Don Hughes was born in Johnson City, Tennessee, before moving at an early age to a Chicago suburb called Lake Zurich. After graduating high school, he received a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from the University of Illinois, followed by a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
He began working on political campaigns in Illinois right after college, starting out as a volunteer by walking precincts, stuffing envelopes, and attending fundraisers.
Eventually he worked his way up to paid staff jobs on the Senator Charles Percy reelection campaign in 1978 and the George H.W. Bush campaign for president in 1980. The highlight of his political career was being elected at
