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.
Quick facts 39 of 59 seats in the Illinois Senate 30 seats needed for a majority, Majority party ...
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]
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.
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]
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]
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]
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.
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]
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