Andrew Charles Kopinski

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Andrew Charles Kopinski

Libertarian Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

High school

Ridgewood Community High School

Bachelor's

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 1993

Graduate

DePaul University, 1999

Law

Illinois Institute of Technology, 1996

Personal

Birthplace

Chicago, Ill.

Religion

Roman Catholic

Profession

Attorney/Small Business Owner

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Personal Facebook

Personal Instagram

Personal LinkedIn

Andrew Charles Kopinski (Libertarian Party) ran for election for Cook County State's Attorney in Illinois. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Kopinski completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Andrew Charles Kopinski was born in Chicago, Illinois. He earned a high school diploma from Ridgewood Community High School, a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 1993, a law degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1996, and a graduate degree from DePaul University in 1999. His career experience includes working as an attorney, small business owner, accountant, and real estate broker.

Kopinski has been affiliated with the following organizations:

• Polish National Alliance
• Polish Roman Catholic Union
• Polish Falcons of America
• Knights of Columbus

Elections

2024

See also: Municipal elections in Cook County, Illinois (2024)

General election

General election for Cook County State's Attorney

Eileen O'Neill Burke defeated Bob Fioretti and Andrew Charles Kopinski in the general election for Cook County State's Attorney on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Eileen O'Neill Burke (D)	66.2	1,173,362
		Bob Fioretti (R)	29.3	520,251
		Andrew Charles Kopinski (L)	4.5	79,221

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. Source	Total votes: 1,772,834
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Cook County State's Attorney

Eileen O'Neill Burke defeated Clayton Harris III in the Democratic primary for Cook County State's Attorney on March 19, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Eileen O'Neill Burke	50.1	264,428
		Clayton Harris III	49.9	262,857

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 527,285
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Cook County State's Attorney

Bob Fioretti advanced from the Republican primary for Cook County State's Attorney on March 19, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bob Fioretti	100.0	82,998

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 82,998
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Libertarian primary election

The Libertarian primary election was canceled. Andrew Charles Kopinski advanced from the Libertarian primary for Cook County State's Attorney.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Kopinski in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Andrew Charles Kopinski completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Kopinski's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Andrew Kopinski’s parents came from two Roman Catholic immigrant families from war torn Poland. Andrew Kopinski is a lifelong resident of Cook County. He grew up in the village of Norridge and graduated from Pennoyer Elementary School and Ridgewood High School, where he was valedictorian and a player on the quarterfinalist football team his senior year. He also played basketball and did shot put and discus throwing. He was admitted to the accounting program at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, which was rated number one in the nation at the time. However, in addition to majoring in accounting, he also majored in economics, finance, history, and geography while earning four bachelors degrees. Andrew then passed the Certified Public Accountant and Certified Management Accountant designations. Next, he attended IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. where he received Certificates in Environmental Law and International Law. Andrew was also in a joint program with the Stuart School of Business at IIT earning an MBA studying operations management and information management. His seventh college degree was a Master of Science in Taxation earned at DePaul University. Andrew recently completed a post baccalaureate Associate of Arts degree at Oakton College, taking classes primarily in criminal justice (12 courses) and sociology. During his career he has worked as an entrepreneur being an accountant, real estate broker, and lawyer.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Justice. 1) fairness. 2) moral rightness. 3) a scheme or system of law in which every person receives his / her / its due from the system, including all rights, both natural and legal.
• Crime reduction and improving the quality of life. Violent crime and property crime are too high in Cook County. A well run prosecutor’s office can help reduce the crime rate. The lower the crime rate, the better the quality of life in Cook County.
• Accountability and transparency. As Cook County State’s Attorney, the office will be held accountable to the people and will be as transparent as practically possible.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Public policy areas which concern areas of reducing human suffering including reducing crime, improving health and well being, and advancing peace in the world.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My late father Charles was the person I most looked up to. He was the first in his family to come to the United States when he was age 20 with just an $80 loan from the Polish National Alliance, which he had to repay at a time when there were no welfare benefits for immigrants. He brought over his parents, two brothers, and one sister. Later, he was an entrepreneur and raised a family.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

There are two books I recommend to understand the way I view the world: (1) Trail of Hope: The Anders Army, An Odyssey Across Three Continents by Norman Davies and (2) Stolen Childhood:: A Saga of Polish War Children by Father Lucjan Krolikowski.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Elected officials should be honest, hard working, competent, and have a desire to serve the best interests of the public.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

My extensive education plus the life experiences of my family and my tolerance of different viewpoints will help make me a successful officeholder.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

This elected.office is the single most important in the criminal justice system. Prosecutors have the authority and power to make all of the following decisions, at their sole discretion, all of which affect criminal defendants and the criminal justice system in general: (1) the decision to charge; (2) types of charges; (3) whether to recommend granting or denying bail; (4) plea agreements - whether to entertain such agreements and if so, the terms; (5) sentencing recommendations.”

What legacy would you like to leave?

My biggest goal is to help significantly reduce violent crime and property crime in Cook County so that the people feel safer and more optimistic. They will want to continue to live and do business in Cook County. A culture of love and optimism needs to prevail over a culture of hate and fear among the people of Cook County. Perhaps, in the future Chicago will host the Summer Olympics and have a crosstown World Series.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The inauguration of President Jimmy Carter when I was almost 7. I watched the Jonestown massacre coverage during the weekend of coverage of the Congressional visit on NBC. The third is the signing of the Israel and Egypt peace treaty, which interrupted the premiere of Battlestar Galactica Saga of a Star World.

What is your favorite book? Why?

I have read a number of interesting books, none of which stands out.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

James T. Kirk on the Starship Enterprise.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

I have not had one recently.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Procrastination and weight control.

Tell us your favorite joke.

None in particular.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Libertarian Party of Chicago.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Financial transparency and government accountability are very important. I went to Ridgewood High School with Chicago Justice Project founder Tracey Siska and played basketball and football together. I will consider supporting reasonable reform proposals that promote transparency and lead to the implementation of best practices and evidence based decision making, which will serve Cook County best. I will also work with other reformers as well.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2024 Elections

What's on the ballot? U.S. President U.S. Congress U.S. Congress special elections State executives State legislatures State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards Election analysis hub

Government

Who represents me? U.S. Congress State executives State legislators State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards

Newsletters

The Daily Brew The Weekly Brew The Ballot Bulletin Checks and Balances Economy and Society Hall Pass Number of the Day Robe & Gavel

External links

Search Google News for this topic

Candidate

Cook County State's Attorney

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Personal

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn