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Dan McConchie
Dan McConchie (Republican Party) was a member of the Illinois State Senate, representing District 26. He assumed office in 2016. He left office on February 2, 2025.
McConchie (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Illinois State Senate to represent District 26. He won in the general election on November 8, 2022.
McConchie was state Senate minority leader for the 2021-2022 session.[1] McConchie left office on February 2, 2025 to start a nonprofit.[2]
Biography
McConchie's professional experience includes working as the vice president of government affairs for Americans United for Life. He served nine years in the Army National Guard.[3]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023-2024
McConchie was assigned to the following committees:
2021-2022
McConchie was assigned to the following committees:
2019-2020
McConchie was assigned to the following committees:
- Appropriations II Committee
- Committee of the Whole
- Senate Higher Education Committee
- Senate Insurance Committee
- Public Health Committee
- Telecommunications & InfoTechnology Committee
- Labor Committee
- State Government Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Illinois committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Appropriations I |
| • Appropriations II |
| • Committee of the Whole |
| • Education |
| • Government Reform |
| • Insurance |
| • Licensed Activities and Pensions |
2016 legislative session
At the time of his swearing-in, McConchie was assigned to the following committees:
| Illinois committee assignments, 2016 |
|---|
| • Appropriations I |
| • Commerce and Economic Development |
| • Committee on Pension Investments |
| • Labor |
| • State Government & Veterans Affairs |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2022
See also: Illinois State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Illinois State Senate District 26
Incumbent Dan McConchie defeated Maria Peterson in the general election for Illinois State Senate District 26 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Dan McConchie (R) | 50.2 | 44,632 |
 | Maria Peterson (D) | 49.8 | 44,247 | |
| Total votes: 88,879 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 26
Maria Peterson advanced from the Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 26 on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Maria Peterson | 100.0 | 15,528 |
| Total votes: 15,528 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Illinois State Senate District 26
Incumbent Dan McConchie advanced from the Republican primary for Illinois State Senate District 26 on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Dan McConchie | 100.0 | 15,443 |
| Total votes: 15,443 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Casey Urlacher (R)
2018
- See also: Illinois State Senate elections, 2018
General election
General election for Illinois State Senate District 26
Incumbent Dan McConchie defeated Tom Georges in the general election for Illinois State Senate District 26 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Dan McConchie (R) | 54.7 | 51,754 |
 | Tom Georges (D) | 45.3 | 42,924 | |
| Total votes: 94,678 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 26
Tom Georges advanced from the Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 26 on March 20, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Tom Georges | 100.0 | 16,261 |
| Total votes: 16,261 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Illinois State Senate District 26
Incumbent Dan McConchie advanced from the Republican primary for Illinois State Senate District 26 on March 20, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Dan McConchie | 100.0 | 16,408 |
| Total votes: 16,408 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
- See also: Illinois State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Illinois State Senate were held in 2016. The primary election was held on March 15, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was November 30, 2015.[4] Dan McConchie (R) was appointed to the seat on April 20, 2016, after Dan Duffy (R) resigned.
Incumbent Dan McConchie defeated Kelly Mazeski in the Illinois State Senate District 26 general election.[5][6]
| Illinois State Senate, District 26 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Dan McConchie Incumbent |
59.19% | 63,432 | |
| Democratic | Kelly Mazeski | 40.81% | 43,738 | |
| Total Votes | 107,170 | |||
| Source: Illinois State Board of Elections | ||||
Dan McConchie defeated Casey Urlacher and Martin McLaughlin in the Illinois State Senate District 26 Republican primary.[7][8]
| Illinois State Senate, District 26 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Dan McConchie |
36.58% | 13,641 | |
| Republican | Casey Urlacher | 32.81% | 12,236 | |
| Republican | Martin McLaughlin | 30.62% | 11,418 | |
| Total Votes | 37,295 | |||
2016 primary
- Main article: Battleground Illinois primary elections, 2016
McConchie is backed by the outgoing state senator, while McLaughlin is backed by prominent Chicago newspapers.
Race background
Below were key endorsements for McConchie and McLaughlin. Urlacher's website did not list any endorsements:[9][10][11]
| Key endorsements | |
|---|---|
| McConchie | McLaughlin |
| State Sen. Michael Connelly | State Rep. Ed Sullivan Jr. |
| U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren | Realtors Political Action Committee |
| Family PAC Illinois | Chicago Tribune |
| Illinois Center Right Coalition | Chicago Sun-Times |
| Illinois Citizens for Life PAC | Northwest Herald |
| Illinois Federation for Right to Life PAC | Daily Herald |
| Illinois Gun Owners PAC | |
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Dan McConchie did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
- See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys
Dan McConchie participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on April 4, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Dan McConchie's responses follow below.[12]
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
| “ | 1) Cut spending |
” |
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?
| “ | FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY Just like every Illinois family, the state has to live within its means. In order to get to a balanced budget and reverse the trend of people moving out of state, we must: - Reduce spending - Cut the existing tax burden and freeze property taxes - Remove unfunded mandates and onerous state procurement rules on local governments that help drive up local property taxes - Reform state purchasing practices to provide for greater competition and transparency driving down costs - Block efforts to impose new taxes Big government has failed in Illinois. It’s time to follow the lead of our neighboring states and make Illinois competitive again. TRANSPORTATION Politicians have raided the state’s transportation funds for too long and our roads are falling apart. Now that we’ve acted to protect these funds so our roads can be repaired and new roads built, we need a infrastructure plan to address our long term needs. TRAFFIC CAMERAS Many of the traffic cameras across our state are about revenue and rife with abuse. I support eliminating red light cameras and speed cameras in the state. EDUCATION I support the move to expand education vouchers so the money follows the child. I also support the expansion of charter schools. Competition in education leads to increased quality by putting parents in control of their child’s education. No child should suffer in a failing school simply based on where they live. STATE COLLEGES One of the biggest problems facing our state is our brain drain – kids moving out of state because college tuition at our universities is so high. Tuition at our schools are 30% – 60% higher than out-of-state schools in the same conference…despite the fact that the state pays double the national average per pupil. When our future taxpayers go to school outside of Illinois, they often put down roots in those other states by starting jobs and families of their own there. That breaks up families. Rather than being micromanaged by the state, our universities need more autonomy on how to spend their money so they can bring down costs and make college more affordable. CAMPAIGN FINANCE, FAIR MAPS & TERM LIMITS In a well-functioning election system, I believe voters are the ultimate term limit. However, for that to work, we must have fair maps and equitable campaign finance rules, neither of which currently exist in Illinois. I support the Governor’s “Fair Maps” effort to limit partisan redistricting and the Governor’s effort to put term limits on the ballot so the voters can decide.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[14]
|
” |
Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Dan McConchie answered the following:
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
| “ | I snow shoveled driveways and sidewalks in my neighborhood. I did it every winter that we lived in the city while in elementary school.[14] | ” |
| “ | Thanksgiving - it's the one day of the year that is designed to help us remember to reflect on life and thank God for all he has given us.[14] | ” |
| “ | I have a spinal cord injury and use a wheelchair to get around. A physical disability certainly makes it harder to get things done, but it also helps you connect with the hardships of others and remember what is most important in life.[14] | ” |
| “ | Pension reform: THE ISSUES _MG_0116_cropped PENSION REFORM Illinois’ house is on fire. Reforming our state’s pension system must be our number one priority. For years, Illinois legislators have failed to adequately fund the state’s pension system creating a massive unfunded liability on taxpayers. It is imperative that we move all future benefits from a defined benefit system to a defined contribution system and end the practice of spiking salaries at the end of a public employee’s career to boost their pension payout. I have refused the legislator pension.[14] | ” |
| “ | The only way to really be effective both for your constituents and the state is to have strong relationships with other legislators in both chambers and on both sides of the aisle. That's how you can affect policy and get things done. Grandstanding may get you headlines, but it doesn't solve problems.[14] | ” |
| “ | Fair maps with a non-partisan review panel[14] | ” |
2016
McConchie's website highlighted the following campaign themes:
| “ | PENSION REFORM Illinois’ house is on fire. Reforming our state’s pension system must be our number one priority. For years, Illinois legislators have failed to adequately fund the state’s pension system creating a massive unfunded liability on taxpayers. It is imperative that we move all future benefits from a defined benefit system to a defined contribution system and end the practice of spiking salaries at the end of a public employee’s career to boost their pension payout. I will refuse the legislator pension. FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
Big government has failed in Illinois. It’s time to follow the lead of our neighboring states and make Illinois competitive again. TRANSPORTATION TRAFFIC CAMERAS EDUCATION STATE COLLEGES When our future taxpayers go to school outside of Illinois, they often put down roots in those other states by starting jobs and families of their own there. That breaks up families. Rather than being micromanaged by the state, our universities need more autonomy on how to spend their money so they can bring down costs and make college more affordable. CAMPAIGN FINANCE, FAIR MAPS & TERM LIMITS SECOND AMENDMENT SANCTITY OF LIFE |
” |
Did Gov. Bruce Rauner flip-flop on abortion bill?
November 1, 2017: On September 28, 2017, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) signed House Bill 40 (HB 40), which authorized public funding of abortion through Medicaid and state employee health insurance. In response, state Sen. Dan McConchie (R) claimed that Rauner had made a "public commitment...to veto this bill.”
Did Gov. Rauner make a public commitment to veto HB 40? Read Ballotpedia's fact check »
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Illinois scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show]. |
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In 2024, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 16 to May 29.
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2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 11 to May 27.
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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 5 to April 9.
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2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 13 to June 1.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 8 to May 23.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 9 through December 31.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 8 through May 31.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 11 through May 31. There were also special sessions. The 1st special session was June 21-July 6. The 2nd special session was July 26-July 31. During the 3rd special session, the Senate met on August 13, and the House met on August 16. The 4th special session was on August 28-29. There was a veto session from October 24-November 9.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 13 through May 31.
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Noteworthy events
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|---|
| Coronavirus pandemic |
| Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more.
|
On August 20, 2021, McConchie announced he tested positive for COVID-19. He said he was vaccinated at the time he contracted the virus.[18]
Recent news
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ News Channel 20, "Sen. McConchie chosen as Illinois Senate Minority Leader," November 5, 2020
- ↑ wttw, "Republican State Sen. Dan McConchie to Resign, Launch National Disability Nonprofit," January 27, 2025
- ↑ Elect Dan McConchie, "About Dan," accessed February 25, 2016
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Election and Campaign Finance Calendar," accessed November 30, 2015
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Candidate list: General Election - 11/8/2016," accessed August 8, 2016
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Election results, General election 2016," accessed December 15, 2016
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Candidate Filing Search," accessed January 3, 2016
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Election Results: GENERAL PRIMARY - 3/15/2016," accessed August 8, 2016
- ↑ Dan McConchie, "Endorsements," accessed March 1, 2016
- ↑ FixOurState.com, "Endorsements," accessed March 1, 2016
- ↑ Casey Urlacher, "Home page," accessed March 1, 2016
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "Dan McConchie's responses," April 4, 2018
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7 14.8 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Elect Dan McConchie, "The Issues," accessed February 25, 2016
- ↑ Citizen Action Illinois, "99th General Assembly Legislative Scorecard 2016," accessed July 11, 2017
- ↑ Illinois Parents of Adults with Developmental Disabilities, "2016 Illinois Community Living Report," accessed July 11, 2017
- ↑ Chicago Sun Times, "Illinois Senate Republican leader tests positive for COVID-19 following state fair," August 21, 2021
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Dan Duffy (R) |
Illinois State Senate District 26 2016-2025 |
Succeeded by Darby Hills (R) |
