Pat Quinn: podcast appearances and interviews

Patrick Joseph Quinn born December 16, 1948, in Chicago, Illinois, is an American politician who served as the 41st governor of Illinois from 2009 to 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, Quinn began his career as a political activist, founding the Coalition for Political Honesty, an organization focused on citizen-initiated referendums advocating political reform. He demonstrated early involvement in Illinois politics through efforts such as the 1976 Political Honesty Initiative and the 1980 Cutback Amendment, which reduced the size of the Illinois House of Representatives and marked the first time Illinois voters utilized the initiative process for constitutional amendments or laws. Quinn served as a commissioner on the Cook County Board of Tax Appeals from 1982 to 1986 and as Illinois Treasurer from 1991 to 1995. His political career also included roles as revenue director under Chicago Mayor Harold Washington and runs for statewide office such as secretary of state, United States senator, and lieutenant governor. In 2002, Quinn was elected as lieutenant governor alongside gubernatorial candidate Rod Blagojevich and was reelected in 2006. He assumed the governorship on January 29, 2009, following Blagojevich's impeachment and removal from office. During his time as governor, Quinn focused on reforms including ethics legislation, expanded healthcare coverage, and social legislation such as the legalization of civil unions and same-sex marriage. He also implemented the Put Illinois to Work program, the Illinois Secure Choice retirement savings initiative, and abolished the death penalty. Quinn lost his bid for re-election in 2014 and subsequently ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for Illinois attorney general in 2018.