Biography
Sandi Jackson has been actively involved in Democratic Party politics for more than 18 years. Before being elected Alderman to Chicago's 7th Ward, she served as Deputy Director of Training for the Democratic National Committee.
A veteran of five presidential campaigns for the White House, Sandi recently directed scheduling operations for Rev. Jesse Jackson, who served as the DNC “Super Surrogate” for the 2004 presidential election cycle. She also served as a presidential appointee in the Clinton Administration as Vice President of Congressional and External Affairs for the Export-Import Bank of the United States.
Sandi previously served as the Director of VIP Relations for the Presidential Inaugural Committee where she supervised the administrative and managerial support to the Committee Vice Chairs, the Joint Chiefs of Staffs, U.S. Military leaders and coordinated plans for special projects with the White House Military Liaison Office. She served as the National Outreach Coordinator for the Clinton/Gore 96 Campaign, organizing African American activities and serving as a liaison with the leaders in politics, women’s organizations, veterans groups and U.S. business leaders.
Prior to joining the DNC, Sandi served as campaign manager and chief political strategist in several tough Illinois State Senate and State Legislative races, helping to elect State Representatives Robin Kelly, David Miller, William Davis and State Senator James Meeks to the Illinois General Assembly.
In addition to her many career highlights she also served as an official observer to the July 1996 Helsinki Accords, serving as an expert presenter in 1996 for the African American Institute in Accra, Ghana, where she hosted workshops on political training for women and she served as a legal consultant for the Rainbow Coalition.
Sandi received her Bachelor’s Degree from Bowling Green State University in 1985, and received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Illinois School of Law in 1992. She resides in the 7th Ward of the 2nd Congressional District of Illinois with her husband Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. and their two children Jessica and Jesse III.