Natalie Phelps Finnie
Natalie Phelps Finnie is the Illinois Director of Natural Resources. She assumed office on March 22, 2024. Her current term ends on January 11, 2027.
Finnie (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Illinois House of Representatives to represent District 118. She lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) appointed her as director on January 23, 2023 and was confirmed by the Illinois State Senate on March 22, 2024. [1]
Biography
Natalie Phelps Finnie was born in and lives in Illinois. Finnie earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Southern Indiana and a master’s degree in nursing-family nurse practitioner from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Her career experience includes serving as deputy director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and as a nurse practitioner at the Gallatin County Wellness Center.[2]
Elections
2018
General election
General election for Illinois House of Representatives District 118
Patrick Windhorst defeated incumbent Natalie Phelps Finnie in the general election for Illinois House of Representatives District 118 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Patrick Windhorst (R) | 56.5 | 21,956 |
 | Natalie Phelps Finnie (D) | 43.5 | 16,933 | |
| Total votes: 38,889 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 118
Incumbent Natalie Phelps Finnie advanced from the Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 118 on March 20, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Natalie Phelps Finnie | 100.0 | 6,005 |
| Total votes: 6,005 | |||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 118
Patrick Windhorst defeated Wes Sherrod and Samuel Stratemeyer in the Republican primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 118 on March 20, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Patrick Windhorst | 53.8 | 5,872 |
| Wes Sherrod | 26.4 | 2,882 | ||
| Samuel Stratemeyer | 19.8 | 2,163 | ||
| Total votes: 10,917 | |||
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State legislative tenure
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.
- 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.
- 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 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 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.
- 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.
- 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 2018.
- 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.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Illinois General Assembly in 2017.
- Citizen Action Illinois — Legislators are scored on votes on bills that show dedication to social and economic justice and protecting Illinois’ consumers.
- 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
| Illinois | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
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Candidate Illinois House of Representatives District 118 |
Footnotes
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Natalie Phelps Finnie |
Illinois Director of Natural Resources 2024-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by Colleen Callahan |
Illinois Director of Natural Resources 2023-2024 |
Succeeded by Natalie Phelps Finnie |
| Preceded by - |
Illinois House of Representatives District 118 2017-2019 |
Succeeded by Patrick Windhorst (R) |
