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Don Harmon (Illinois)
2003 - Present
2027
22
Don Harmon (Democratic Party) is a member of the Illinois State Senate, representing District 39. He assumed office in 2003. His current term ends on January 13, 2027.
The Illinois State Senate elected Harmon Senate president on January 19, 2020. Harmon replaced President John Cullerton (D), who retired that same month.[1]
Harmon was born in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1966. He received a B.A. in economics and English writing from Knox College in 1988 and an M.B.A. and J.D. from the University of Chicago in 1994. From 2005 to 2020, he was an attorney at Burke Burns & Pinelli, LTD.[2][3]
Harmon was elected to the state Senate in 2002, defeating James Caporusso (R) 70%-30%. According to Capitol News Illinois, Harmon "pushed for legislation to require gun dealers to be licensed by the state and to expand early childhood education programs. He has also been an advocate for voting rights and clean energy initiatives."[4][5] Before becoming president of the Senate, Harmon served as president pro tempore from 2011 to 2019.[6][7]
According to Capitol News Illinois, the X Caucus, consisting of 10-12 members depending on the issue, were influential in electing Harmon president in 2020. The publication described the group as "moderate suburban and downstate Democrats" who, according to Sen. Michael Hastings (D), were "a good group of commonsense, consensus-building legislators [who] don’t fit into the ultraconservative or ultraliberal sects" of the Democratic Party.[8] In 2024, the Chicago Tribune reported on the special Democratic primary for Senate District 20, noting Harmon's involvement: "[Graciela] Guzmán has the backing of liberal Democratic and Democratic socialists in the legislature and City Council, while [Natalie] Toro is backed by Illinois Senate President Don Harmon and more moderate Democrats in the chamber."[9]
Biography
Harmon earned a bachelor's from Knox College and an M.B.A. and J.D. from the University of Chicago. His professional experience includes working as an attorney.[10]
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
Harmon was assigned to the following committees:
2021-2022
Harmon was assigned to the following committees:
2019-2020
Harmon was assigned to the following committees:
- Assignments Committee, Vice Chair
- Committee of the Whole
- Energy and Public Utilities Committee
- Senate Executive Committee, Vice Chair
- Judiciary Committee, Chair
- Revenue Committee
- Labor Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Illinois committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Assignments, Vice chair |
| • Committee of the Whole |
| • Criminal Law |
| • Executive, Chair |
| • Financial Institutions |
| • Judiciary |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Harmon served on the following committees:
| Illinois committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Assignments, Vice chair |
| • Executive, Chair |
| • Judiciary |
| • Administrative Rules, Co-chair |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Harmon served on the following committees:
| Illinois committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Committee of the Whole |
| • Executive, Chairperson |
| • Judiciary |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Harmon served on these committees:
| Illinois committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Assignments, Vice Chair |
| • Committee of the Whole |
| • Executive, Chair |
| • Judiciary |
| • Redistricting |
| • Administrative Rules |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Harmon served on these committees:[11]
| Illinois committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Assignments |
| • Environment |
| • Executive |
| • Executive Appointments |
| • Judiciary, Vice-Chairman |
| • Redistricting |
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
2026
See also: Illinois State Senate elections, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on March 17, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 39
Incumbent Don Harmon is running in the Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 39 on March 17, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Don Harmon | |
| ||||
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Endorsements
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2022
See also: Illinois State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Illinois State Senate District 39
Incumbent Don Harmon won election in the general election for Illinois State Senate District 39 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Don Harmon (D) | 100.0 | 47,658 |
| Total votes: 47,658 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 39
Incumbent Don Harmon advanced from the Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 39 on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Don Harmon | 100.0 | 19,767 |
| Total votes: 19,767 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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2018
- See also: Illinois State Senate elections, 2018
General election
General election for Illinois State Senate District 39
Incumbent Don Harmon won election in the general election for Illinois State Senate District 39 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Don Harmon (D) | 100.0 | 54,149 |
| Total votes: 54,149 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 39
Incumbent Don Harmon advanced from the Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 39 on March 20, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Don Harmon | 100.0 | 23,397 |
| Total votes: 23,397 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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2014
- See also: Illinois State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for the Illinois State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on March 18, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was December 2, 2013. Incumbent Don Harmon defeated Bob Galhotra in the Democratic primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[12][13][14]
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
 Don Harmon Incumbent |
82.1% | 9,890 |
| Bob Galhotra | 17.9% | 2,150 |
| Total Votes | 12,040 | |
2012
- See also: Illinois State Senate elections, 2012
Harmon won re-election to the Illinois State Senate in District 39 in the 2012 election. Harmon was unopposed in the Democratic primary on March 20, 2012, and was unopposed in the general election on November 6, 2012.[15][16][17]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Don Harmon Incumbent |
100% | 58,381 | |
| Total Votes | 58,381 | |||
2006
On November 7, 2006, Democrat Don Harmon won re-election to the Illinois State Senate District 39 receiving 57,487 votes, ahead of Republican Jim Rowe receiving 11,159 votes.[18]
| Illinois State Senate, District 39 (2006) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Don Harmon (D)
|
57,487 | |||
| Jim Rowe (R) | 11,159 | |||
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
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
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2014
Harmon's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[19]
- Pension
- Excerpt: "Don believes that getting the State’s fiscal house in order through pension reform and other measures is the single most important action the General Assembly can take at this time. It is fundamental to restoring the State’s ability to invest fully in education and other programs to help Illinoisans achieve their full potential and regain a foothold on their lives during tough times."
- Elections
- Excerpt: "Don is an ardent supporter of voting rights. He sponsored legislation, now law, establishing online voter registration in Illinois, a move that will expand our democracy by encouraging more people to register and vote – while also saving money in election administration costs."
- Education
- Excerpt: "As a leader in the Illinois General Assembly, Don helped secure passage of a budget for the 2013-2014 fiscal year that, for the first time in four years, maintains level funding for education – protecting a vital investment in our children and in the future of our state."
- LGBT rights
- Excerpt: "Don has been a leader over the past decade in the fight for LGBT rights, which culminated in the fall of 2013 when Illinois became the 16th state to achieve marriage equality. He was chief co-sponsor of 2005 legislation ending discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and was the initial sponsor of legislation authorizing civil unions, enacted in late 2010."
- Environment
- Excerpt: "Don recently received an Illinois Environmental Leadership Award from the Illinois Environmental Council for improving recreational access to open space, supporting renewable energy sources and working for a fracking moratorium in the Illinois Senate...He is currently leading negotiations on a measure aimed at boosting wind and other renewable energy sources."
- Juvenile justice
- Excerpt: "Don is chief sponsor of legislation that would address unresolved issues from the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 ruling that juveniles cannot be sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole. In Illinois, a child as young as 13 can be sentenced to life in prison."
Millionaire's tax
In April 2014, Harmon supported a progressive income tax of 6.9 percent for anyone making more than $180,000 a year. Those making more than $1 million would pay an additional three percent for the proposed 'millionaires’ tax'. “We’ve proposed a comprehensive rate structure that works with, or without, a millionaires’ (tax),” Harmon said.[20]
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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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 14 through December 7 (extended session).
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 29 through June 2.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 9 through May 31.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 11 through May 31.
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Endorsements
2014
In 2014, Harmon's endorsements include the following:[23][24]
- Equality Illinois Political Action Committee (PAC)
- The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)
Noteworthy events
|
|---|
| Coronavirus pandemic |
| Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more.
|
On August 16, 2021, Harmon announced he tested positive for COVID-19. He said he was fully vaccinated before he contracted the virus.[25]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Don and his wife, Teresa, have three children.[10]
See also
2026 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Illinois State Senate District 39 |
Officeholder Illinois State Senate District 39 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Democrat Don Harmon of Oak Park elected to succeed John Cullerton as Illinois Senate president," January 19, 2020
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Don Harmon," accessed April 10, 2025
- ↑ Illinois General Assembly, "Senator Don Harmon (D)," accessed April 10, 2025
- ↑ Capitol News Illinois, "Don Harmon, Oak Park Democrat, named Illinois Senate president," January 20, 2020
- ↑ Senator Don Harmon, "About President Harmon," accessed April 11, 2025
- ↑ Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest, "Sen. Harmon’s stock rises in Illinois Senate," January 19, 2011
- ↑ Politico, "PRITZKER stuns, MADIGAN pokes — ‘JUSTICE’ in SAUER case — PRECKWINKLE faces complaint," January 10, 2019
- ↑ Capitol News Illinois, "'X Caucus' puts weight behind Harmon’s successful presidential bid," January 20, 2020
- ↑ Chicago Tribune, "On Election Day, progressive candidates and causes are at the center of Democratic primary ballot," March 17, 2024
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Illinois General Assembly, "Senator Don Harmon," accessed February 19, 2014
- ↑ Illinois General Assembly, "List of Illinois Senate Committees," July 28, 2009
- ↑ Illinois Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed March 18, 2014
- ↑ Illinois Board of Elections, "General Primary Election Official Canvass," April 18, 2014
- ↑ Illinois Secretary of State, "Official general election candidate list," accessed March 18, 2014
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Candidate List," December 5, 2011
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Official 2012 Primary Results," accessed February 19, 2014
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, “Official Vote - November 6, 2012 General Election,” accessed December 31, 2012
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Search Vote Totals," accessed February 19, 2014
- ↑ Senator Don Harmon, "Issues," accessed February 19, 2014
- ↑ Watchdog.org, "Hey millionaires, Illinois wants 10 percent of your cash," April 7, 2014
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Windy City Media Group, "Equality Illinois PAC issues endorsements," January 17, 2014
- ↑ Illinois AFL-CIO, "2014 Illinois AFL-CIO Primary Election Endorsements," accessed March 5, 2014
- ↑ Associated Press, "Illinois Senate president reports ‘breakthrough’ COVID case," August 16, 2021
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Illinois State Senate District 39 2003-Present |
Succeeded by - |
