What is Mark Kirk?
{{Infobox officeholder | birthname =Mark Steven Kirk | image =Senator_Mark_Kirk_official_portrait.jpg | jr/sr = jr | state = [[Illinois]] | term_start = November 29, 2010 | preceded = [[Roland Burris]] | term_end = January 3, 2017 | successor = [[Tammy Duckworth]] | state2 = [[Illinois]] | district2 = [[Illinois's 10th congressional district|10th]] | term_start2 = January 3, 2001 | term_end2 = November 29, 2010 | predecessor2 = [[John Porter (Illinois politician)|John Porter]] | successor2 = [[Robert Dold]] | party =[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] | birth_date={{birth date and age|1959|9|15}} | birth_place =[[Champaign, Illinois]] | alma_mater =[[Cornell University]] <small>([[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]])</small><br/>[[London School of Economics]] <small>([[Master of Arts|M.A.]])</small><br/>[[Georgetown University Law Center]] <small>([[Juris Doctor|J.D.]])</small> | occupation =Attorney, Navy Officer | spouse = Kimberly Vertolli (2001–2009; divorced) | nationality = American | residence =[[Highland Park, Illinois]]<ref>{{cite web |title=About Mark |publisher=U.S. House of Representatives |url=http://www.house.gov/kirk/about_mark.shtml |accessdate=July 24, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709090326/http://www.house.gov/kirk/about_mark.shtml |archivedate = July 9, 2008}}</ref> | website = | allegiance={{nowrap|{{flag|United States of America}}}} | branch={{flag|United States Navy}} | serviceyears=1989–present | rank=[[File:US-O5 insignia.svg|24px]] [[Commander (United States)|Commander]] | battles=[[Operation Northern Watch]] | unit=Navy Intelligence }} '''Mark Steven Kirk''' (born September 15, 1959) is an [[Americans|American]] politician. He was elected to the [[United States Senate]] for [[Illinois]] in 2010, but [[2016 United States Senate election|lost re-election in 2016]]. Before being a senator, Kirk represented the 10th congressional district of Illinois from 2001 to 2010. On November 8, 2016, he was defeated in his bid for re-election to his [[United States Senate electi