Miguel del Valle, D-Chicago, has served as a full-time State Senator since 1987. The 2nd State Senate District is an ethnically diverse area that includes West Town, Humboldt Park, Logan Square, Hermosa and Belmont/Cragin. It also includes portions of Portage Park, Dunning, Montclare, and Austin.

Senator del Valle was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in the West Town and Humboldt Park areas. He is married and has four children. He graduated from Tuley High School (now Roberto Clemente) in 1969 and went on to Northeastern Illinois University where he received a B.A. and M.A. in education and guidance.

Senator del Valle is the first Latino to serve as Assistant Majority Leader in the Illinois Senate. He served on the Illinois Democratic State Central Committee from 1994-1998, representing the 4th Congressional District. Currently, he is a member of the Senate Executive Committee and Appropriations I Committee and is serving as chairman of the Education Committee. Senator del Valle is also the co-chair of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus.

He has served as a unit director of Barreto Boys and Girls Club and executive director of Association House. Senator del Valle also worked for the Center for Neighborhood Technology and the Pilsen-Little Village Mental Health Center. He has served on several non-profit organizational boards, including Josephinium High School, the Latino Institute and the Spanish Coalition for Housing. He also has served as Chairman of the Mayors Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs. With his strong background in education, Senator del Valle also extended himself to teaching "Latinos and Public Policy" at Roosevelt University.

Senator del Valle is the founder of the Illinois Association of Hispanic State Employees (IAHSE). He is the co-founder of Latino organizations, including, the Illinois Latino Advisory Council on Higher Education (ILACHE), the Alliance of Latinos and Jews and the Illinois Hispanic Democratic Council (IHDC). He also developed the annual Department of Children and Family Services Hispanic Families Conference.

Senator del Valle is widely known as an advocate of reform in the areas of education, health care and human services. As an outspoken voice for increased Latino representation in the legislative and judicial branches of government, his leadership in reapportionment cases in 1981, 1991 and 2001 led to the creation of Latino majority districts on the city, county and state levels.