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.State Populations from U.S Census 2020 U.S Census Website Senate districts 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.Illinois Constitution Article IV, Section 2(a) http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con4.htm 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,Illinois Constitution Article IV, Section 2(b) http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con4.htm 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. The number of negative votes does not matter. Therefore, voting present has the same effect on the tally as voting no. Barack Obama began his political career in the Illinois Senate before going on to become President of the United States.
Party summary AffiliationParty (Shading indicates majority caucus)TotalVacant Democratic Republican 40 19 59 0 40 19 59 0 18 58 1 19 59 0 Latest voting share
Leadership , the 104th General Assembly of the Illinois Senate consists of the following leadership:
Majority President of the Senate: Don Harmon Majority Leader: Kimberly A. Lightford President Pro Tempore: Bill Cunningham Deputy Majority Leaders: Laura Murphy Emil Jones III Assistant Majority Leaders: Mattie Hunter David Koehler Linda Holmes Laura M. Murphy Napoleon Harris III Majority Caucus Chair: Omar Aquino Majority Caucus Appropriations Leader: Elgie Sims Majority Caucus Whips: Julie Morrison Cristina Castro Ram Villivalam Robert Peters
Minority Minority Leader: John Curran Deputy Minority Leader: Sue Rezin Assistant Minority Leaders: Dale Fowler Steve McClure Terri Bryant Sally Turner Minority Caucus Chair: Jason Plummer Minority Caucus Whips: Jil Tracy Chapin Rose
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. In 1977, Earlean Collins became the first African American woman to serve in the Illinois Senate. Barack Obama, later the first African-American President of the United States, served in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004.
, the 104th General Assembly of the Illinois Senate consists of the following members:
DistrictNamePartyResidenceStartNext Election1DemocraticChicagoNovember 18, 202220282DemocraticJuly 1, 201620263DemocraticJanuary 8, 20034DemocraticNovember 20, 199820285DemocraticAugust 16, 202320266DemocraticJanuary 21, 20207DemocraticFebruary 6, 202120288DemocraticJanuary 5, 201920269DemocraticGlenviewJanuary 6, 201910DemocraticChicagoJune 28, 2019202811DemocraticBridgeviewJanuary 11, 2023202612DemocraticChicagoJanuary 7, 202013DemocraticJanuary 6, 2019202814DemocraticJanuary 14, 2009202615DemocraticHarveyJanuary 9, 201316DemocraticChicagoJanuary 11, 2023202817DemocraticJanuary 26, 2018202618DemocraticJanuary 9, 201319DemocraticTinley Park202820DemocraticChicagoJanuary 8, 2025202621DemocraticLisle January 9, 201922DemocraticElginJanuary 11, 2017202823DemocraticWestern SpringsJanuary 9, 2019202624RepublicanBartlettJanuary 11, 202325DemocraticWest ChicagoJanuary 13, 2021202826RepublicanBarrington HillsFebruary 28, 2025202627DemocraticArlington HeightsMay 11, 202428DemocraticDes PlainesOctober 5, 2015202829DemocraticDeerfieldJanuary 9, 2013202630DemocraticBuffalo GroveOctober 11, 202031DemocraticLibertyvilleJanuary 11, 2023202832RepublicanMcHenryOctober 1, 2018202633RepublicanSt. CharlesJanuary 9, 201934DemocraticRockfordJanuary 9, 2013202835RepublicanRockfordJanuary 13, 1993202636DemocraticRock IslandJanuary 11, 202337RepublicanDixonJanuary 8, 2025202838RepublicanMorrisDecember 11, 2010202639DemocraticOak ParkJanuary 8, 200340DemocraticKankakeeNovember 8, 2019202841RepublicanWoodridgeJuly 23, 2017202642DemocraticAuroraJanuary 10, 200743DemocraticJolietJanuary 11, 2023202844RepublicanBeasonJanuary 25, 2021202645RepublicanFreeportDecember 5, 201846DemocraticPeoriaDecember 3, 2006202847RepublicanAndalusiaJanuary 15, 2015202648DemocraticSpringfieldFebruary 6, 202149DemocraticShorewoodDecember 10, 2020202850RepublicanQuincyJanuary 11, 2017202651RepublicanMahometJanuary 9, 201352DemocraticChampaignJanuary 11, 2023202853RepublicanChannahonJanuary 8, 2025202654Republican SpringfieldJanuary 9, 201955RepublicanEdwardsville202856RepublicanGlen CarbonJanuary 11, 2023202657DemocraticCahokia HeightsJanuary 9, 201958RepublicanMurphysboroJanuary 13, 2021202859RepublicanPomonaJune 17, 20262026
Past composition of the Senate
Future election terms by district
State senators will be elected in the legislative districts for terms of office as set forth below.
First group (Districts 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32, 35, 38, 41, 44, 47, 50, 53, 56, 59)
2026 - 4 Years
2030 - 2 Years
Second group (Districts 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, 54, 57)
2026 - 2 Years
2028 - 4 Years
Third group (Districts 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34, 37, 40, 43, 46, 49, 52, 55, 58)
2028 - 4 Years
Notes
References
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