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Regan Deering
2025 - Present
2027
0
Regan Deering (Republican Party) is a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing District 88. She assumed office on January 8, 2025. Her current term ends on January 13, 2027.
Deering is also an at-large member of the Mount Zion Community Unit School District 3 school board in Illinois.
Deering (Republican Party) ran for election to the Illinois House of Representatives to represent District 88. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Deering completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Regan Deering was born in Illinois. She earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Duke University in 1997 and a Master of Education degree from DePaul University in 2004.[1][2] Her career experience includes working as an elementary school science teacher and a franchise owner for a Huntington Learning Center location.[3][4] Deering is an heir to the Archer-Daniels-Midland company.[5]
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
2024
See also: Illinois House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Illinois House of Representatives District 88
Regan Deering won election in the general election for Illinois House of Representatives District 88 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Regan Deering (R)  | 100.0 | 46,760 |
| Total votes: 46,760 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 88
Regan Deering defeated Chuck Erickson in the Republican primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 88 on March 19, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Regan Deering | 68.6 | 7,275 |
| Chuck Erickson | 31.4 | 3,328 | ||
| Total votes: 10,603 | |||
| = 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
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Deering in this election.
Pledges
Deering signed the following pledges.
2022
See also: Illinois' 13th Congressional District election, 2022
General election
General election for U.S. House Illinois District 13
Nikki Budzinski defeated Regan Deering in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 13 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Nikki Budzinski (D) | 56.6 | 141,788 |
| Regan Deering (R) | 43.4 | 108,646 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 16 | ||
| Total votes: 250,450 | |||
| = 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 13
Nikki Budzinski defeated David Palmer in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 13 on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Nikki Budzinski | 75.6 | 31,593 |
 | David Palmer | 24.4 | 10,216 | |
| Total votes: 41,809 | |||
| = 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Ellis Taylor (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 13
Regan Deering defeated Jesse Reising, Matt Hausman, and Terry Martin in the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 13 on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Regan Deering | 34.6 | 14,885 |
 | Jesse Reising | 32.9 | 14,184 | |
 | Matt Hausman | 23.9 | 10,289 | |
 | Terry Martin | 8.6 | 3,694 | |
| Total votes: 43,052 | |||
| = 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
To view Deering's endorsements in the 2022 election, please click here.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Regan Deering completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Deering's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am a lifelong resident of the area and, along with her husband Brian, are devoted parents to three children. They are members of the Holy Family Catholic Church.
- I'm running because I fear for my three kids' futures in Illinois. Families here pay some of the highest taxes in the nation. They struggle to find quality education for their children and live in communities plagued by violence. The Democratic leadership in power is more focused on advancing their extreme liberal agenda than solving these pressing issues.
- I am an educator and school board member who prioritizes parental rights and student success. I will fight to empower families and ensure that children are provided with the education that best suits their needs.
- Illinois needs a new generation of conservative leaders who can bring common sense to Springfield while proudly standing up for our values and principles. I will advocate for our interests and deliver results locally.
Illinois needs economic progress. Opportunity and growth solve so many of the problems local families face and many of the fiscal challenges our state faces. I will be a champion for small and community businesses, which are the backbone of our economy. Many local businesses are just trying to keep their doors open and serve their customers. That is why I’ll advocate for them in Springfield and fight for a fair, low tax and regulation environment where anyone with an idea and willingness to work can pursue their dream.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2022
Regan Deering completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Deering's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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- Americans will not stand for an open border that weakens our national sovereignty. The Biden Administration has reversed several key components of securing our border, such as funding border walls, the “Remain in Mexico” policy, and eliminating funding for sanctuary cities. These reversals have led to a surge of migrants at our southern border. Our CPB agents are begging for additional resources to help them do their job. Open borders lead to illegal drugs and an increase in human trafficking. While I am pro-legal immigration, we must secure our borders and put Americans first.
- Government spending, taxation, and inflation will be my top priorities when elected to Congress. It is time we empower our workforce with opportunities and resources to provide more for our community and their families without government reliance. The current administration’s continued attack on the private sector needs to end not only for the workforce but the supply chain as well. Small business owners are the backbone of this economy, and they are being told every day by the government how to run their businesses. Government should get out of the way of the American people to allow for the entrepreneurial spirit that we know exists in every American to shine through. While in Congress, I will work every day to make sure small businesses
- The increase in crime in our communities is unacceptable. There seems to be an effort to make lawless criminals the victims and downplay the key role of our law enforcement officers. Americans need to stand alongside our brave men and women in uniform. Radical legislation, such as no cash bail policies, directly corresponds to an increase in the crime rate, especially among repeat offenders. We must begin operating under the general agreement that actions have consequences.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign website
Deering's campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
2nd Amendment I sleep better at night knowing my kids are protected by my handgun, which is why I’m a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment. I believe we should focus on proper gun safety and education instead of stripping citizens of their constitutional rights, such as in the case of “red-flag” laws. Likewise, I will stand strong as a proponent of both open and concealed carry laws.
Government spending, taxation, and inflation will be my top priorities when elected to Congress. It is time we empower our workforce with opportunities and resources to provide more for our community and their families without government reliance. The current administration’s continued attack on the private sector needs to end not only for the workforce but the supply chain as well. Small business owners are the backbone of this economy, and they are being told every day by the government how to run their businesses. Government should get out of the way of the American people to allow for the entrepreneurial spirit that we know exists in every American to shine through. While in Congress, I will work every day to make sure small businesses can keep more of their hard-earned money and are allowed to grow and innovate. It’s past time we elevate non-traditional secondary pathways. Our communities are creating incredible opportunities for students to learn a trade and contribute to our economy. I’ve seen “signing days” for workforce students just like student-athletes that spotlight the next phase of life for our high school graduates. Trades are rebuilding our country and we need to focus on the next generation of skilled workers.
Our country consistently falls outside of the top 20 in the global ranking for education. Despite the human right to a free education here in the U.S., we are failing our public-school students. Our reading and math scores are unacceptable given the per-pupil dollars allocated. We must focus on equal access to early education, parental choice, and teacher training and retention. In both the classroom as an educator and as an owner of a tutoring franchise, I saw the impact of smaller class sizes, an engaging curriculum, and high-quality teachers. Our community’s success is dependent on the preparation of our children to be productive members of society and that starts with a quality education. I will work tirelessly in Congress to ensure every child receives the best education possible.
I am forever grateful to have been adopted at birth by a loving and supportive family – a factor that has shaped my perspective on the pro-life stance. My birth mother made the most difficult decision and chose to give me the opportunity to live my life to the fullest. I believe that every life is essential. With the exception of risk to a mother’s life or trauma/assault, Illinois needs to stop being a gateway for easy access and on-demand abortions. I absolutely support the reinstatement of the Hyde Amendment (named for Illinois’ Rep. Henry Hyde) at the federal level, barring the use of tax-payer dollars to pay for abortions. Federal funds should be allocated to women’s health clinics across the country and perhaps be considered to support families facing increasing costs for the adoption of a child.
Every voter in Illinois deserves to have their vote counted securely. We need all citizens engaged in the voting process with a focus on their confidence in the accuracy and integrity of their vote. While I agree absentee voting is an important outlet for citizens with valid excuses for missing in-person voting, I do not support universal mail-in ballots. Like most Americans, I support the policy of requiring a valid ID to vote in elections. The ultimate goal is to make it easier to vote and harder to cheat.
Border security is community security. Americans will not stand for an open border that weakens our national sovereignty. The Biden Administration has reversed several key components of securing our border, such as funding border walls, the “Remain in Mexico” policy and eliminating funding for sanctuary cities. These reversals have led to a surge in daily encounters with migrants at our southern border. Our CPB agents are literally begging for additional resources to help them do their job. I will work against Biden’s plans of open borders because I know that leads to illegal drugs pouring into our country and an increase in human trafficking. While I am pro-legal immigration, we must secure our borders and put Americans first.
The increase in crime in our communities is unacceptable. There seems to be an effort to make lawless criminals the victims and downplay the key role of our law enforcement officers. Now, more than ever, Americans need to stand alongside our brave men and women in uniform. Their front-line defense keeps us all safe. Radical legislation, such as no cash bail policies directly corresponds to an increase in the crime rate, especially among repeat offenders. We must begin operating under the general agreement that actions have consequences; a mindset I will reinforce in Congress.
Farming is the backbone of our district and our country. I will always celebrate the American farmer, their work ethic, and the quality products they bring into our homes. However, it’s hard for the American farmer to celebrate these days, as they’re facing more challenges than ever. From trade and market access, rising input costs, and supply chain issues, to concerns over rural broadband and aging transportation infrastructure, today’s farmers need an advocate in Washington who will address their concerns and work to make their jobs easier.
The men and women of our armed forces deserve the utmost respect. Their service and sacrifice have allowed us to live free in the United States of America and it is our responsibility to support them and their families. Heartbreaking stories of suicide, drug addiction, and PTSD are becoming too common, and we must find ways to better care for our soldiers and prioritize their access to quality healthcare. Upon returning home, it is our duty to support their re-entry into society and capitalize on their leadership skills to be used in civilian employment. Additionally, we must continue to find solutions to securing housing for our homeless veterans while connecting them with supportive services.[6] |
” |
| —Regan Deering's campaign website (2022)[7] | ||
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.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Illinois House of Representatives District 88 |
Officeholder Illinois House of Representatives District 88 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on June 3, 2022
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on January 11, 2024
- ↑ Illinois General Assembly, "Representative Regan Deering (R)," accessed February 12, 2025
- ↑ Regan Deering, State Representative District 88, "About," accessed July 7, 2025
- ↑ The State Journal-Register, "Where Regan Deering, 13th congressional district candidate, stands on rising prices, voting, border," October 4, 2022
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Regan Deering for Congress, “Issues,” accessed August 10, 2022
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Dan Caulkins (R) |
Illinois House of Representatives District 88 2025-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Mount Zion Community Unit School District 3, At-large -Present |
Succeeded by - |
