CHICAGO, IL – Last year, the Illinois House and Senate unanimously voted to renamed the State of Illinois Building in honor of Jesse White, the state’s longest-serving Secretary of State. Today, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, alongside state leaders and community members from across Chicagoland, gathered to officially dedicate the building at 115 S. LaSalle St. as the Jesse White State of Illinois Building

Jesse, a native of downstate Alton, Illinois, served as Illinois Secretary of State from 1999 to 2023. He attended Alabama State University—then known as Alabama State College—where he played both baseball and basketball, earning his bachelor’s degree in 1957. His leadership introduced nationally recognized traffic safety laws, improved customer service through technological innovation, and advanced organ and tissue donation efforts across Illinois. White also served 16 years in the Illinois House of Representatives and 6 years as Cook County Recorder of Deeds.

“As the longest serving Secretary of State in our history, Secretary White spent his career doing something goof for the people of Illinois every single day,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “He championed good and honest government at a time when our state needed it the most —putting us on a path to progress by rooting out the corruption and insider dealing that had defined our institutions. I cannot think of a more appropriate name than the Jesse White State of Illinois Building, which will serve generations of Illinoisans and stand as a symbol of strong, effective government for years to come.”

The newly renamed building houses more than 15 State agencies and Constitutionals, including Chicago offices for the Illinois Secretary of State and the Illinois Attorney General.

“I am proud to have a State of Illinois building named in my honor,” said former Secretary of State Jesse White. “I hope that the Jesse White State of Illinois Building will inspire future generations of all backgrounds to serve with honor and excellence.”

“We are HBCU proud of Illinois’ longest-serving Secretary of State and honor his lifelong dedication to public service and leadership—a career marked by his willingness to get into “Good Trouble” while advocating for the people of Illinois and supporting those who served alongside him in his administration,” said Demetrius Johnson, Jr., HCF Founder, President & CEO. “I commend Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Legislators for their commitment in honoring the legacy of Jesse White. This renaming not only celebrates his historic contributions but also serves as a powerful reminder to future generations of the impact one dedicated pubic servant can make when rooted in purpose, integrity, and community.”

The Jesse White State of Illinois Building is home to the Secretary of State Flagship Center, a state-of-the-art two-story DMV, which opened April 2025.

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