Melinda Bush
Melinda Bush (Democratic Party) was a member of the Illinois State Senate, representing District 31. She assumed office in 2013. She left office on December 31, 2022.
Bush (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Illinois State Senate to represent District 31. She won in the general election on November 3, 2020.
Bush resigned from the state Senate on December 31, 2022.[1]
Biography
Melinda Bush was born March 18, 1956. She was a member of the Lake County Board, the Forest Preserve Board, and a trustee for the village of Grayslake. Bush was first elected in 2013 to represent the 31st District.[2]
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.
2021-2022
Bush was assigned to the following committees:
- Education Committee
- Environment and Conservation Committee, Chair
- Labor Committee
- Revenue Committee
- Transportation Committee, Vice-Chair
2019-2020
Bush was assigned to the following committees:
- Appropriations II Committee
- Committee of the Whole
- Education Committee
- Environment and Conservation Committee, Chair
- Revenue Committee
- Transportation Committee
- Government Accountability and Pensions Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Illinois committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Committee of the Whole |
| • Education |
| • Environment and Conservation, Vice chair |
| • Government Reform, Chair |
| • Human Services |
| • Licensed Activities and Pensions |
| • Local Government |
| • Revenue |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Bush served on the following committees:
| Illinois committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Commerce and Economic Development, Vice chair |
| • Education |
| • Environment and Conservation |
| • Human Services |
| • Revenue |
| • State Government & Veterans Affairs |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Bush served on the following committees:
| Illinois committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Appropriations II |
| • Committee of the Whole |
| • Environment |
| • Higher Education |
| • Revenue |
| • 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
On December 15, 2021, Bush announced that she would not seek re-election in the Illinois State Senate.[3]
2020
See also: Illinois State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Illinois State Senate District 31
Incumbent Melinda Bush defeated Christopher Kasperski in the general election for Illinois State Senate District 31 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Melinda Bush (D) | 58.5 | 58,274 |
 | Christopher Kasperski (R)  | 41.5 | 41,373 | |
| Total votes: 99,647 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 31
Incumbent Melinda Bush advanced from the Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 31 on March 17, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Melinda Bush | 100.0 | 20,121 |
| Total votes: 20,121 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Illinois State Senate District 31
Christopher Kasperski advanced from the Republican primary for Illinois State Senate District 31 on March 17, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Christopher Kasperski | 100.0 | 7,219 |
| Total votes: 7,219 | |||
| = 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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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]
Incumbent Melinda Bush defeated Michael Amrozowicz in the Illinois State Senate District 31 general election.[5][6]
| Illinois State Senate, District 31 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Melinda Bush Incumbent |
54.06% | 48,303 | |
| Republican | Michael Amrozowicz | 45.94% | 41,044 | |
| Total Votes | 89,347 | |||
| Source: Illinois State Board of Elections | ||||
Incumbent Melinda Bush ran unopposed in the Illinois State Senate District 31 Democratic primary.[7][8]
| Illinois State Senate, District 31 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Melinda Bush Incumbent (unopposed) | |
Michael Amrozowicz ran unopposed in the Illinois State Senate District 31 Republican primary.[9][10]
| Illinois State Senate, District 31 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Michael Amrozowicz (unopposed) | |
2012
- See also: Illinois State Senate elections, 2012
Bush won election in the 2012 election for Illinois State Senate District 31. Bush was unopposed in the Democratic primary on March 20, 2012, and defeated Republican Joe Neal in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[11][12][13]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Melinda Bush |
51.4% | 42,542 | |
| Republican | Joe Neal | 48.6% | 40,281 | |
| Total Votes | 82,823 | |||
Endorsements
Bush's website listed the following endorsements:[14]
- The Daily Herald
- Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon
- Senate President John J. Cullerton
- Senate Majority Whip Terry Link
- Senator Susan Garrett
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Melinda Bush did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2016
Bush's campaign website highlighted the following issues:
| “ |
Creating Jobs and Restoring our Economy With a passion fueled by experience as a former small business owner and founder of Grayslake’s merchants’ association, Melinda works across the aisle every day to support Lake County job creators. She led the passage of I-STEP, one of the largest jobs bills in Illinois history. Setting an Ethical Standard Senator Melinda Bush turned down a state pension, never took a raise in government, and is fighting to put term limits on party leaders. She’s implemented historic ethics reform, and called out special interests. Demanding Fiscal Responsibility Senator Melinda Bush voted against each party’s unbalanced budgets. She’s fought against property tax rate increases and has written historic legislation to consolidate government. Standing up for Lake County Citizens Senator Melinda Bush led efforts to help victims of rape, sexual harassment and domestic violence, and championed "Lali’s Law" to combat the opioid addiction crisis. She’s hosted local job fairs, helping hundreds find jobs.[15] |
” |
| —Melinda Bush[16] | ||
2012
Bush's campaign website listed the following issues:[17]
- Fiscal Responsibility
- Excerpt: "Springfield needs proven leaders we can trust to fund programs that help Lake County and cut programs that do not work. Leaders we can trust to pay our bills on time, and end the culture of procrastination we have created by borrowing money from the pension fund and spending it."
- Jobs and the Economy
- Excerpt: "Melinda comes from a background of modest means, and at a young age learned the importance of having a good job with a competitive wage. As a small-business owner, she also learned the challenges of providing those jobs."
- Ethics Reform
- Excerpt: "Faced with cronyism and corruption at the Lake County and Forest Preserve Boards, Melinda was the first commissioner to stand up and cry foul. ...Melinda will take that same sense of right and wrong with her to Springfield, where she will work to end pension double- and triple-dipping, pay-for-play politics and political cronyism."
- Education
- Excerpt: "...Melinda knows first-hand how important exceptional teachers and an animated school environment are to a child’s education. She believes that we need to invest in the development of quality educators and school systems that are accountable to the needs of teachers, students and parents. Whether in the public or private school systems, students deserve an opportunity to succeed."
- The Environment
- Excerpt: "Melinda has always believed that the environment and the economy are not mutually exclusive. She believes it is necessary to invest in green jobs and bring new technologies to Lake County."
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 Illinois scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2022
In 2022, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 5 to April 9.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Legislators are scored on votes on bills affecting real estate and private property.
- Legislators are scored on their stances on policies related to reproductive health issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to manufacturing issues.
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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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
As of this writing, Bush and her husband, Andy, had one child.[20]
See also
2020 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Illinois State Senate District 31 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Gurnee woman may cast weapons-ban vote during dayslong state Senate term; ‘This seems to be a unique situation’," January 3, 2023
- ↑ "Illinois General Assembly", "Senator Melinda Bush," accessed March 9, 2020
- ↑ Politico, "The humanity of the Chicago City Council," accessed December 23, 2021
- ↑ 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 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 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 December 31, 2012
- ↑ Melinda Bush, "Endorsements," accessed October 20, 2012
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Melinda for 31, "Issues," accessed September 26, 2016
- ↑ Melinda Bush, "Issues," accessed October 20, 2012
- ↑ 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
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| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Illinois State Senate District 31 2013-2022 |
Succeeded by Terry Hall (D) |
| Preceded by - |
Lake County Board Member |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
President Grayslake School District |
Succeeded by - |
