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Designed to Win: Political Buttons and Pins from the Past

This guide is meant to provide supplemental and instructional material in conjunction with the Milner Library Button Exhibit, 2024

Other Illinois Political Buttons

Thomas W. Ewing

Campaign button for Tom Ewing’s bid to for continued membership to the Illinois House of Representatives. Ewing served as a member of the Illinois House from 1975 until 1991, when he moved on to serve in the United States House of Representatives until 2001. Before entering politics, Ewing practiced law, and acted as the Assistant State’s Attorney for Livingston County, IL.

Campaign button for Ewing

Jesse White

Campaign button for Jesse White, running for another term as Illinois Secretary of State. White was first elected to this position in 1999 and served until his retirement in 2022, making him the longest serving person to hold this position. White was also the first African American to become Secretary of State in Illinois. Before becoming Secretary of State, White served several terms in the Illinois House of Representatives (1975-1977, 1979-1993). White was succeeded by Alexi Giannoulias.

Campaign Button for Jesse White3

Alexi Giannoulias

Campaign button for Alexi Giannoulias’ campaign for Illinois State Treasurer in the 2006 election. His victory at the time made him the youngest to hold that position in the nation.  After his four-year term as Treasurer, Giannoulias ran for the United States Senate, losing to Mark Kirk. Giannoulias is the current Illinois Secretary of State

Campaign button for Alexi Giannoulias

Robert J. Steigmann

Button for Robert J. Steigmann’s 2002 Illinois Supreme Court campaign. He was unsuccessful in his bid to move into Illinois’ highest court. Steigmann is an alumnus of the University of Illinois twice over, first as an undergraduate and then as a law student. Steigmann faced criticism in this campaign for an ad he ran that featured an old mascot from the University of Illinois, Chief Illiniwek, who was retired years earlier due the harm of perpetuating Native American stereotypes. University officials asked that he stop running the ad, but Steigmann refused. Steigmann has practiced law in Illinois since 1968, starting his career as a staff attorney with the Legislative Reference Bureau, and moving through the ranks until he was elected to the Illinois Appellate Court in 1994. He remains connected to his alma mater as an adjunct faculty member in the law school, despite the disagreement during his campaign.

Campaign button for Steigmann