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.
Following the general election, there was no change to the majority control of the Illinois State Senate. The Republican Party chipped away at the Democratic Party's control of the chamber, increasing Republican seats from 19 to 20. The Democrats' seats decreased from 40 to 39.
Incumbents retiring
One incumbent, Kirk Dillard (R), did not run for re-election in District 24. Chris Nybo (R), winner of the primary, was appointed as his replacement in August 2014.
Majority control
- See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Heading into the November 4 election, the Democratic Party held the majority in the Illinois State Senate:
| Illinois State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2014 | After November 4, 2014 | |
| Democratic Party | 40 | 39 | |
| Republican Party | 19 | 20 | |
| Total | 59 | 59 | |
Qualifications
Article IV of the Illinois Constitution states: To be eligible to serve as a member of the General Assembly, a person must be a United States citizen, at least 21 years old, and for the two years preceding his election or appointment a resident of the district which he is to represent.
Competitiveness
Candidates unopposed by a major party
In 10 of the 19 districts up for election in 2014, there was only one major party candidate running for election. A total of four Democrats and six Republicans were guaranteed election barring unforeseen circumstances.
Two major party candidates faced off in the general election in nine of the 19 districts up for election. Just one of these seats, District 36, held mildly competitive elections in 2012. In that election, the Democratic candidate won by a margin of 10 percent.
- District 36: Incumbent Mike Jacobs (D) was defeated by challenger Neil Anderson (R).
Primary challenges
Just one incumbent faced primary competition on March 18. One incumbent did not seek re-election in 2014 and another 17 incumbents advanced past the primary without opposition. The state senator facing primary competition was:
- District 39: Incumbent Don Harmon (D) defeated Bob Galhotra in the Democratic primary.
Retiring incumbents
One incumbent senator did not run for re-election, but a replacement was appointed before the general election, so all 19 (100%) ran for re-election.
- District 24: Kirk Dillard (R) declined to run for re-election in 2014, choosing instead to run for Governor.[1]
List of candidates
District 3
March 18 Democratic primary candidates:
- Mattie Hunter
- Incumbent Hunter was first elected to the chamber in 2002.
- Mattie Hunter
Note: Larry D. Craddieth was removed from the candidate list before the primary.
March 18 Republican primary candidates:
- No candidates filed for election.
- November 4 General election candidates:
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- Mattie Hunter: 43,662
Note: Erin Broderick (R) filed to run on June 2, 2014, but was removed from the ballot shortly after.
District 6
- March 18 Democratic primary candidates:
- John J. Cullerton - Incumbent Cullerton was first elected to the chamber in 1990.
- John J. Cullerton
- March 18 Republican primary candidates:
- November 4 General election candidates:
- John J. Cullerton: 39,851
- Stefanie Linares: 20,291
District 9
- March 18 Democratic primary candidates:
- Daniel Biss - Incumbent Biss was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
- Daniel Biss
- March 18 Republican primary candidates:
- No candidates filed for election.
- November 4 General election candidates:
- Daniel Biss: 55,986
District 12
- March 18 Democratic primary candidates:
- Steven Landek - Incumbent Landek was first appointed to the chamber in 2011.
- Steven Landek
- March 18 Republican primary candidates:
- No candidates filed for election.
- November 4 General election candidates:
- Steven Landek: 24,886
District 15
- March 18 Democratic primary candidates:
- Napoleon Harris - Incumbent Harris was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
- Napoleon Harris
Note: Victor Jonathan withdrew before the primary.
- March 18 Republican primary candidates:
- No candidates filed for election.
- November 4 General election candidates:
- Napoleon Harris: 49,577
District 18
- March 18 Democratic primary candidates:
- Bill Cunningham - Incumbent Cunningham was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
- Bill Cunningham
- March 18 Republican primary candidates:
- No candidates filed for election.
- November 4 General election candidates:
- Bill Cunningham: 41,515
- Shaun Colin Murphy: 29,658
District 21
- March 18 Democratic primary candidates:
- No candidates filed for election.
- March 18 Republican primary candidates:
- Michael G. Connelly - Incumbent Connelly was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
- Michael G. Connelly
- November 4 General election candidates:
- Michael G. Connelly: 61,393
District 24
Note: Incumbent Kirk Dillard (R) did not run for re-election.
- March 18 Democratic primary candidates:
- March 18 Republican primary candidates:
- Dennis M. Reboletti: 10,852
- Chris Nybo: 15,544
- November 4 General election candidates:
- Suzanne Glowiak Hilton: 31,357
- Chris Nybo: 47,590
Note: Nybo was appointed to the open seat on August 6, 2014.[2]
District 27
- March 18 Democratic primary candidates:
- No candidates filed for election.
- March 18 Republican primary candidates:
- Matt Murphy - Incumbent Murphy was first elected to the chamber in 2006.
- Matt Murphy
- November 4 General election candidates:
- Matt Murphy: 55,928
District 30
- March 18 Democratic primary candidates:
- Terry Link - Incumbent Link was first elected to the chamber in 1996.
- Terry Link
- March 18 Republican primary candidates:
- November 4 General election candidates:
- Terry Link: 26,387
- Don Wilson: 18,169
District 33
- March 18 Democratic primary candidates:
- No candidates filed for election.
- March 18 Republican primary candidates:
- Karen McConnaughay - Incumbent McConnaughay was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
- Karen McConnaughay
- November 4 General election candidates:
- Karen McConnaughay: 54,102
District 36
- March 18 Democratic primary candidates:
- Mike Jacobs - Incumbent Jacobs was first elected to the chamber in 2004.
- Mike Jacobs
- March 18 Republican primary candidates:
- November 4 General election candidates:
- Mike Jacobs: 30,242
- Neil Anderson: 35,895
District 39
- March 18 Democratic primary candidates:
- Don Harmon: 9,890 - Incumbent Harmon was first elected to the chamber in 2002.
- Bob Galhotra: 2,150
- Don Harmon: 9,890
- March 18 Republican primary candidates:
- No candidates filed for election.
- November 4 General election candidates:
- Don Harmon: 39,526
Note: Bruce Samuels (G) filed to run but was removed from the ballot following an objection.
District 42
- March 18 Democratic primary candidates:
- Linda Holmes - Incumbent Holmes was first elected to the chamber in 2006.
- Linda Holmes
- March 18 Republican primary candidates:
- No candidates filed for election.
- November 4 General election candidates:
- Linda Holmes: 28,358
Note: Brian J. Russell (R) filed to run but was removed from the ballot following an objection.
District 45
- March 18 Democratic primary candidates:
- No candidates filed for election.
- March 18 Republican primary candidates:
- Tim Bivins - Incumbent Bivins was first elected to the chamber in 2008.
- Tim Bivins
- November 4 General election candidates:
- Tim Bivins: 59,865
District 48
- March 18 Democratic primary candidates:
- Andy Manar - Incumbent Manar was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
- Andy Manar
- March 18 Republican primary candidates:
- November 4 General election candidates:
- Andy Manar: 34,402
- Linda Little: 27,449
District 51
- March 18 Democratic primary candidates:
- No candidates filed for election.
- March 18 Republican primary candidates:
- Chapin Rose - Incumbent Rose was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
- Chapin Rose
- November 4 General election candidates:
- Chapin Rose: 69,665
District 54
- March 18 Democratic primary candidates:
- No candidates filed for election.
- March 18 Republican primary candidates:
- Kyle McCarter - Incumbent McCarter was first appointed to the chamber in 2009.
- Kyle McCarter
- November 4 General election candidates:
- Kyle McCarter: 60,923
District 57
- March 18 Democratic primary candidates:
- James F. Clayborne, Jr., II - Incumbent Clayborne was first elected to the chamber in 1994.
- James F. Clayborne, Jr., II
- March 18 Republican primary candidates:
- No candidates filed for election.
- November 4 General election candidates:
- James F. Clayborne, Jr., II: 30,624
- Katherine Ruocco: 28,486
Note: Ruocco filed to run on June 2, 2014.
See also
External links
- Illinois State Board of Elections - Official Vote Totals for 2014 General Election
- The Chicago Tribune, "Results List (Unofficial)," accessed November 5, 2014
- Official primary candidate list
- Illinois State Board of Elections - Official primary election canvass
- Official general election candidate list
Footnotes
