Illinois Senate

Illinois Senate
Illinois Senate
Illinois General Assembly
Type
Type	Upper house
Term limits	None
History
New session started	January 11, 2023
Leadership
President	Don Harmon (D) ; since January 19, 2020
President Pro Tempore	Bill Cunningham (D) ; since January 30, 2020
Majority Leader	Kimberly Lightford (D) ; since January 7, 2019
Minority Leader	John Curran (R) ; since January 11, 2023
Structure
Seats	59
Political groups	Majority Democratic (40); Minority Republican (19);
Length of term	4 years (with one two-year term each decade)
Authority	Illinois Constitution Article IV
Salary	$85,000/year + per diem
Elections
Last election	November 8, 2022
Next election	November 5, 2024
Redistricting	Legislative Control
Meeting place
	State Senate Chamber; Illinois State Capitol; Springfield, Illinois
Website
	Illinois Senate
Rules
	Rules of the Senate of the; 103rd General Assembly

The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the State of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. Under the Illinois Constitution of 1970, the Illinois Senate is made up of 59 senators elected from individual legislative districts determined by population and redistricted every 10 years; based on the 2020 U.S. census each senator represents approximately 213,347 people.^[1] 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. For example, group one elects senators for terms of four years, four years and two years, group two elects senators for terms of four years, two years and four years, and group three elects senators for terms of two years, four years and four years.^[2] This ensures that the Senate reflects changes made when the General Assembly redistricts itself after each census.

Usually, depending on the election year, roughly one-third or two-thirds of Senate seats are contested. On rare occasions (usually after a census), all Senate seats are up for election. In contrast, the Illinois House of Representatives is made up of 118 members with its entire membership elected to two-year terms. House districts are formed by dividing each Senate district in half,^[3] with each senator having two "associated" representatives.

The Illinois Senate convenes at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois. Its first official working day is the second Wednesday of January each year. Its primary duties are to pass bills into law, approve the state budget, confirm appointments to state departments and agencies, act on federal constitutional amendments and propose constitutional amendments for Illinois. It also has the power to override gubernatorial vetoes through a three-fifths majority vote. The Illinois Senate tries impeachments made by the House of Representatives, and can convict impeached officers by a two-thirds vote.

Voting in the Illinois Senate is done by members pushing one of three buttons. Unlike most states, the Illinois Senate allows members to vote yes, no, or present. It takes 30 affirmative votes to pass legislation during final action.^[4]^[5] The number of negative votes does not matter. Therefore, voting present has the same effect on the tally as voting no.

Party summary

Affiliation	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)		Total

	Democratic	Republican		Vacant
End of previous legislature	41	18	59	0

January 13, 2023	40	19	59	0
May 31, 2023^[6]	39	19	58	1
July 10, 2023^[7]	40	19	59	0
August 1, 2023^[8]	39	19	58	1
August 16, 2023^[9]	40	19	59	0
Latest voting share	67.8%	32.2%

Leadership

As of February 6, 2021^[update], the 102nd General Assembly of the Illinois Senate consists of the following leadership:^[10]

Majority

President of the Senate: Don Harmon
Majority Leader: Kimberly A. Lightford
Assistant Majority Leader/President Pro Tempore: Bill Cunningham
Deputy Majority Leaders:
- Laura Murphy
- Emil Jones III
Assistant Majority Leaders:
Majority Caucus Chair: Mattie Hunter
Majority Caucus Whips:

Minority

Minority Leader: John Curran
Deputy Minority Leader: Sue Rezin
Assistant Minority Leaders:
Minority Caucus Chair: Neil Anderson
Minority Caucus Whips:
- Sally Turner
- Jil Tracy

Officers

Secretary of the Senate: Tim Anderson
Assistant Secretary of the Senate: Scott Kaiser
Sergeant-at-Arms: Joe Dominguez
Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Dirk R. Eilers

Members

In 1924, Florence Fifer Bohrer became the body's first female member and Adelbert H. Roberts became its first African American member.^[11]^[12] In 1977, Earlean Collins became the first African American woman to serve in the Illinois Senate.^[13] Barack Obama, later the first African-American President of the United States, served in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004.^[14]

As of May 11, 2024^[update], the 103rd General Assembly of the Illinois Senate consists of the following members:^[15]^[16]

District	Senator	Party	Residence	Assumed office	Next election
1	Javier Cervantes ƗƗ	Democratic	Chicago	November 18, 2022	2024
2	Omar Aquino Ɨ	Democratic	Chicago	July 1, 2016	2026
3	Mattie Hunter	Democratic	Chicago	January 8, 2003	2026
4	Kimberly A. Lightford Ɨ	Democratic	Chicago	November 20, 1998	2024
5	Lakesia Collins Ɨ	Democratic	Chicago	August 16, 2023	2024 (special)
6	Sara Feigenholtz Ɨ	Democratic	Chicago	January 21, 2020	2026
7	Mike Simmons Ɨ	Democratic	Chicago	February 6, 2021	2024
8	Ram Villivalam ƗƗ	Democratic	Chicago	January 5, 2019	2026
9	Laura Fine ƗƗ	Democratic	Glenview	January 6, 2019	2026
10	Robert Martwick Ɨ	Democratic	Chicago	June 28, 2019	2024
11	Mike Porfirio	Democratic	Bridgeview	January 11, 2023	2026
12	Celina Villanueva Ɨ	Democratic	Chicago	January 7, 2020	2026
13	Robert Peters Ɨ	Democratic	Chicago	January 6, 2019	2024
14	Emil Jones III	Democratic	Chicago	January 14, 2009	2026
15	Napoleon Harris	Democratic	Harvey	January 9, 2013	2026
16	Willie Preston	Democratic	Chicago	January 8, 2003	2024
17	Elgie Sims Ɨ	Democratic	Chicago	January 26, 2018	2026
18	William Cunningham	Democratic	Chicago	January 9, 2013	2026
19	Michael Hastings	Democratic	Tinley Park	January 9, 2013	2024
20	Natalie Toro Ɨ	Democratic	Chicago	July 10, 2023	2024 (special)
21	Laura Ellman	Democratic	Lisle	January 9, 2019	2026
22	Cristina Castro	Democratic	Elgin	January 11, 2017	2024
23	Suzy Glowiak	Democratic	Western Springs	January 9, 2019	2026
24	Seth Lewis	Republican	Bartlett	January 11, 2023	2026
25	Karina Villa	Democratic	West Chicago	January 13, 2021	2024
26	Dan McConchie Ɨ	Republican	Hawthorn Woods	April 20, 2016	2026
27	Mark L. Walker Ɨ	Democratic	Arlington Heights	May 11, 2024	2024 (special)
28	Laura Murphy Ɨ	Democratic	Des Plaines	October 5, 2015	2024
29	Julie Morrison	Democratic	Deerfield	January 9, 2013	2026
30	Adriane Johnson Ɨ	Democratic	Buffalo Grove	October 11, 2020	2026
31	Mary Edly-Allen	Democratic	Libertyville	January 11, 2023	2024
32	Craig Wilcox Ɨ	Republican	McHenry	October 1, 2018	2026
33	Don DeWitte	Republican	St. Charles	January 9, 2019	2026
34	Steve Stadelman	Democratic	Rockford	January 9, 2013	2024
35	Dave Syverson	Republican	Rockford	January 13, 1993	2026
36	Michael Halpin	Democratic	Rock Island	January 11, 2023	2026
37	Win Stoller ƗƗ	Republican	Metamora	January 5, 2021	2024
38	Sue Rezin Ɨ	Republican	Morris	December 11, 2010	2026
39	Don Harmon	Democratic	Oak Park	January 8, 2003	2026
40	Patrick Joyce Ɨ	Democratic	Kankakee	November 8, 2019	2024
41	John Curran Ɨ	Republican	Woodridge	July 23, 2017	2026
42	Linda Holmes	Democratic	Aurora	January 10, 2007	2026
43	Rachel Ventura	Democratic	Joliet	January 11, 2023	2024
44	Sally Turner Ɨ	Republican	Beason	January 25, 2021	2026
45	Andrew Chesney ƗƗ	Republican	Freeport	December 5, 2018	2026
46	Dave Koehler ƗƗ	Democratic	Peoria	December 3, 2006	2024
47	Neil Anderson	Republican	Andalusia	January 15, 2015	2026
48	Doris Turner Ɨ	Democratic	Springfield	February 6, 2021	2026
49	Meg Loughran Cappel ƗƗ	Democratic	Shorewood	December 10, 2020	2024
50	Jil Tracy	Republican	Quincy	January 11, 2017	2026
51	Chapin Rose	Republican	Mahomet	January 9, 2013	2026
52	Paul Faraci Ɨ	Democratic	Champaign	January 11, 2023	2024
53	Thomas M. Bennett Ɨ	Republican	Gibson City	January 11, 2023	2024 (special)
54	Steve McClure	Republican	Springfield	January 9, 2019	2026
55	Jason Plummer	Republican	Edwardsville	January 9, 2019	2024
56	Erica Harriss	Republican	Glen Carbon	January 11, 2023	2026
57	Christopher Belt	Democratic	Cahokia Heights	January 9, 2019	2026
58	Terri Bryant	Republican	Murphysboro	January 13, 2021	2024
59	Dale Fowler	Republican	Harrisburg	January 11, 2017	2026

Ɨ Legislator was appointed to the Illinois Senate prior to initial election.
ƗƗ Legislator was appointed to the Illinois Senate after being elected, but prior to inauguration day of the General Assembly to which they were elected.

Past composition of the Senate

References

^ State Populations from U.S Census 2020 U.S Census Website
^ Illinois Constitution Article IV, Section 2(a) http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con4.htm
^ Illinois Constitution Article IV, Section 2(b) http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con4.htm
^ Gonzales, Nathan (February 13, 2007). "The Ever-'Present' Obama". The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
^ Burnett, Sara (February 14, 2013). "Illinois Senate votes to legalize gay marriage". Associated Press. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
^ "Senator Pacione-Zayas readies to resign to officially work in Mayor Johnson's inner circle". Nadig Newspapers. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
^ "Dems appoint Natalie Toro to fill state Senate seat vacated by Cristina Pacione-Zayas". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
^ "Illinois State Sen. Patricia Van Pelt announces retirement". Chicago Tribune. July 26, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
^ Kapos, Shia (August 16, 2023). "Dems' thrill of victory, agony of defeat". POLITICO. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
^ "102ND GA SENATE LEADERSHIP" (PDF). Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
^ Thomas, Whitney Freund (April 1998). "Florence Fifer Bohrer: A Woman Before Her Time". Illinois History: A Magazine for Young People. 51 (3): 59–60. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
^ Gherardini, Caroline, ed. (February 1984). "Honors". Illinois Issues. Vol. 9, no. 2. Springfield, Illinois: Sangamon State University. p. 41. ISSN 0738-9663. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
^ Musser, Ashley; Dutton, Julie (February 11, 2016). "Illinois Women in Congress and General Assembly" (PDF). Springfield, Illinois: Illinois Legislative Research Unit. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
^ Miller, David R. (ed.). "A Former New Member: Barack Obama (D-13, Chicago) (From First Reading, December 1996)" (PDF). First Reading. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois Legislative Research Unit. p. 4.
^ Barlow, Sarah E. (ed.). "Biographies of New House Members" (PDF). First Reading. 36 (1). Illinois General Assembly: 2. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
^ Barichello, Derek (January 7, 2023). "Tom Bennett Named Barickman Successor". Shaw Local. Retrieved January 7, 2023.

External links

Illinois General Assembly – Senate official government website
Illinois Senate Republicans official party website
Illinois Senate Democrats official party website
Legislature of Illinois at Project Vote Smart
Illinois Senate at Ballotpedia

[1] State Populations from U.S Census 2020 U.S Census Website

[2] Illinois Constitution Article IV, Section 2(a) http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con4.htm

[3] Illinois Constitution Article IV, Section 2(b) http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con4.htm

[4] Gonzales, Nathan (February 13, 2007). "The Ever-'Present' Obama". The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved September 26, 2014.

[5] Burnett, Sara (February 14, 2013). "Illinois Senate votes to legalize gay marriage". Associated Press. Retrieved September 26, 2014.

[6] "Senator Pacione-Zayas readies to resign to officially work in Mayor Johnson's inner circle". Nadig Newspapers. Retrieved July 7, 2023.

[7] "Dems appoint Natalie Toro to fill state Senate seat vacated by Cristina Pacione-Zayas". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[8] "Illinois State Sen. Patricia Van Pelt announces retirement". Chicago Tribune. July 26, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.

[9] Kapos, Shia (August 16, 2023). "Dems' thrill of victory, agony of defeat". POLITICO. Retrieved August 17, 2023.

[10] "102ND GA SENATE LEADERSHIP" (PDF). Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved February 6, 2021.

[11] Thomas, Whitney Freund (April 1998). "Florence Fifer Bohrer: A Woman Before Her Time". Illinois History: A Magazine for Young People. 51 (3): 59–60. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2017.

[Statue-12] Gherardini, Caroline, ed. (February 1984). "Honors". Illinois Issues. Vol. 9, no. 2. Springfield, Illinois: Sangamon State University. p. 41. ISSN 0738-9663. Retrieved August 21, 2017.

[ILRU_2016-13] Musser, Ashley; Dutton, Julie (February 11, 2016). "Illinois Women in Congress and General Assembly" (PDF). Springfield, Illinois: Illinois Legislative Research Unit. Retrieved August 21, 2017.

[14] Miller, David R. (ed.). "A Former New Member: Barack Obama (D-13, Chicago) (From First Reading, December 1996)" (PDF). First Reading. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois Legislative Research Unit. p. 4.

[First_Reading_12-22-15] Barlow, Sarah E. (ed.). "Biographies of New House Members" (PDF). First Reading. 36 (1). Illinois General Assembly: 2. Retrieved December 4, 2022.

[Bennett_Senate_Appointment-16] Barichello, Derek (January 7, 2023). "Tom Bennett Named Barickman Successor". Shaw Local. Retrieved January 7, 2023.

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v t e Members of the Illinois Senate
103rd General Assembly (2023–2025) President Don Harmon (D) Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford (D) Minority Leader John Curran (R)
▌Javier Cervantes (D) ▌Omar Aquino (D) ▌Mattie Hunter (D) ▌Kimberly Lightford (D) ▌Lakesia Collins (D) ▌Sara Feigenholtz (D) ▌Mike Simmons (D) ▌Ram Villivalam (D) ▌Laura Fine (D) ▌Robert Martwick (D) ▌Mike Porfirio (D) ▌Celina Villanueva (D) ▌Robert Peters (D) ▌Emil Jones III (D) ▌Napoleon Harris (D) ▌Willie Preston (D) ▌Elgie Sims (D) ▌William Cunningham (D) ▌Michael Hastings (D) ▌Natalie Toro (D) ▌Laura Ellman (D) ▌Cristina Castro (D) ▌Suzy Glowiak (D) ▌Seth Lewis (R) ▌Karina Villa (D) ▌Dan McConchie (R) ▌Mark L. Walker (D) ▌Laura Murphy (D) ▌Julie Morrison (D) ▌Adriane Johnson (D) ▌Mary Edly-Allen (D) ▌Craig Wilcox (R) ▌Don DeWitte (R) ▌Steve Stadelman (D) ▌Dave Syverson (R) ▌Michael Halpin (D) ▌Win Stoller (R) ▌Sue Rezin (R) ▌Don Harmon (D) ▌Patrick Joyce (D) ▌John Curran (R) ▌Linda Holmes (D) ▌Rachel Ventura (D) ▌Sally Turner (R) ▌Andrew Chesney (R) ▌Dave Koehler (D) ▌Neil Anderson (R) ▌Doris Turner (D) ▌Meg Loughran Cappel (D) ▌Jil Tracy (R) ▌Chapin Rose (R) ▌Paul Faraci (D) ▌Thomas M. Bennett (R) ▌Steve McClure (R) ▌Jason Plummer (R) ▌Erica Harriss (R) ▌Christopher Belt (D) ▌Terri Bryant (R) ▌Dale Fowler (R)
▌Democratic (40) ▌Republican (19) Illinois General Assembly Illinois House of Representatives Illinois Senate

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Legislative elections	2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
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