Alexi Giannoulias is running to represent the state of Illinois in the U.S. Senate against Republican Representative Mark Kirk. He currently serves as Illinois State Treasurer, and was a previous Legislation and Regulation Committee member of the Community Bankers Association of Illinois.

A Chicago native, Giannoulias received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Boston College. Following his graduation, he traveled to Greece to play professional basketball, returning to the US a year later to earn his law degree from Tulane University. Following the completion of his degree, Giannoulias returned to Illinois to manage a bank owned by his family.

In 2006, Giannoulias announced his candidacy for Illinois State Treasurer, running against party favorite Paul Mangieri. Giannoulias won the race, becoming the youngest state treasurer in the nation.

Giannoulias is the only candidate running for the Illinois Senate seat that supports a wide range of LGBT rights, including full marriage equality, hate crimes legislation, the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and the passage of legislation barring employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. Giannoulias has also extended benefits to same-sex partners of employees within the Treasurer’s Office.