Laura Ellman
Laura Ellman (Democratic Party) is a member of the Illinois State Senate, representing District 21. She assumed office on January 9, 2019. Her current term ends on January 13, 2027.
Ellman (Democratic Party) is running for re-election to the Illinois State Senate to represent District 21. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2026. She advanced from the Democratic primary on March 17, 2026.
Biography
Laura Ellman grew up in Hanover Park, Illinois and lives in Naperville, Illinois. She graduated from Elgin High School, earned a B.A. in mathematics from Grinnell College, and earned an M.S. in statistics from the University of Iowa. Professionally, Ellman has worked as a quality engineer for multiple companies, including 3M, Alcoa, Phonak and Argonne National Laboratory.[1][2]
Committee assignments
2025-2026
Ellman was assigned to the following committees:
- Environment and Conservation Committee, Chair
- Senate Financial Institutions Committee, Vice-Chair
- Human Rights Committee
- Senate Insurance Committee
- Transportation Committee
- Legislative Audit Commission
2023-2024
Ellman was assigned to the following committees:
- Agriculture Committee
- Energy and Public Utilities Committee, Vice Chair
- Senate Financial Institutions Committee, Chair
- Senate Higher Education Committee
- Transportation Committee
2021-2022
Ellman was assigned to the following committees:
- Agriculture Committee
- Energy and Public Utilities Committee, Vice-Chair
- Senate Financial Institutions Committee, Chair
- Senate Higher Education Committee
- Transportation Committee
- Legislative Audit Commission
2019-2020
Ellman was assigned to the following committees:
- Agriculture Committee
- Appropriations I Committee
- Committee of the Whole
- Energy and Public Utilities Committee
- Senate Higher Education Committee, Vice Chair
- Veterans Affairs Committee
- Government Accountability and Pensions Committee
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 general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for Illinois State Senate District 21
Incumbent Laura Ellman (D) and Julie Berkowicz (R) are running in the general election for Illinois State Senate District 21 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Laura Ellman (D) | |
| Julie Berkowicz (R) | ||
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 21
Incumbent Laura Ellman (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 21 on March 17, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Laura Ellman |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
Republican primary for Illinois State Senate District 21
Julie Berkowicz (R) advanced from the Republican primary for Illinois State Senate District 21 on March 17, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Julie Berkowicz | |
| ||||
| = 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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Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ellman received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
2022
See also: Illinois State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Illinois State Senate District 21
Incumbent Laura Ellman defeated Kathleen Murray in the general election for Illinois State Senate District 21 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Laura Ellman (D) | 58.8 | 51,200 |
 | Kathleen Murray (R) | 41.2 | 35,876 | |
| Total votes: 87,076 | |||
| = 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 21
Incumbent Laura Ellman advanced from the Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 21 on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Laura Ellman | 100.0 | 18,468 |
| Total votes: 18,468 | |||
| = 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 21
Kathleen Murray advanced from the Republican primary for Illinois State Senate District 21 on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kathleen Murray | 100.0 | 13,927 |
| Total votes: 13,927 | |||
| = 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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2018
- See also: Illinois State Senate elections, 2018
General election
General election for Illinois State Senate District 21
Laura Ellman defeated incumbent Michael Connelly in the general election for Illinois State Senate District 21 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Laura Ellman (D) | 50.6 | 49,928 |
 | Michael Connelly (R) | 49.4 | 48,749 | |
| Total votes: 98,677 (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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 21
Laura Ellman advanced from the Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 21 on March 20, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Laura Ellman | 100.0 | 18,438 |
| Total votes: 18,438 | |||
| = 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 21
Incumbent Michael Connelly advanced from the Republican primary for Illinois State Senate District 21 on March 20, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Michael Connelly | 100.0 | 17,952 |
| Total votes: 17,952 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Laura Ellman has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. Send a message to Laura Ellman asking her to fill out the survey. If you are Laura Ellman, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey?
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You can ask Laura Ellman to fill out this survey by using the buttons below or emailing campaign@ellmanforillinois.com.
2022
Laura Ellman did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
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.
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 scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Illinois General Assembly in 2025.
- Illinois Environmental Council — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- The Freedom Index — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Illinois General Assembly in 2024.
- Illinois Environmental Council — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Illinois Humane Society — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to pets and wildlife.
- Illinois Realtors — Legislators are scored on votes on bills affecting real estate and private property.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Illinois General Assembly in 2023.
- Illinois Environmental Council — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Illinois Realtors — Legislators are scored on votes on bills affecting real estate and private property.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Illinois General Assembly in 2022.
- Illinois Environmental Council — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Illinois Realtors — Legislators are scored on votes on bills affecting real estate and private property.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Planned Parenthood Illinois Action — Legislators are scored on their stances on policies related to reproductive health issues.
- Technology and Manufacturing Association — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to manufacturing issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Illinois General Assembly in 2021.
- Illinois Environmental Council — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Illinois Humane Society — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to pets and wildlife.
- Illinois Realtors — Legislators are scored on votes on bills affecting real estate and private property.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Illinois General Assembly in 2020.
- Illinois Environmental Council — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Illinois Parents of Adults with Developmental Disabilities — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills that help or hinder Illinois citizens with developmental disabilities access more included lives in their homes and communities.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Illinois General Assembly in 2019.
- Illinois Environmental Council — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Illinois Parents of Adults with Developmental Disabilities — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills that help or hinder Illinois citizens with developmental disabilities access more included lives in their homes and communities.
- Technology and Manufacturing Association — Legislators are scored on their votes on manufacturing issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Illinois State Senate District 21 |
Officeholder Illinois State Senate District 21 |
Personal |
Footnotes
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Michael Connelly (R) |
Illinois State Senate District 21 2019-Present |
Succeeded by - |
