It’s the 12 Days of Ballotpedia! Your gift powers the trusted, unbiased information voters need heading into 2026. Donate now!
Laura Fine
Laura Fine (Democratic Party) is a member of the Illinois State Senate, representing District 9. She assumed office on January 9, 2019. Her current term ends on January 13, 2027.
Fine (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Illinois' 9th Congressional District. She declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on March 17, 2026.[source]
Biography
Laura Fine received her B.A. in telecommunications from Indiana University, and she went on to receive her M.A. in political science from Northeastern Illinois University. She is also a graduate of the Illinois Women's Institute for Leadership and the Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development. Her professional experience includes being an instructor at Northeastern Illinois University and the Northfield Township Clerk. As of November 2019, Fine is an Edgar Fellow, Henry Toll Fellow, a member of the Emerging Adult Justice Learning Community, the Kiwanis Club of Glenview-Northbrook, the Rotary Club of Glenview Sunrise, and the Glenview League of Women Voters.[1]
Committee assignments
2025-2026
Fine was assigned to the following committees:
- Behavioral and Mental Health, Chair
- Environment and Conservation Committee
- Senate Insurance Committee, Vice-Chair
- Senate Health and Human Services Committee
- Judiciary Committee
- Public Health Committee
2023-2024
Fine was assigned to the following committees:
- Behavioral and Mental Health, Chair
- Environment and Conservation Committee
- Behavioral and Mental Health
- Public Health Committee
- Senate Insurance Committee
2021-2022
Fine was assigned to the following committees:
- Behavioral and Mental Health, Chair
- Environment and Conservation Committee
- Public Health Committee
- Senate Insurance Committee
2019-2020
Fine was assigned to the following committees:
- Appropriations II Committee
- Committee of the Whole
- Environment and Conservation Committee
- Senate Health and Human Services Committee, Vice Chair
- Senate Insurance Committee
- Local Government Committee
- Public Health Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Illinois committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Appropriations-Higher Education |
| • Environment |
| • Human Services |
| • Insurance: Health & Life, Chair |
| • Insurance: Property & Casualty |
| • Mental Health, Vice chair |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Fine served on the following committees:
| Illinois committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Appropriations-Higher Education |
| • Environment |
| • Higher Education |
| • Human Services |
| • Insurance |
| • Youth & Young Adults, Chair |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Fine served on the following committees:
| Illinois committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Appropriations-Higher Education |
| • Business Growth & Incentives, Vice chair |
| • Consumer Protection |
| • Health & Healthcare Disparities |
| • Human Services |
| • Insurance |
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' 9th Congressional District election, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on March 17, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. Additional general election candidates will be added here following the primary.
General election for U.S. House Illinois District 9
Delila Barrera is running in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 9 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Delila Barrera (Independent) | ||
| ||||
 = 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 U.S. House Illinois District 9
The following candidates are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9 on March 17, 2026.
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Miracle Jenkins (D)
- Jill Manrique (D)
- David Abrevaya (D)
- Tamika La'Shon Hill (D)
- Jan Schakowsky (D)
- Lauren Million (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9
Rocio Cleveland, John Elleson, Paul Friedman, and Mark Su are running in the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9 on March 17, 2026.
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2022
See also: Illinois State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Illinois State Senate District 9
Incumbent Laura Fine defeated Paul Kelly in the general election for Illinois State Senate District 9 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Laura Fine (D) | 76.4 | 62,103 |
| Paul Kelly (R) | 23.6 | 19,143 | ||
| Total votes: 81,246 | |||
| = 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 9
Incumbent Laura Fine advanced from the Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 9 on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Laura Fine | 100.0 | 25,126 |
| Total votes: 25,126 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2018
- See also: Illinois State Senate elections, 2018
General election
General election for Illinois State Senate District 9
Laura Fine defeated Joan McCarthy Lasonde in the general election for Illinois State Senate District 9 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Laura Fine (D) | 71.8 | 73,710 |
 | Joan McCarthy Lasonde (R) | 28.2 | 28,889 | |
| Total votes: 102,599 (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 9
Laura Fine advanced from the Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 9 on March 20, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Laura Fine | 100.0 | 38,378 |
| Total votes: 38,378 | |||
| = 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 9
Joan McCarthy Lasonde advanced from the Republican primary for Illinois State Senate District 9 on March 20, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joan McCarthy Lasonde | 100.0 | 8,643 |
| Total votes: 8,643 | |||
| = 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
Elections for the Illinois House of Representatives 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.[2]
Incumbent Laura Fine ran unopposed in the Illinois House of Representatives District 17 general election.[3][4]
| Illinois House of Representatives, District 17 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic |  Laura Fine Incumbent (unopposed) | |
| Source: Illinois State Board of Elections | ||
Incumbent Laura Fine ran unopposed in the Illinois House of Representatives District 17 Democratic primary.[5][6]
| Illinois House of Representatives, District 17 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Laura Fine Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for the Illinois House of Representatives 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 Laura Fine ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Kathleen Myalls ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Fine then defeated Myalls in the general election.[7][8][9][10]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Laura Fine Incumbent |
58.4% | 21,809 | |
| Republican | Kathleen Myalls | 41.6% | 15,534 | |
| Total Votes | 37,343 | |||
2012
Fine won election in the 2012 election for Illinois House of Representatives District 17. Fine was unopposed in the March 20 Democratic primary and defeated Kyle Frank (R) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[11][12][13]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Laura Fine Incumbent |
65.8% | 32,876 | |
| Republican | Kyle Frank | 34.2% | 17,088 | |
| Total Votes | 49,964 | |||
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
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Laura Fine has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. Send a message to Laura Fine asking her to fill out the survey. If you are Laura Fine, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey?
Any candidate running for elected office, at any level, can complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Survey. Completing the survey will update the candidate's Ballotpedia profile, letting voters know who they are and what they stand for. More than 24,000 candidates have taken Ballotpedia's candidate survey since we launched it in 2015. Learn more about the survey here.
You can ask Laura Fine to fill out this survey by using the buttons below or emailing info@laurafineforcongress.org.
Campaign website
Fine's campaign website stated the following:
Lowering costs for working families
Laura passed laws to cut hidden healthcare costs, expand mental health coverage, and fight junk insurance plans because working families deserve real savings, not surprise bills.
Standing up to special interests
After taking on the insurance industry for her own family, Laura has passed some of Illinois’ toughest consumer protection laws and fought to lower prescription drug costs — putting patients ahead of profits.
Defending women's reproductive rights
Laura helped pass the Reproductive Health Act, which solidified a women's right to choose in Illinois, and fought to expand access to infertility treatments because every woman deserves control over their own body and future.
Protecting Social Security and Medicare
Laura is committed to ensuring seniors can retire with dignity and in Congress, she'll fight back against any attempt to cut the benefits seniors have earned through a lifetime of hard work.
Passing common sense gun safety laws
Laura fought for an assault weapons ban in Illinois and also closed dangerous loopholes that keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.
Preserving our environment
Laura led the charge to ban harmful products like Styrofoam and crack down on plastic waste, fighting to protect clean air, safe water, and a livable planet for generations to come.
Building Economic Security
Laura will fight for homeownership, small-business growth, strong consumer protections, and encourage responsible investment through traditional and blockchain-based assets
Fighting for Housing People Can Afford
Everyone deserves a safe, stable place to call home. Laura has fought to expand affordable housing, protect renter rights, prevent homelessness, and give Cook County new tools to build homes that working families can afford.
— Laura Fine's campaign website (December 19, 2025)
2022
Laura Fine did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2014
Fine's campaign website highlighted the following issues:[14]
Fighting for Jobs and Economic Development
- Excerpt: "Laura Fine will work to promote our region as a great place to do business and raise a family. She supports the development of renewable energy like solar and wind to help lessen our dependence on foreign oil, reduce asthma-causing air pollution and jumpstart the Illinois economy with new, green jobs."
Making Legislators Take a Pay Cut
- Excerpt: "Helping to get Illinois back on the right track requires doing the right thing. At a time of economic challenges, Laura Fine will not only make state legislators take a pay cut, she’ll make it harder for them to raise their pay in the future."
Demanding Budget Accountability
- Excerpt: "To rein in state spending and make government pay its bills, Laura Fine will work to reform the way Illinois’ budget is crafted and help cut waste and inefficiencies, forcing government to protect vital services and spend taxpayer dollars with clear benchmarks and accountability."
Preventing Unfair Property Tax Increases
- Excerpt: "Laura Fine knows that homeowners shouldn’t pay higher property taxes when home values are falling. That’s why she will work to provide relief by pushing for a new law to freeze property taxes when home values decline."
2012
Fine's campaign website listed the following issues:[15]
- Fighting for Jobs and Economic Development
- Excerpt: "Putting people back to work means creating an environment that fosters job creation for Illinois residents."
- Protecting our Children
- Excerpt: "As a mother and teacher, Fine knows we must protect our children from dangerous sexual predators."
- Demanding Budget Accountability
- Excerpt: "State budgets full of inefficient spending shortchange taxpayers and the children, seniors and vulnerable citizens who depend on state services."
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]. |
|---|
|
In 2024, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 16 to May 29.
|
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2023, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 11 to May 27.
|
2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2022, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 5 to April 9.
|
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2021, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 13 to June 1.
|
2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2020, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 8 to May 23.
|
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2019, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 9 through December 31.
|
2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2018, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 8 through May 31.
|
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
|---|
|
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.
|
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2016, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 13 through May 31.
|
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2015, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 14 through December 7 (extended session).
|
2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2014, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 29 through June 2.
|
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 9 through May 31.
|
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Fine and her husband, Michael, have two sons.[18]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Laura Fine Illinois State Legislature. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
|
Candidate U.S. House Illinois District 9 |
Officeholder Illinois State Senate District 9 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Illinois General Assembly, "Senator Laura Fine (D)," accessed November 10, 2019
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 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
- ↑ The Chicago Tribune, "Results List (Unofficial)," accessed November 5, 2014
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Candidate List," accessed December 5, 2011
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Official 2012 Primary Results," accessed May 14, 2014
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, “Official Vote - November 6, 2012 General Election,” accessed January 18, 2013
- ↑ Official campaign website, "Issues," accessed February 21, 2014
- ↑ Campaign website, Issues
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedbio
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Daniel K. Biss (D) |
Illinois State Senate District 9 2019-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Illinois House of Representatives District 17 2013-2019 |
Succeeded by Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D) |
{senelec|2018}}
