History of Daniel Biss in Timeline

Daniel Biss is an American mathematician and politician currently serving as the mayor of Evanston, Illinois. Prior to his mayoral role, he was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate. His background as a mathematician likely informs his approach to problem-solving in the political arena. He's a former mathematics professor at the University of Chicago.

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Full Timeline

1933: No Event

No event found for the year 1933 in the provided text.

2008: Declared Support for Education Initiatives

In 2008, Daniel Biss declared support for allowing Illinois high school graduates to pay in-state tuition rates at public universities regardless of immigration status, and also supported state funding to raise teacher salaries, in response to a "Political Courage Test".

2008: Supported Limiting Carbon Emissions

In 2008, Daniel Biss indicated support for limiting carbon emissions in response to a "Political Courage Test".

2010: Received Rating from NRA Political Victory Fund

In 2010, Daniel Biss received a 7% rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund, which opposes restrictions on firearms.

June 2017: Voted to Reinforce the Affordable Care Act

In June 2017, Daniel Biss voted to reinforce the Affordable Care Act in Illinois by prohibiting insurance companies from discriminating against customers with pre-existing conditions.

2017: Sponsored SB 1424

In 2017, as a state senator, Daniel Biss sponsored SB 1424, a bill that would have established a program providing state matching funds for small-donor contributions to political campaigns.

2023: Supported Municipal Campaign Finance Reform

In 2023, as mayor, Daniel Biss supported and signed into law a municipal campaign finance reform that creates a public matching fund scheme for municipal races, making Evanston the first city in Illinois to implement such a scheme for local elections.

2024: Cast Tie-Breaking Vote on Northwestern Stadium

In 2024, Daniel Biss cast a tie-breaking council vote to allow Northwestern University to demolish and rebuild its football stadium, approving a community benefits agreement where Northwestern invests approximately $10 million in the city annually for fifteen years. Biss called the privately-funded $800 million stadium project a generational investment.

2024: Handling of Northwestern University Protests

In 2024, the city of Evanston, led by Mayor Daniel Biss, faced scrutiny for its handling of protests at Northwestern University, particularly regarding the provision of police support during a pro-Palestine student encampment.

January 2026: Requested Information Regarding Handling of 2024 Protests

In January 2026, Republican members of the U.S. House requested information from Daniel Biss regarding his handling of 2024 protests at Northwestern University, alleging the city declined to provide additional police support during a pro-Palestine student encampment. Biss defended his decision and characterized the letter as a dishonest political attack.

2026: Sought AIPAC Support

In 2026, Jewish Insider reported that Daniel Biss sought AIPAC’s support in the congressional primary election before campaigning less pro-Israel. Biss has denied this, claiming that the organization attempted to recruit him.