Anna Valencia is a proven leader who understands the challenges many Illinois families face. She grew up downstate in Granite City in a proud working-class, union family. Anna’s dad was a union painter and her mom worked for a non-profit helping underprivileged high school students after school.

Growing up, Anna’s parents instilled in her the importance of a good education. With their support and the encouragement of one of her public school teachers, Anna became the first person in her family to graduate from college. She attended University of Illinois on a scholarship and graduated with a degree in International Studies in 2007.

After college, Anna was determined to make a positive impact on the world around her. With her personal belief that government has the ability to have a profound and meaningful impact on people’s lives, Anna decided to go to work helping to elect Democratic officials who she knew would fight for working families like her own.

During her time on campaigns, Anna fought tirelessly to elect Senator Dick Durbin, Senator Gary Peters, and Congressman Mike Quigley. In 2016, Anna moved from campaigns to government, taking on the role of Director of Legislative Counsel and Government Affairs in the Chicago Mayor’s Office. She was only the second woman and the first Latina to serve in that position.

After the election of Donald Trump in 2016, everything changed for Anna. As a working-class woman of color, Anna acutely understood there was so much at stake for working families, for communities of color, for women, and for our Democracy. When the City Clerk of Chicago position became open, Anna decided it was time to step out from behind the scenes and join the fight on the front lines.

Anna has served as City Clerk of Chicago since 2017. During her time as Clerk, she has worked passionately to make the office more accessible to the public and to implement policies to help improve the lives of families throughout Chicago. She established the City Key Program, making free optional government issued ID cards available to all Chicagoans and improving access to city benefits like discount prescription drug programs. Anna also executed historic reforms to fines and fees, helping pull many Chicagoans out of debt. She also spearheaded the development of the first Mobile City Hall, which brings city services directly to communities across Chicago.

Anna and her husband live in the Tri-Taylor neighborhood in Chicago with their daughter Reyana.