The 2018 elections for the Illinois Senate took place on November 6, 2018, to elect senators from 39 of the state's 59 Senate districts to serve in the 101st General Assembly, with seats apportioned among the states based on the 2010 United States census. Under the Illinois Constitution of 1970, senators are divided into three groups, each group having a two-year term at a different part of the decade between censuses, with the rest of the decade being taken up by two four-year terms.[1] The Democratic Party had held a majority in the Senate since 2003, and gained a net of three seats.
The Republicans needed to win eight seats in order to become the majority party. However, the Democratic Party picked up three additional seats and increased the party's supermajority to 40 seats.[2]
District 2 • District 3 • District 5 • District 6 • District 8 • District 9 • District 11 • District 12 • District 14 • District 15 • District 17 • District 18 • District 20 • District 21 • District 23 • District 24 • District 26 • District 27 • District 29 • District 30 • District 32 • District 33 • District 35 • District 36 • District 38 • District 39 • District 41 • District 42 • District 44 • District 45 • District 47 • District 48 • District 50 • District 51 • District 53 • District 54 • District 56 • District 57 • District 59
Democrat Patricia Van Pelt had represented the 5th district since 2013. The 5th is located in Chicago. On November 30, 2017, Van Pelt filed to run for reelection.[6]
In November 2017, lobbyist and victims' rights advocate Denise Rotheimer testified that Silverstein had sexually harassed her while she was lobbying for a bill's passage through Silverstein's committee.[11] Afterwards, several Democratic challengers emerged to run against Silverstein. Ram Villivalam, former political director for Brad Schneider, filed on November 27, 2017.[12] Zehra Quadri, David Zulkey, and Caroline Mcateer-Fournier also filed to run in the Democratic primary.[6] Villivalam was endorsed by Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Congressman Brad Schneider, State Senator Laura Murphy, and Alderman Ameya Pawar.[13][14][15][16]
On December 29, 2017, it was reported that Senator Silverstein was 45 signatures short of the 1,000 required to be eligible for ballot access in the Democratic primary.[17] Silverstein was ultimately found to have sufficient signatures, and remained on the ballot. Villivalam defeated Silverstein in the Democratic primary on March 20, 2018.[18]
On July 28, 2017, State Representative Laura Fine announced her intention to run for the 9th Senate District.[20] On December 4, 2017, both Fine and her Republican opponent, 2016 congressional candidate Joan McCarthy Lasonde, filed petitions.
Democrat Napoleon Harris had represented the 15th district since 2013. The 15th district stretches from Blue Island in the north, Calumet City in the east, Homewood in the west, Steger in the south, and includes all or parts of Crete-Monee, Dolton, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Thornton, Markham, Midlothian, Oak Forest, Harvey, Riverdale, and South Holland.[24] On December 4, 2017, Harris filed to run for reelection.[6] Terry Brown, a Phoenix resident, filed to challenge Harris in the Democratic primary. No Republican candidates filed to run.[25] Terry Brown was removed from the ballot due to an insufficient number of signatures.[26]
Donne Trotter would go on to win his primary not before announcing his retirement on January 19, 2018.[28]Elgie R. Sims Jr., previously serving the Illinois 34th State House district, was appointed as State Senator on January 26, 2018.[29]
Althoff chose to run for the McHenry County Board instead of seeking reelection to the Illinois Senate. Craig Wilcox and John Reinert, both members of the McHenry County Board, filed to run for the Republican nomination, but Reinert withdrew. Mary Mahaday, McHenry Township Assessor, was the sole Democratic candidate.[45][46]
McConnaughay would go on to win her primary election, but later announced her retirement. She would retire on September 3, 2018. Don DeWitte, former St. Charles, Illinois mayor and alderman, was then appointed to her seat.[48]
On November 27, 2017, Anderson filed to run for reelection.[6] One week later, Gregg Johnson, former president of AFSCME Local 46, filed to run for the Democratic nomination.[6][51]
Democrat Linda Holmes had represented the 42nd District since 2007. The 42nd district includes all or parts of Aurora, Boulder Hill, Montgomery, Naperville, North Aurora, and Oswego.[57] On November 27, 2017, Holmes filed to run for reelection. No other candidates filed to run.[6]
Republican Minority Leader Bill Brady had represented the 44th district since 2003. The 44th includes Tazewell, McLean, Menard, Logan, and Sangamon counties.[58] On November 27, 2017, Brady filed to run for reelection. No other candidates filed to run.[6]
Republican Tim Bivins had represented the 45th district since 2008. The 45th includes all or parts of Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Carroll, Winnebago, Ogle, Lee, DeKalb, and LaSalle counties in northwestern Illinois.[59] On June 12, 2017, Bivins announced that he would not seek another term.[60] Republican state representative Brian W. Stewart ran to succeed him.[6]Li Arellano Jr., the mayor of Dixon, had planned to run in the Republican primary, but withdrew on December 2, citing his responsibilities outside of politics.[61]
David Simpson, a lumber yard manager, ran as the Democratic candidate.[6][62]
Republican Jil Tracy had represented the 47th district since 2017. The 47th includes all of Adams, Brown, Cass, Hancock, Henderson, Mason, McDonough, Schuyler, Warren counties and portions of Fulton, and Knox counties.[63] On November 27, 2017, Tracy filed to run for reelection. No other candidates filed to run.[6]
Democrat Andy Manar had represented the 48th district since 2013. The 48th district includes all or parts of The 48th district includes all or parts of Macon, Sangamon, Christian, Montgomery, Macoupin, and
Madison counties.[58] The 48th was the most Republican seat held by a Democrat.[36] On November 27, 2017, Manar filed to run for reelection. Seth McMillan, chair of the Christian County Republican Party, and Christopher Hicks, a 2016 candidate for the Illinois House of Representatives, filed to run as Republicans. Hicks was disqualified from the Republican primary ballot after a petition challenge.[6]
Republican Sam McCann had been a member of the Illinois Senate since 2011. He represented the 50th district, which includes all or parts of Pike, Calhoun, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, Morgan, Scott, and Sangamon counties.[64] McCann, a noted opponent of Governor Bruce Rauner, chose not to file for reelection. He had been facing a primary challenge from Steve McClure, an assistant state's attorney in Sangamon County. Prior to McCann's retirement, McClure was endorsed by the Sangamon County Republican Party.[65][66] No Democratic candidate filed to run for the seat.[6]
Republican Chapin Rose had represented the 51st district since 2013. The 51st district includes all or parts of McLean, DeWitt, Macon, Moultrie, Champaign, Douglas, Edgar, and Shelby counties.[67] On November 27, 2017, Rose filed to run for reelection.[6]
Ben Chapman, a University of Illinois student from Mahomet, attempted to win the Democratic nomination via write-in during the March 20th primary, but failed to clear the write-in vote threshold. He opted not to pursue placement on the ballot via the post-primary slating process.[68]
Republican Jason Barickman had represented the 53rd district since 2013. He represents the 53rd district, which includes all or parts of Ford, Iroquois, Livingston, McLean, Vermilion, and Woodford counties in Central Illinois.[69] On November 27, 2017, Barickman filed to run for reelection. No other candidates filed to run.[6]
McCarter announced that he would not seek reelection in 2018.[71] On November 27, 2017, four candidates filed to run in the Republican primary: Greenville University basketball coach George Barber, Clinton County Board member Rafael Him, perennial candidate Jason Plummer, and Marion County Republican Party Chairman Benjamin Stratemeyer.[72] No Democratic candidate filed to run for the seat.
On March 20, 2018, Jason Plummer won the Republican primary.[73] Brian Stout, president of the Vandalia Municipal Airport, was slated by the Democratic Party to be its nominee.[74]
Edwardsville Mayor Hal Patton filed for the Republican nomination.[77] On March 10, 2018, Hal Patton was removed from the ballot by the Illinois Appellate Court after he signed a petition for Katie Stuart. By signing the petition he had technically affirmed he was a Democrat, despite not identifying with the Democratic Party. This disqualified him from running as a Republican in the 2018 primary or general election.[78] One month later, Patton relaunched his campaign under the new banner of "Downstate United", a new political party which existed solely to allow Patton to run for office as a partisan candidate rather than an independent candidate, which significantly reduces the barriers to ballot access.[79]
Aud Crowe defeated Patton in the 2018 general election.[80]
On December 11, 2017, Dave Barnes withdrew from the Republican primary.[87] The St. Clair County Republican Party endorsed Hildenbrand, citing Romanik's past racist and sexist comments.[88] Hildenbrand defeated Romanik to become the Republican nominee.[73]
Belt defeated Hildenbrand in the 2018 general election.[89]
Republican Dale Fowler was first elected in 2016.[90] Fowler represents the 59th district, which includes all of Franklin, Hamilton, Williamson, Saline, Gallatin, Hardin, Pope, Massac, Johnson, Pulaski, and Alexander counties and portions of Union, and Jackson counties in Southern Illinois.[91] On November 27, 2017, Fowler filed to run for reelection.[6] Steve Webb, superintendent of Goreville Community Unit School District #1, was slated as the Democratic nominee, and would appear on the ballot if he received 1,000 valid petition signatures by June 4, 2018.[92]
^"2018 General Election Official Vote Totals Book" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. December 3, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 22, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
^Jacobson, Louis (October 8, 2018). "A Month Before Election Day, Democrats Poised for Legislative Gains". Governing. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
^"PA 97-0006 Legislative District 2" (PDF). May 18, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak"Candidate Office Filing Search - General Primary March 20, 2018". Springfield, Illinois: Illinois State Board of Elections. December 1, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017. This goes to a landing page. Follow the prompts from there.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc"Election Results 2018 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am"Election Results 2018 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
^Rhodes, Dawn (April 14, 2013). "Friends, colleagues remember Dawn Clark Netsch". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
^"PA 97-0006 Legislative District 8" (PDF). May 18, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
^Garcia, Monique; Geiger, Kim (November 2, 2017). "Amid harassment allegation, Illinois senator loses leadership spot and a scramble to fill investigator's job". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
^Ahern, Mary Ann (November 20, 2017). "Murphy Endorses Villivalam For Senate, Calls For Silverstein to Step Down". NBC 5 Chicago. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
^Zorn, Eric (December 1, 2017). "It's time for the secrecy to end in Springfield's highest-profile sex-harassment case". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
^Miller, Rich (December 5, 2017). "Silverstein, four primary opponents, accuser all file to run for GA". Capitol Fax. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
^Miller, Rich (December 15, 2017). "Recent endorsements: Raoul, Biss, Newman, Villivalam". Capitol Fax. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
^Ahern, Mary Ann (December 29, 2017). "Silverstein Has Petition Troubles, May Not Make it to Primary Ballot". NBC 5 Chicago Ward Room. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
^Meadows, Jonah (March 20, 2018). "Ram Villivalam Romps Incumbent State Sen. Ira Silverstein". Patch Media. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
^Pearson, Rick (March 20, 2017). "State Sen. Daniel Biss announces Democratic bid for governor". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
^"PA 97-0006 Legislative District 15" (PDF). May 18, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
^Nolan, Mike; DeMar Lafferty, Susan (December 4, 2017). "Some incumbent legislators could face primary challenges". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
^Komenda, Ed (September 21, 2017). "McHenry Township Assessor Mary Mahady announces run for Illinois Senate District 32 seat". Northwest Herald. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
^Komenda, Ed (November 22, 2017). "Sen. Pamela Althoff to run for McHenry County Board District 4". Northwest Herald. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
^James Fuller (July 19, 2018). "State legislator plans to work in private sector after leaving office". Daily Herald. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
^"PA 97-0006 Legislative District 35" (PDF). May 18, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
^"PA 97-0006 Legislative District 36" (PDF). May 18, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
^Tibbets, Ed (July 19, 2017). "Gregg Johnson to announce candidacy for Illinois' Senate District 36 seat". Quad City Times. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
^"PA 97-0006 Legislative District 38" (PDF). May 18, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
^"PA 97-0006 Legislative District 39" (PDF). May 18, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
^Smith, Katie (July 22, 2017). "DuPage County Board member appointed to state Senate vacancy". Daily Herald. Arlington Heights, Illinois. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
^Earnest, Andrea (September 25, 2017). "Western Springs Village Clerk Announces Campaign For District 41 State Senator". Patch Media. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
^"GOP backs opponent for Sen. McCann; Senor challenging Rep. Scherer".
^Wilson, Doug (December 4, 2017). "Cory files for Adams County treasurer, five in race for Congressin 18th District as filing period ends". Herald-Whig. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
^Miller, Rich (August 7, 2017). "Rep. Fortner to retire at end of term". Capitol Fax. Springfield, Illinois. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
^Bustos, Joseph (October 23, 2017). "Former local lieutenant governor nominee joins race for state senate seat". Belleville News-Democrat. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
^Bustos, Joseph (April 27, 2018). "Democrats choose Vandalia resident to run against Plummer in 54th Senate district". Belleville News-Democrat. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
^Donald, Elizabeth (September 13, 2017). "Local race for state Senate seat may top spending records, experts say". Belleville News-Democrat. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
^"Edwardsville mayor booted off state Senate ballot again", St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 10, 2018, retrieved April 16, 2018
^King, Cody (April 10, 2018), "Edwardsville Mayor Hal Patton back in race for Senate seat", St. Louis Post-Dispatch, retrieved April 16, 2018
^"Aud Crowe takes over for Haine in state senate victory over Patton". November 7, 2018.
^"PA 97-0006 Legislative District 57" (PDF). May 18, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
^Miller, Rich (September 21, 2017). "Senate Majority Leader Clayborne to retire". Retrieved September 22, 2017.
^Robberson, Tod (September 23, 2017). "Amid all the protests, why do Bob Romanik's racist radio rants go unchallenged?". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
^Lussenhop, Jessica (August 2, 2012). "Romanik's Interlude: An ex-con finds his second calling as the "Grim Reaper of Radio"". Riverfront Times. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
^Bustos, Joseph (November 1, 2017). "Radio shock jock, township supervisor plan runs for state Senate". Belleville News-Democrat. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
^Bustos, Joseph (October 26, 2017). "Cahokia school board president seeking Clayborne's seat". Belleville News-Democrat. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
^Bustos, Joseph (December 11, 2017). "One week after filing, candidate drops out of 57th state Senate race". Belleville News-Democrat. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
^Bustos, Joseph (February 23, 2018). "St. Clair County GOP rebukes Romanik, says Hildenbrand only candidate up to standards". Belleville News Democrat. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
^Belleville News Democrat (subscription required)
^Allen, Evie (November 16, 2016). "Harrisburg looks at having new mayor after Folwer resigns". WSIL TV. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
^"PA 97-0006 Legislative District 59" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. May 18, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
^
Elliot, Tom (April 24, 2018). "Steve Webb slated as Democratic candidate for 59th state senate district" (Press release). Springfield, Illinois: Illinois Senate Democratic Victory Fund. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
2.00%
3
0
