Jesse Louis "Jesse Jr." Jackson Jr. is a member of the United States House of Representatives representing Illinois's 2nd congressional district, which includes the southeast suburbs of Chicago, part of the Chicago South Side and a small portion of the southeast side of Chicago (map). He has served the 2nd district since winning a special election on December 12, 1995, to fill the seat vacated by Mel Reynolds and is the Democratic son of activist and former presidential candidate Jesse Jackson. His wife, Sandi Jackson, serves on the Chicago City Council. He serves as a national co-chairman of the Barack Obama Presidential campaign. He was educated at Le Mans Academy, St. Albans School, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Chicago Theological Seminary, and University of Illinois College of Law. Prior to elective politics Jackson was proactive in international civil rights activism. He participated in his father's presidential campaigns and then in the office of his National Rainbow Coalition. During his time in public office he has co-authored three books, two of them with his father.
