2010, Kirk won the Republican primary with 56.6 percent of the vote; no other candidate had as much as 20 percent.<ref>{{cite web|author=Alexander Burns |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/02/morning-score-land-of-lincoln-032364 |title=Morning Score: Land of Lincoln – Alexander Burns |publisher=Politico.com |access-date=July 28, 2010|date=February 26, 2010}}</ref> He ran against Democratic nominee [[Alexi Giannoulias]], Green Party nominee [[LeAlan Jones]], and Libertarian nominee [[Mike Labno]]. During the fall campaign, Kirk and Giannoulias held a televised debate amid polls suggesting a close race. Kirk defeated Giannoulias in the election for the full six-year term, getting 48% to Giannoulias's 46%. During the campaign, Kirk said he had previously voted for [[emissions trading]] legislation "because it was in the narrow interests of my congressional district", but that as a representative of the entire state of Illinois, "I would vote no on that bill."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kleefeld|first1=Eric|title=Mark Kirk: I Voted For Cap And Trade In The House, Would Vote No In The Senate (And Crowd Cheers)|url=http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/mark-kirk-i-voted-for-cap-and-trade-in-the-house-would-vote-no-in-the-senate-and-crowd-cheers|access-date=February 4, 2016|publisher=Talking Points Memo|date=September 15, 2009}}</ref>

In 2012, Kirk's ex-wife accused him of concealing a payment of $143,000 to a former girlfriend, Dodie McCracken, who had worked on his 2010 U.S. Senate campaign.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Hartmann|first1=Margaret|title=Illinois Senator Accused of Making Illegal Campaign Payments to Girlfriend|url=https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2012/05/illinois-senator-paid-lover-with-campaign-funds.html|access-date=August 14, 2014|magazine=New York Magazine|date=May 29, 2012}}</ref> The [[Federal Election Commission]] dismissed allegations that the Kirk campaign had hidden the payments, saying they did not need to be disclosed because the girlfriend worked as a subcontractor on the campaign.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lighty|first1=Todd|title=Sen. Mark Kirk's aide: From caregiver to campaign worker|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-mark-kirk-finances-met-20150812-story.html|access-date=January 28, 2016|website=Chicago Tribune|date=August 12, 2015}}</ref>

====2016====
{{main|2016 United States Senate election in Illinois}}
Having suffered a stroke in 2012<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2012/01/mark-kirk-suffers-a-stroke-071823?_amp=true| title=Mark Kirk suffers a stroke - POLITICO }}</ref> there was speculation he would resign, but in June 2013, Kirk confirmed that he was planning to run for re-election.<ref name=picking>{{cite news|author=Matthew Cooper |title=Mark Kirk Survived a Stroke – Now He's Picking Fights in Congress |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/mark-kirk-survived-a-stroke-now-he-s-picking-fights-in-congress-20130628 |access-date=March 30, 2015 |newspaper=National Journal |date=June 28, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130701014650/http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/mark-kirk-survived-a-stroke-now-he-s-picking-fights-in-congress-20130628 |archive-date=July 1, 2013 }}</ref><ref name=next>{{cite news|author=Meredith Shiner|title=Kirk's Next Challenge? Re-Election in 2016|url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/kirks_next_challenge_re_election_in_2016-230378-1.html|access-date=March 30, 2015|newspaper=Roll Call|date=January 26, 2014}}</ref> In November 2014, Kirk reiterated his plans to seek re-election.<ref name=frickin>{{cite news|url=http://atr.rollcall.com/elections-2016-mark-kirk-illinois-senate-race/|title=Mark Kirk: 'No Frickin' Way Am I Retiring'|publisher=Roll Call|date=November 14, 2014|access-date=March 30, 2015|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402223933/http://atr.rollcall.com/elections-2016-mark-kirk-illinois-senate-race/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Kirk defeated fellow Republican James Marter in the primary election.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Hinz|first1=Greg|title=Kirk picks up primary challenger from the right|url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20151005/BLOGS02/151009924/kirk-picks-up-primary-challenger-from-the-right|access-date=January 27, 2016|magazine=Crain's Chicago Business|date=October 5, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last1=Riopell | first1=Mike | title=Kirk Tries to Look Past Marter Toward November Matchup | url=http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160229/news/160228776/ | date=February 29, 2016 | newspaper=[[Daily Herald (Arlington Heights)|Daily Herald]] | access-date=March 1, 2016}}</ref> He faced Democratic Congresswoman [[Tammy Duckworth]] in the general election.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sweet|first1=Lynn|title=Illinois Senate Race: Duckworth out raises top rivals Kirk, Zopp|url=http://chicago.suntimes.com/lynn-sweet-politics/7/71/1252514/illinois-senate-race-duckworth-raises-top-rivals-kirk-zopp|access-date=February 4, 2016|website=Chicago Sun-Times|date=January 14, 2016|archive-date=February 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204145644/http://chicago.suntimes.com/lynn-sweet-politics/7/71/1252514/illinois-senate-race-duckworth-raises-top-rivals-kirk-zopp|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Kirk's campaign purchased television air time to advertise his opposition to admitting refugees to the United States "until it can be done safely".<ref>[http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20160224/BLOGS02/160229953/mark-kirk-hits-the-air-with-his-first-tv-ads Crain' Chicago Business]</ref>

In a televised debate on October 27, 2016, Kirk, still recovering from a severe stroke,  responded to Duckworth's comment about her own military service and her ancestors' military service by saying, "I'd forgotten that your parents came all the way from Thailand to serve George Washington."  Rep. Duckworth is a military combat veteran who lost both legs while piloting a helicopter during the Iraq war.  Her mother was a Thai immigrant and her father's ancestors came to America before the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]].  Due to his comments, the [[Human Rights Campaign]] revoked their endorsement of Kirk and switched it to Duckworth, saying his comments were "deeply offensive and racist."<ref name="Morin">{{cite news|last1=Morin|first1=Rebecca|title=Human Rights Campaign revokes Mark Kirk endorsement|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/human-rights-campaign-revokes-mark-kirk-endorsement-230495|access-date=October 30, 2016|publisher=Politico|date=October 29, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Carmon">{{cite news|last1=Carmon|first1=Irin|title=Human Rights Campaign Withdraws Kirk Endorsement After Racially-Charged Comment|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/human-rights-campaign-withdraws-kirk-endorsement-after-racially-charged-comment-n675146|access-date=October 30, 2016|publisher=NBC|date=October 29, 2016}}</ref> It was the first endorsement the HRC has ever withdrawn.<ref name="HRC">{{cite news|title=HRC Revokes Endorsement Following Racist Comments of Senator Mark Kirk|url=http://www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-revokes-endorsement-following-racist-comments-of-senator-mark-kirk|access-date=October 30, 2016|publisher=Human Rights Campaign|date=October 29, 2016|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202002122/https://www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-revokes-endorsement-following-racist-comments-of-senator-mark-kirk|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On November 8, 2016, Kirk lost to Duckworth by 15 points, 55%-40%.<ref name="huffpo1108"/>

===Political positions===
Kirk is a [[Rockefeller Republican|moderate Republican]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/04/senate-kirk-republicans-illinois-221915|title=Kirk goes full RINO to save Senate seat|work=POLITICO|access-date=August 27, 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/06/us/politics/mark-kirk-republican-illinois-senate-race.html|title=Mark Kirk in Electoral Vise as Republican in Illinois Senate Race|work=The New York Times |date=August 5, 2016 |access-date=August 27, 2018|language=en|last1=Herszenhorn |first1=David M. }}</ref> Kirk was sworn in on November 29, 2010, as the junior U.S. senator from Illinois.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rushing|first1=J. Taylor|title=With Kirk's swearing-in, GOP formally claims Obama's old seat|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/76183-with-kirks-swearing-in-gop-formally-claims-obamas-old-seat/|access-date=February 4, 2016|newspaper=The Hill|date=November 29, 2010}}</ref> Kirk sat at the Senate's coveted [[Candy Desk]] for several years.<ref>{{cite news|last=Toeplitz|first=Shira|title=Mark Kirk: Senate candy man|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/on-congress/2011/02/mark-kirk-senate-candy-man-033335|newspaper=Politico|date=February 13, 2011}}</ref> Kirk is considered to be a social moderate and fiscal conservative.<ref name=moderate/><ref name=time/> On June 7, 2016, Kirk withdrew his initial support for businessman and presumptive Republican nominee [[Donald Trump]] in the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 presidential election]] due to his "past attacks on Hispanics, women and the disabled like me." Kirk said he would write-in former CIA Director [[David Petraeus]].<ref>{{cite news | last1=Pearson | first1=Rick | title=Sen. Mark Kirk: 'Cannot and Will Not Support' Donald Trump for President | url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-mark-kirk-donald-trump-met-0608-20160607-story.html | date=June 7, 2016 | newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] | access-date=June 7, 2016}}</ref> Kirk was ranked as the 6th most bipartisan member of the U.S. Senate during the [[114th United States Congress]], and the fourth most bipartisan member of the U.S. Senate from the [[Midwestern United States|American Midwest]] (after Indiana Senator [[Joe Donnelly]], Ohio Senator [[Rob Portman]], and Iowa Senator [[Chuck Grassley]]) in the Bipartisan Index created by [[The Lugar Center]] and the [[McCourt School of Public Policy]] that ranks members of the United States Congress by their degree of bipartisanship (by measuring the frequency each member's bills attract co-sponsors from the opposite party and each member's co-sponsorship of bills by members of the opposite party).<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.thelugarcenter.org/assets/htmldocuments/The%20Lugar%20Center%20-%20McCourt%20School%20Bipartisan%20Index%20114th%20Congress%20House%20Scores.pdf|title=The Lugar Center – McCourt School Bipartisan Index|publisher=[[The Lugar Center]]|date=March 7, 2016|access-date=April 30, 2017}}</ref>

====Infrastructure and transportation policy====
In his first year in the Senate, Kirk worked along with U.S. Senator [[Dick Durbin]] (D–IL) to help mediate a dispute between airlines serving [[O'Hare International Airport]] and the City of [[Chicago]] in order to keep the O'Hare modernization project on schedule.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-and-kirk-announce-50-million-in-dot-funding-for-ohare-runway-construction | title=Durbin And Kirk Announce $50 Million In DOT Funding For O'Hare Runway Construction | publisher=[[Dick Durbin]] | date=July 7, 2011}}</ref> It is estimated the project would create 200,000 jobs and add $18 billion to the regional economy when completed.<ref>{{cite news | title=0inShare Email Chicago O'Hare Airport Modernization Program Gets Funding | url=https://www.travelpulse.com/news/airlines/chicago-ohare-airport-modernization-program-gets-funding.html | work=[[TravelPulse]] | date=March 14, 2011 | archive-date=February 3, 2020 | access-date=February 3, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203005325/https://www.travelpulse.com/news/airlines/chicago-ohare-airport-modernization-program-gets-funding.html | url-status=dead }}</ref>

Kirk and Durbin also worked together to bring $186 million in federal funds to support improved rail service from Chicago to St. Louis. The money was originally rejected by the state of Florida but reallocated to Illinois.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-kirk-quinn-announce-186-million-for-chicago-to-st-louis-high-speed-rail | title=Durbin, Kirk, Quinn Announce $186 Million For Chicago To St. Louis High Speed Rail | publisher=[[Dick Durbin]] | date=May 4, 2011}}</ref>

Kirk authored legislation, entitled the Lincoln Legacy Infrastructure Development Act, that sought to eliminate barriers and encourage private investment in roads, transit, airport and rail.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hilkevitch|first=John|title=Kirk unveils plan to ease transit privatization|url=http://articles.chicagobreakingnews.com/2011-06-20/news/29681341_1_public-private-partnerships-privatization-lease|newspaper=Tribune Reporter|date=June 20, 2011}}</ref> Several of the provisions in the legislation would later become law under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (P.L. 112–114), including provisions to eliminate barriers to public-private partnerships for public transportation projects and a boost for the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFA) program.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kessler, Lane|first=Frederic & Mari|title=MAP – 21: Treatment of Public-Private Partnerships Under Surface Transportation Reauthorization|url=http://www.nossaman.com/MAP_21_PPP|date=July 16, 2012}}</ref>

====Environmental policy====
Along with then-Senator [[Carl Levin]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]-[[Michigan|MI]]), Kirk co-chaired the Senate's Great Lakes Task Force, and on June 26, 2013, the two introduced the Great Lakes Ecological and Economic Protection Act (GLEEPA). This legislation authorizes more funds to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in their efforts to restore wetlands, control invasive species, and regulate dumping of sewage and other industrial byproducts into the Great Lakes watershed. It also re-authorizes the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]]'s Great Lakes national Program Office and Great Lakes Legacy Act, which addresses dumping of toxic waste.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kirk|first1=Mark|title=Kirk: Dumping sewage into Great Lakes must stop|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/opinion/ct-sta-kirk-column-st-0703-20150702-story.html|access-date=February 4, 2016|website=Chicago Tribune|date=July 2, 2015}}</ref> Kirk had introduced similar legislation before,<ref>{{cite news|title=Kirk and Durbin Co-sponsor Legislation to Stop Dumping in Great Lakes|url=http://www.kirk.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=42|access-date=February 4, 2016|publisher=Mark Kirk U.S. Senator for Illinois|date=January 25, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031413/http://www.kirk.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=42|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref> and Kirk had been a longstanding supporter of efforts to keep invasive [[Asian Carp]] out of the Great Lakes ecosystem.<ref>{{cite news|title=Durbin, Kirk push for federal action on Asian carp|url=http://fox2now.com/2014/08/01/durbin-kirk-push-for-federal-action-on-asian-carp/|access-date=February 4, 2016|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Fox 2|date=August 1, 2014}}</ref>

Kirk accepts the [[scientific consensus on climate change]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Skiba|first1=Katherine|title=Sen. Kirk clarifies view on climate change|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-mark-kirk-climate-change-met-20150108-story.html|access-date=February 4, 2016|website=Chicago Tribune|date=January 8, 2015}}</ref>

==== Iran ====
In 2016, Kirk suggested that [[Iran]] should be required to provide reports about how funds made available through sanctions relief were used to ensure that money was not ending up in the hands of [[Hezbollah]] or the Iranian military.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/06/iran-sanctions-congress-defense-bill-legislation.html|title=Defense bill could keep sanctions pressure on Iran|date=June 7, 2015|newspaper=Al-Monitor|language=en-us|access-date=November 2, 2016}}</ref>

==== Qatar ====
In May 2016, Kirk petitioned the [[United States Department of the Treasury|Treasury Department]] to be more aggressive towards [[Qatar and state-sponsored terrorism|Qatar's financing of terrorism]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://stopterrorfinance.org/stories/510723745-in-the-news-senator-kirk-make-qatar-comply-or-cut-ties|title=IN THE NEWS: Senator Kirk: Make Qatar Comply or Cut Ties|last=Reports|first=CATF|access-date=November 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104003201/http://stopterrorfinance.org/stories/510723745-in-the-news-senator-kirk-make-qatar-comply-or-cut-ties|archive-date=November 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Illinois debt crisis====
Kirk appointed a sovereign debt advisory board to help research the unfunded obligations and unpaid bills contributing to Illinois' debt crisis. He later produced a Report on Illinois Debt highlighting the unsustainable debt the state continued to hold and the need for pension reform.<ref>{{cite news|last=Yerak|first=Becky|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2011/10/11/kirk-report-diagnoses-illinois-unsustainable-debt/|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=October 11, 2011|title=Kirk report diagnoses Illinois' 'unsustainable' debt}}</ref> Kirk introduced legislation entitled No State Bailouts, S. Res. 188, along with 14 other U.S. Senators, which would ban federal bailouts of financially struggling states. Illinois State Treasurer [[Dan Rutherford]] endorsed the legislation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kirk to push for "No State Bailouts" Resolution|url=http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2011/05/kirk-to-push-for-no-state-bailouts-resolution.html|access-date=February 4, 2016|publisher=Illinois Review|date=May 27, 2011}}</ref>

====Anti-corruption work====
Kirk and Representative [[Bob Dold]] (R–IL-10) (who succeeded him in his House seat) introduced bipartisan legislation to expand qualifications for ending federal pension payouts to elected officials convicted of corruption. The bicameral provision expanded current law to include an additional 22 crimes, and the bill was included in the STOCK Act signed by the President in April 2012.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Easley|first1=Jonathan|title=President signs STOCK Act without mentioning television exposè|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/110653-president-signs-stock-act-without-mentioning-television-expose/|access-date=February 4, 2016|newspaper=The Hill|date=April 4, 2012}}</ref>

====Social issues====
Kirk voted for re-authorization of the [[Violence Against Women Act]] in 2013.<ref>{{cite news |title=Senate roll vote on Violence Against Women Act |url=https://news.yahoo.com/senate-roll-vote-violence-against-women-act-210921824--politics.html |date=February 12, 2013|work=Yahoo News |access-date=April 9, 2015}}</ref>

Kirk is [[Abortion-rights movement|pro-choice]]. In 2015, he was one of two Republicans to oppose a ban on abortions after 20 weeks.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Klimas|first1=Jacqueline|title=Kirk's abortion vote may boost moderate credentials|url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/kirks-abortion-vote-may-boost-moderate-credentials/article/2572702|access-date=February 3, 2016|magazine=Washington Examiner|date=September 23, 2015}}</ref> Kirk opposes Republican Party efforts to defund [[Planned Parenthood]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sullivan|first1=Peter|title=Vulnerable GOP senator opposes defunding Planned Parenthood|url=https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/249661-vulnerable-gop-senator-opposes-defunding-planned-parenthood/|access-date=February 3, 2016|newspaper=The Hill|date=July 29, 2015}}</ref> In September 2015, Kirk and Senator Durbin were thanked by the presidents of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund and Planned Parenthood Illinois Action for their opposition to such measures.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Planned-Parenthood-thanks-Durbin-Kirk/52993.html|title=Planned Parenthood thanks Durbin, Kirk|date=September 30, 2015}}</ref> He has a lifetime 75% grade from Planned Parenthood and an 80% rating in 2015 from [[NARAL Pro-Choice America]], both organizations that support legal abortion access.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/33502/mark-kirk/75#.W4QiqehKiUk|title=The Voter's Self Defense System|website=Vote Smart|language=en-US|access-date=August 27, 2018}}</ref> Conversely, he had a 55% score from the pro-life Campaign for Working Families which opposes abortion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/interest-group/1086/rating/9753#.W4Qi7ehKiUk|title=The Voter's Self Defense System|website=Vote Smart|language=en-US|access-date=August 27, 2018}}</ref> The [[Anti-abortion movements|pro-life]] group, [[National Right to Life Committee|Illinois Right to Life]], gave Kirk a 0% rating.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/interest-group/1243/rating/9069#.W4QjKehKiUk|title=The Voter's Self Defense System|website=Vote Smart|language=en-US|access-date=August 27, 2018}}</ref>

In May 2010, Kirk voted against [[Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010|the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mark-kirk-votes-against-d_n_593728 |title=Mark Kirk Votes Against 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Repeal | work=[[HuffPost]] |date=May 28, 2010}}</ref> In December 2010, Kirk joined seven other Senate Republicans in voting in favor of the policy's repeal.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/19/us/politics/19cong.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 "Senate Repeals Ban Against Openly Gay Military Personnel"], ''The New York Times'', December 19, 2010.</ref> In 2015, he was one of 11 Senate Republicans who voted to offer social security benefits to same-sex couples living in states where same-sex marriage was not yet recognized.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/policy/same-sex-marriage-benefits-endorsed-on-senate-floor|title=Same-Sex Marriage Benefits Endorsed on Senate Floor (Updated)|last1=Dennis|first1=Steven T.|date=March 27, 2015|work=Roll Call|access-date=August 27, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

On April 2, 2013, Kirk became the second sitting Republican U.S. Senator to support [[same-sex marriage]], joining [[List of United States Senators from Ohio|Ohio Senator]] [[Rob Portman]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/republican-sen-mark-kirk-endorses-marriage-equality |title=Republican Sen. Mark Kirk Endorses Marriage Equality |date=April 2, 2013 |work=[[BuzzFeed]]}}</ref> He was given a 100% score from the [[Human Rights Campaign]], which supports same-sex marriage and LGBT rights, and a 100% score by [[PFLAG]] or Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/33502/mark-kirk/76#.W4QjzehKiUk|title=The Voter's Self Defense System|website=Vote Smart|language=en-US|access-date=August 27, 2018}}</ref>

Kirk is a cosponsor and strong supporter of the [[Employment Non-Discrimination Act]] (ENDA) and in November 2013 became one of several Republicans to vote in favor of the law, which would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mark-kirk-speech_n_4214848 | title=Mark Kirk Speaks On ENDA Support In First Senate Floor Speech Since Stroke | first=Paige | last=Lavender | work=[[HuffPost]] | date=November 4, 2013}}</ref>

In January 2016, Kirk became the first Republican U.S. Senator to co-sponsor the [[Equality Act of 2015|Equality Act]], which would make sex, sexual orientation and gender identity among the prohibited categories of discrimination or segregation under the [[1964 Civil Rights Act]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Garcia|first1=Eric|title=Will Pro-LGBT Stances Hurt GOP Senators?|url=http://atr.rollcall.com/will-pro-lgbt-stands-hurt-gop-senators/|access-date=January 27, 2016|publisher=Roll Call|date=January 27, 2015}}</ref>

====Labor====
In April 2014, the United States Senate debated the [[Minimum Wage Fairness Act (S. 1737; 113th Congress)]]. The bill would amend the [[Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938]] (FLSA) to increase the [[Minimum wage in the United States|federal minimum wage]] for employees to $10.10 per hour over the course of a two-year period.<ref name=1737sum>{{cite web|title=S. 1737 – Summary|date=April 2, 2014|url=http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/1737|publisher=United States Congress|access-date=April 8, 2014}}</ref> The bill was supported by President [[Barack Obama]] and many Democratic Senators, but opposed by Republicans in the Senate and House.<ref name=hill>{{cite news|last=Bolton|first=Alexander|title=Centrist Republicans cool to minimum wage hike compromise|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/202641-centrist-republicans-cool-to-wage-compromise/|access-date=April 9, 2014|newspaper=The Hill|date=April 4, 2014}}</ref> Kirk said he would not vote for the bill or a related compromise bill.<ref name=hill/>

Kirk voted in April 2014 to extend federal funding for unemployment benefits. Federal funding had been initiated in 2008 and expired at the end of 2013.<ref>{{cite news | newspaper = The Washington Post | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/04/07/senate-passes-extension-to-unemployment-insurance-bill-heads-to-house/ | title = Senate passes extension to unemployment insurance, bill heads to House | first= Wesley | last = Lowery | access-date= July 21, 2015 | date = April 7, 2014}}</ref>

In March 2015, Kirk voted for an amendment to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to allow employees to earn paid sick time.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Senate passes budget after lengthy, politically charged 'Vote-a-rama' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-senators-are-using-vote-a-rama-to-score-political-points-for-2016/2015/03/26/0e8d3970-d3f6-11e4-ab77-9646eea6a4c7_story.html |date=March 27, 2015 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=April 9, 2015 |first=Sean |last=Sullivan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327091840/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-senators-are-using-vote-a-rama-to-score-political-points-for-2016/2015/03/26/0e8d3970-d3f6-11e4-ab77-9646eea6a4c7_story.html |archive-date=March 27, 2015 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

====Gun policy====
Kirk is the only Republican U.S. Senator to receive an "F" grade from the [[National Rifle Association|NRA]] [[Political Victory Fund]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Blake|first1=Aaron|title=Where the Senate stands on guns — in one chart|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2012/12/17/where-the-senate-stands-on-guns-in-one-chart/|access-date=February 4, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=December 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923035314/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2012/12/17/where-the-senate-stands-on-guns-in-one-chart/|archive-date=September 23, 2015|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref> In 2015, he received a lifetime achievement award from the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence.<ref name=moderate/> He supports background checks for gun sales,<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=LeTourneau|first1=Nancy|title=Why a Bill on Gun Background Checks is So Hard to Pass|url=http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2015_10/why_a_bill_on_gun_background_c058008.php|access-date=February 4, 2016|magazine=Washington Monthly|date=October 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013013104/http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2015_10/why_a_bill_on_gun_background_c058008.php|archive-date=October 13, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> and in 2013 was the only Republican senator to vote for an assault weapons ban.<ref>{{cite news | last=Siddiqui | first=Sabrina | title=Assault Weapons Ban, High-Capacity Magazine Measures Fail In Senate Vote | url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/assault-weapons-ban_n_3103120 | work=[[HuffPost]] | date=April 17, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709181534/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/assault-weapons-ban_n_3103120 | archive-date=July 9, 2019 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Simon |first=Richard |title=Senate votes down Feinstein's assault weapons ban | url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-xpm-2013-apr-17-la-pn-dianne-feinstein-assault-weapons-vote-20130417-story.html | work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=April 17, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403234730/https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-xpm-2013-apr-17-la-pn-dianne-feinstein-assault-weapons-vote-20130417-story.html | archive-date=April 3, 2019 | url-status=live}}</ref>

====Other policy issues====
In 2011, Kirk was one of only two Republicans to oppose legislation to detain American citizens indefinitely.<ref>{{cite news | last1=McAuliff | first1=Michael | last2=Bendery | first2=Jennifer | url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/senate-votes-to-let-military-detain-americans-indefinitely_n_1119473 | title=Senate Votes To Let Military Detain Americans Indefinitely, White House Threatens Veto | work=[[HuffPost]] | date=November 29, 2011}}</ref>

In the aftermath of the downing of a Malaysian Airlines flight by missiles over Ukraine in 2014, Kirk called for an investigation into the possibility of outfitting commercial airliners with missile defense systems.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2014/07/18/lawmaker-wants-missile-countermeasures-on-civilian-aircraft/ |title= Lawmaker wants missile countermeasures on civilian aircraft |last1=Gibbons-Neff |first1=Thomas |date=July 18, 2014 |newspaper= The Washington Post |access-date= July 21, 2014}}</ref>

In 2014, Kirk co-sponsored legislation to re-authorize the [[Export-Import Bank of the United States|Export-Import Bank]].<ref>{{cite news |last1= Cirilli |first1=Kevin |title= Kirk to co-sponsor Manchin Ex-Im bill |url= https://thehill.com/policy/finance/211342-kirk-to-co-sponsor-manchin-ex-im-bill/ |access-date= March 26, 2016 |newspaper=The Hill |date= July 3, 2014}}</ref>

After the death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice [[Antonin Scalia]] in 2016, Kirk was the first Republican U.S. Senator to publicly state that President Barack Obama's eventual replacement nominee for the Supreme Court should get a hearing and a vote. Other Republicans believed the next president should nominate a replacement for Scalia.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Raju |first1=Manu |last2=Walsh |first2=Deirdre |last3=Barrett |first3=Ted |last4=LoBianco |first4=Tom |title= GOP senators break with party over Supreme Court nomination fight |url= http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/22/politics/supreme-court-senate/index.html |access-date= February 23, 2016|publisher=CNN|date=February 22, 2016}}</ref> In April 2016, Kirk met with Obama's nominee, [[Merrick Garland]], and circulated a memo to his Republican colleagues encouraging them to meet with him as well.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Huetteman|first1=Emmarie|title=Senator Mark Kirk Urges Republican Colleagues to Meet With Judge Merrick Garland|url=https://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/04/06/senator-mark-kirk-urges-republican-collegues-to-meet-with-judge-merrick-garland/|access-date=April 29, 2016|website=The New York Times|date=April 6, 2016}}</ref>

===Caucus memberships===
* Albanian Issue Caucus (Co-Chair)
* Congressional Diabetes Caucus (Vice-Chair)
* [[United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus|International Conservation Caucus]]
* [[Republican Main Street Partnership]]
* [[Senate Ukraine Caucus]] (Vice-Chair)<ref>{{cite news|title=Portman and Durbin Launch Senate Ukraine Caucus|url=http://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2015/2/portman-and-durbin-launch-senate-ukraine-caucus|publisher=Rob Portman United States Senator for Ohio|access-date=February 11, 2015|date=February 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211073945/http://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2015/2/portman-and-durbin-launch-senate-ukraine-caucus|archive-date=February 11, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Committee assignments===
* [[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Committee on Appropriations]]
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government|Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government]]
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies]]
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies]] (Chair)
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs|Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs]]
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies]]
* [[United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs|Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs]]
** [[United States Senate Banking Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development|Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development]]
** [[United States Senate Banking Subcommittee on Security and International Trade and Finance|Subcommittee on Security and International Trade and Finance]] (Chair)
** [[United States Senate Banking Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment|Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment]]
* [[United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions|Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions]]
** [[United States Senate Health Subcommittee on Children and Families|Subcommittee on Children and Families]]
** [[United States Senate Health Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety|Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety]]
* [[United States Senate Special Committee on Aging|Special Committee on Aging]]

==Personal life==
In February 1998, Kirk met Kimberly Vertolli, a [[Office of Naval Intelligence|Naval Intelligence Officer]], while the two were on duty together at [[the Pentagon]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Sweet |first=Lynn |url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2006/05/kirk_lawmakers_wife_splits_for.html |title=Kirk: Lawmakers' wife splits for D.C. – Lynn Sweet |publisher=Blogs.suntimes.com |date=May 5, 2006 |access-date=July 28, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016165228/http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2006/05/kirk_lawmakers_wife_splits_for.html |archive-date=October 16, 2011  }}</ref> The two married in 2001<ref>{{cite news|last1=Goldsborough|first1=Bob|title=Mansion that needs some work listed for $10.5 million|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2014/06/24/mansion-that-needs-some-work-listed-for-105-million/|access-date=February 4, 2016|website=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=June 24, 2014}}</ref> and divorced in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bresnahan|first1=Mark|title=Ex-wife hits Kirk with FEC complaint|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2012/05/kirk-hit-with-fec-complaint-by-ex-wife-076833|access-date=February 4, 2016|publisher=Politico|date=May 29, 2012}}</ref>

===Stroke and recovery===
On January 21, 2012, at age 52, Kirk suffered an ischemic [[stroke]] caused by a [[carotid artery dissection|damaged blood vessel]] in his neck.<ref name="My stroke">{{cite news|last=Kirk|first=Mark|title=My Stroke|access-date=October 10, 2016|url=http://www.kirk.senate.gov/?p=news&id=489|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011231342/https://www.kirk.senate.gov/?p=news&id=489|archive-date=October 11, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Two days later, he underwent [[neurosurgery]] at [[Northwestern Memorial Hospital]] in [[Chicago]]; a piece of his cranium was temporarily removed to lessen any danger from the brain swelling process.<ref name="stroke">{{cite news|last=Skiba|first=Katherine|title=Sen. Mark Kirk undergoes surgery after suffering stroke|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-sen-mark-kirk-hospitalized-after-suffering-stroke-20120123,0,6664285.story|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=January 23, 2012}}</ref> He underwent follow-up surgery two days after that to remove more of his skull and some damaged brain tissue.<ref name="My stroke" /> He suffered significant left-sided weakness and spent several months at an inpatient physical rehabilitation center.

On May 1, 2012, Kirk was sent home from the rehabilitation center. A statement from his family said he would continue to work on rehabilitation on an outpatient basis, but that he had progressed enough to be able to move home with his family.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2012/05/03/sen-mark-kirk-continues-recovery-from-stroke/ |title=Sen. Mark Kirk Continues Recovery From Stroke |newspaper=wsj.com|date=May 3, 2012|access-date=May 19, 2012 |first=Janet |last=Hook}}</ref> A week later, Kirk's staff released a video showing Kirk walking on a treadmill and down a hallway at the [[Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago]] as doctors worked with him to help fully regain the use of his left side.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120508/news/705089750/ | title=Kirk reveals details of late January stroke |newspaper=Daily Herald|date=May 9, 2012|access-date=May 19, 2012 |first=Kerry|last=Hester}}</ref> A second video was released in August, showing Kirk was living at his [[Fort Sheridan, Illinois]] home, and while his left side still showed impairment, Kirk was walking without aid. On November 4, he participated in a "SkyRise Chicago" challenge to climb the stairs of [[Willis Tower]], successfully completing 37 floors.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/11/04/illinois-sen-mark-kirk-participates-in-willis-tower-stair-climb/| title=Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk participates in Willis Tower stair climb |website=Chicago Tribune|date=November 4, 2012|access-date=November 5, 2012|first=Katherine|last=Skiba}}</ref>

On January 3, 2013, Kirk returned to the Capitol for the first time since his stroke in time for the start of the [[113th United States Congress|113th Congress]]. He was escorted up the Capitol steps by Vice President and President of the Senate [[Joe Biden]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2013/01/03/mark-kirk-makes-dramatic-return-to-the-senate/ |title=Mark Kirk makes dramatic return to the Senate |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 3, 2013 |accessdate=February 21, 2022}}</ref>

Kirk returned to his role as Senator, at times using a cane or wheelchair for assistance.<ref name="USA Today 2016">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/2016/05/17/two-disabled-candidates-locked-historic-battle/84460720/|title=Two disabled candidates locked in historic battle|first=Donovan|last=Slack|access-date=October 10, 2016}}</ref> He cites his public role as motivation to return to work and to serve as an example for families suffering from stroke<ref name="NPR interview">{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2014/03/09/288108181/a-senators-long-and-patient-recovery-from-stroke|title=A Senator's Long And Patient Recovery From Stroke|access-date=October 10, 2016}}</ref> and his stroke itself as motivation to improve early stroke detection<ref name="My stroke" /> and rehabilitation.<ref name="Stroke agenda">{{cite news|title=Stroke agenda, Kirk website|url=https://www.kirk.senate.gov/stroke_agenda/|access-date=October 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108223740/https://www.kirk.senate.gov/stroke_agenda/|archive-date=November 8, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="5" |Illinois's 10th Congressional district Republican Primary election, 2000
|-
|'''Party'''
|'''Candidate'''
|'''Votes'''
|'''%'''
|'''+%'''
|-
|'''Republican'''
|'''Mark Kirk'''
|'''19,717'''
|'''31%'''
|
|-
|Republican
|Shawn Margaret Donnelley
|9,585
|15%
|
|-
|Republican
|Mark William Damisch
|9,016
|14%
|
|-
|Republican
|Andrew Hochberg
|7,480
|12%
|
|-
|Republican
|[[John H. Cox]]
|6,339
|10%
|
|-
|Republican
|Scott Phelps
|3,712
|6%
|
|-
|Republican
|Thomas Fredric "Tom" Lachner
|2,555
|4%
|
|-
|Republican
|Terry Gladman
|2,172
|3%
|
|-
|Republican
|James Goulka
|1,469
|2%
|
|-
|Republican
|John Guy
|397
|1%
|
|-
|Republican
|Jon Stewart
|363
|1%
|
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ {{ushr|Illinois|10}}: Results 2000–2008<ref name="clerkresults"/>
!|Year
!
!|Democratic
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 2000|2000]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Lauren Beth Gash]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |115,924
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |49%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|'''Mark Kirk'''}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |'''121,582'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''51%'''
|
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 2002|2002]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|Henry H. Perritt, Jr.}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |58,300
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |31%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Mark Kirk''' '''(incumbent)'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |'''128,611'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''69%'''
|
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 2004|2004]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Lee Goodman
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |99,218
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |36%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Mark Kirk''' '''(incumbent)'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |'''177,493'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''64%'''
|
|-
|[[Illinois's 10th congressional district election, 2006|2006]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Daniel J. Seals]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |94,278
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |47%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Mark Kirk''' '''(incumbent)'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |'''107,929'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''53%'''
| |'''*'''
|-
|[[United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois, 2008#District 10|2008]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Daniel J. Seals]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |138,176
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |47%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Mark Kirk''' '''(incumbent)'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |'''153,082'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''53%'''
|
|-
| colspan="10" | {{refbegin}}<nowiki>*</nowiki>Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 2006, a write-in received 1 vote.
{{refend}}
|}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = [[United States Senate elections in Illinois, 2010|United States Senate election in Illinois Republican Primary, 2010]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionResults.aspx?ID=fXOlVXzqApI%3d |title=Election Results GENERAL PRIMARY – 2/2/2010 |work=Illinois State Board of Elections |date=February 2, 2010 |access-date=December 13, 2017 |archive-date=September 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920121854/https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionResults.aspx?ID=fXOlVXzqApI%3d |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Mark Kirk
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 420,373
| percentage = 56.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Patrick Hughes
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 142,928
| percentage = 19.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Donald Lowery
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 66,357
| percentage = 8.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Kathleen Thomas
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 54,038
| percentage = 7.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Andy Martin
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 37,480
| percentage = 5.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = John Arrington
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 21,090
| percentage = 2.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Patricia Beard
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 2
| percentage = .0003
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 742,268
| percentage = 100.0%
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = [[United States Senate elections in Illinois, 2010|United States Senate special election in Illinois, 2010]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionResults.aspx?ID=ernZSE5MMLc%3d |title=Election Results SPECIAL GENERAL ELECTION – 11/2/2010 |work=Illinois State Board of Elections |date=November 2, 2010 |access-date=December 13, 2017 |archive-date=September 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920120500/https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionResults.aspx?ID=ernZSE5MMLc%3d |url-status=dead }}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Mark Kirk
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 1,677,729
| percentage = 47.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [[Alexi Giannoulias]]
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 1,641,486
| percentage = 46.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = LeAlan Jones
| party = Green Party (United States)
| votes = 129,571
| percentage = 3.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Michael Labno
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes = 95,762
| percentage = 2.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Robert Zadek
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 683
| percentage = .02
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Will Boyd
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 415
| percentage = .01
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ina Pinkney
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 297
| percentage = .01
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Corey Dabney
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 15
| percentage = .0004
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Susanne Atanus
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 12
| percentage = .0003
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Shon-Tiyon Horton
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 8
| percentage = .0002
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Stan Jagla
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 5
| percentage = .0001
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Lowell M. Seida
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 1
| percentage = .00002
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 3,545,984
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin 
| title = [[United States Senate elections in Illinois, 2010|United States Senate election in Illinois, 2010]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionResults.aspx?ID=pdeeGST8d2w%3d |title=Election Results GENERAL ELECTION – 11/2/2010 |work=Illinois State Board of Elections |date=November 2, 2010 |access-date=December 13, 2017 |archive-date=September 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920120218/https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionResults.aspx?ID=pdeeGST8d2w%3d |url-status=dead }}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| candidate = Mark Kirk
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 1,778,698
| percentage = 48.0
| change = +21.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link 
| candidate = Alexi Giannoulias
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 1,719,478
| percentage = 46.4
| change = -25.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link 
| candidate = LeAlan Jones
| party = Green Party (United States)
| votes = 117,914
| percentage = 3.2
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link 
| candidate = Michael Labno
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes = 87,247
| percentage = 2.4
| change = +1.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link 
| candidate = Bob Zadek
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 561
| percentage = 0.02
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link 
| candidate = Will Boyd
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 468
| percentage = 0.01
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link 
| candidate = Corey Dabney
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 33
| percentage = .0009
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link 
| candidate = Susanne Atanus
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 19
| percentage = .0005
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link 
| candidate = Shon-Tiyon Horton
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 16
| percentage = .0004
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link 
| candidate = Avner Nagar
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 15
| percentage = .0004
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link 
| candidate = Stan Jagla
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 12
| percentage = .0003
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link 
| candidate = Darren Raichart
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 9
| percentage = .0002
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link 
| candidate = Lowell M. Seida
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 3
| percentage = .00008
}}
{{Election box majority
 |votes = 59,220
 |percentage = 1.6
|change = -51.4
}}
{{Election box turnout
 |votes = 3,704,473
 |percentage = 
 |change = -27.9
}}
{{Election box gain with party link 
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
  |loser      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |swing      =
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin 
| title = [[United States Senate election in Illinois, 2016|United States Senate election in Illinois Republican Primary, 2016]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionResults.aspx?ID=SKR13%2f24Geo%3d |title=Election Results GENERAL PRIMARY – 3/2/2016 |work=Illinois State Board of Elections |date=March 2, 2016 |access-date=December 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202210230/https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionResults.aspx?ID=SKR13%2f24Geo%3d |archive-date=December 2, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link 
| candidate = Mark Kirk (Incumbent)
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 931,619
| percentage = 70.6
| change = +14.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link 
| candidate = James T. Marter
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 388,571
| percentage = 29.4
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box majority
 |votes = 543,048
 |percentage = 41.2
|change = +3.9
}}
{{Election box turnout
 |votes = 1,320,191
 |percentage = 
 |change = +77.9
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin 
| title = [[United States Senate election in Illinois, 2016]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionResults.aspx?ID=vlS7uG8NT%2f0%3d |title=Election Results GENERAL ELECTION – 11/8/2016 |work=Illinois State Board of Elections |date=November 8, 2016 |access-date=December 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327204831/https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionResults.aspx?ID=vlS7uG8NT%2f0%3d |archive-date=March 27, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| candidate = [[Tammy Duckworth]]
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 3,012,940
| percentage = 54.9
| change = +8.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link 
| candidate = Mark Kirk (Incumbent)
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 2,184,692
| percentage = 39.8
| change = -8.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link 
| candidate = Kenton McMillen
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes = 175,988
| percentage = 3.2
| change = +0.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link 
| candidate = Scott Summers
| party = Green Party (United States)
| votes = 117,619
| percentage = 2.1
| change = -1.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link 
| candidate = Chad Koppie
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 408
| percentage = .007
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link 
| candidate = Jim Brown
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 106
| percentage = .002
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link 
| candidate = Christopher Aguayo
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 77
| percentage = .001
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link 
| candidate = Susana Sandoval
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 42
| percentage = .0008
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link 
| candidate = Eric Kufi James Stewart
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 5
| percentage = .00009
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link 
| candidate = Patricia Beard
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 1
| percentage = .00002
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link 
| candidate = Osama Bin Laden
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 1
| percentage = .00002
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box majority
 |votes = 828,249
 |percentage = 15.1
|change = +13.5
}}
{{Election box turnout
 |votes = 5,491,878
 |percentage = 
 |change = +48.2
}}
{{Election box gain with party link 
  |winner     = Democratic Party (United States)
  |loser      = Republican Party (United States)
  |swing      =
}}
{{Election box end}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Mark Kirk}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{C-SPAN|85221}}
* {{CongLinks | congbio=k000360 | votesmart=33502 | fec=S0IL00261 | congress=mark-kirk/1647 }}<!--
Links formerly displayed via the CongLinks template:
* [http://ballotpedia.org/Mark_Kirk Biography] at [[Ballotpedia]]
* [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/400222 Congressional profile] at [[GovTrack]]
* [http://www.opencongress.org/people/show/400222 Congressional profile] at [[Participatory Politics Foundation|OpenCongress]]
* [http://www.rollcall.com/members/7051.html Congressional profile] at ''[[Roll Call]]''
* [http://www.politifact.com/personalities/mark-kirk Fact-checking] at [[PolitiFact.com]]
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00012539 Financial information (federal office)] at [[Center for Responsive Politics|OpenSecrets.org]]
* [https://apps.washingtonpost.com/politics/capitol-assets/member/mark-kirk Financial investments (personal)] at ''[[The Washington Post]]''
* [http://www.legistorm.com/member/320/Rep_Mark_Kirk.html Staff salaries, trips and personal finance] at LegiStorm.com
* [http://www.ontheissues.org/IL/Mark_Kirk.htm Issue positions and quotes] at [[On the Issues]]
* [http://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-no2008-80486 Works by or about Mark Kirk] in libraries ([[WorldCat]] catalog)
* [http://www.c-spanvideo.org/markstevenkirk Appearances] on [[C-SPAN]] programs
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3268451 Appearances] at the [[Internet Movie Database]]
* [http://topics.bloomberg.com/mark-kirk Collected news and commentary] at ''[[Bloomberg News]]''
* [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gIQAfhXHAP_topic.html Collected news and commentary] at ''[[The Washington Post]]''
* -->
* {{ballotpedia|Mark_Kirk|Mark Kirk}}

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{{s-aft|after=[[Bob Dold]]}}
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{{s-ppo}}
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{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[Republican Governance Group|Tuesday Group]]|years=2005–2010|alongside=[[Charles Bass]] (2005–2007), [[Charlie Dent]] (2007–2010), [[Jo Ann Emerson]] (2010)}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[List of United States Senators from Illinois|U.S. Senator]] from [[Illinois]]<br>([[Classes of United States Senators|Class 3]])|years=[[2010 United States Senate elections in Illinois|2010]], [[2016 United States Senate election in Illinois|2016]]}}
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{{s-prec|usa}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[United States order of precedence|Order of precedence of the United States]]|years=}}
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{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kirk, Mark}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:21st-century United States representatives]]
[[Category:21st-century United States senators]]
[[Category:Alumni of the London School of Economics]]
[[Category:American wheelchair users]]
[[Category:Cornell University alumni]]
[[Category:Georgetown University Law Center alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Illinois]]
[[Category:New Trier High School alumni]]
[[Category:People from Fort Sheridan, Illinois]]
[[Category:Political chiefs of staff]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois]]
[[Category:Republican Party United States senators from Illinois]]
[[Category:United Church of Christ members]]
[[Category:United States congressional aides]]
[[Category:United States Navy officers]]