Dave Syverson

Dave Syverson

Republican Party

Candidate, Illinois State Senate District 35

Illinois State Senate District 35

Tenure

1993 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

33

Compensation

Base salary

$93,712/year

Per diem

$178/day

Elections and appointments

Last election

March 17, 2026

Contact

Official website

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Official Instagram

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Instagram

Personal website

Personal Facebook

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Dave Syverson (Republican Party) is a member of the Illinois State Senate, representing District 35. He assumed office in 1993. His current term ends on January 13, 2027.

Syverson (Republican Party) is running for re-election to the Illinois State Senate to represent District 35. He is on the ballot in the Republican primary on March 17, 2026.^[source]

Biography

Dave Syverson was born June 29, 1957, and graduated from Guilford High School before earning a degree from Rock Valley College. He has been a member of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the Rockford Area Economic Council, and the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness. Syverson was first elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 1993 to represent the 35th District.

Committee assignments

2025-2026

Syverson was assigned to the following committees:

• Appropriations - Health and Human Services
• Senate Health and Human Services Committee
• Human Rights Committee
• Senate Insurance Committee
• Senate Licensed Activities Committee
• Public Health Committee
• Senate Special Committee on Tourism

2023-2024

Syverson was assigned to the following committees:

• Behavioral and Mental Health
• Senate Executive Committee
• Behavioral and Mental Health, Minority Spokesperson
• Public Health Committee, Minority Spokesperson
• Senate Insurance Committee, Minority Spokesperson
• Senate Special Committee on Tourism

2021-2022

Syverson was assigned to the following committees:

• Behavioral and Mental Health
• Senate Executive Committee
• Public Health Committee, Minority Spokesperson
• Senate Health and Human Services Committee
• Senate Insurance Committee, Minority Spokesperson
• Senate Special Committee on Tourism

2019-2020

Syverson was assigned to the following committees:

• Committee of the Whole
• Environment and Conservation Committee
• Senate Executive Committee
• Senate Health and Human Services Committee
• Senate Insurance Committee
• Public Health Committee

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Syverson served on the following committees:

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Syverson served on the following committees:

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Syverson served on these committees:

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Syverson served on these committees:

Issues

Gaming license

On December 1, 2010, the Illinois Senate voted 31-20 in favor of a plan that allows for five additional casinos and electronic gaming at horse track facilities, increasing the number of licenses for casinos in the state to 15.

Under the plan, new casinos would operate in Chicago, southern Cook County, Danville, Rockford and Waukegan.

"Is it a huge expansion? Yes, I'm not going to deny it. But we have a huge deficit in the state of Illinois, we have got huge problems in the state of Illinois, so you don't look at little things to fix it, you look at big things to fix it," said the bill's sponsor, Sen. Terry Link, D-Waukegan.

Lawmakers like William Haine would prefer another way to increase revenue.

"It's not the best thing we could do. It's not good, but it's the only thing available for new * Revenue Committee, Illinois State Senate," said Sen. Haine, D-Alton.

Syverson said a casino in his backyard could keep Illinois gamers from going up to Wisconsin to play the slots.

"Now we have an opportunity to bring those Wisconsin dollars to Illinois," Swerson said. "So it's good for Illinois in two ways. One it's creating new jobs and new * Revenue Committee, Illinois State Senate, but it's also bringing out-of-state money here."

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 primary occurred on March 17, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

Democratic primary

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 35

Sarah Mertens (D) ran in the Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 35 on March 17, 2026.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Sarah Mertens

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	There are no incumbents in this race.
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Republican primary

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

Republican primary for Illinois State Senate District 35

Incumbent Dave Syverson (R) ran in the Republican primary for Illinois State Senate District 35 on March 17, 2026.

		Candidate
		Dave Syverson

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
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Endorsements

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2022

See also: Illinois State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for Illinois State Senate District 35

Incumbent Dave Syverson won election in the general election for Illinois State Senate District 35 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Dave Syverson (R)	100.0	65,233

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 65,233
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Illinois State Senate District 35

Incumbent Dave Syverson defeated Eli Nicolosi in the Republican primary for Illinois State Senate District 35 on June 28, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Dave Syverson	75.2	15,856
		Eli Nicolosi	24.8	5,231

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 21,087
= candidate completed 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 35

Incumbent Dave Syverson won election in the general election for Illinois State Senate District 35 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Dave Syverson (R)	100.0	62,422

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 62,422
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Illinois State Senate District 35

Incumbent Dave Syverson advanced from the Republican primary for Illinois State Senate District 35 on March 20, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Dave Syverson	100.0	16,612

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 16,612
= 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.

Incumbent Dave Syverson ran unopposed in the Illinois State Senate District 35 general election.

Illinois State Senate, District 35 General Election, 2016
Party		Candidate
	Republican	Dave Syverson Incumbent (unopposed)
Source: Illinois State Board of Elections

Incumbent Dave Syverson ran unopposed in the Illinois State Senate District 35 Republican primary.

Illinois State Senate, District 35 Republican Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate
	Republican	Dave Syverson Incumbent (unopposed)

2012

See also: Illinois State Senate elections, 2012

Syverson, current District 34 incumbent, won re-election to the Senate in District 35 in the 2012. Syverson defeated incumbent Christine Johnson (R) in the Republican primary on March 20, 2012, and was unopposed in the general election on November 6, 2012.

Illinois State Senate, District 35, General Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Dave Syverson Incumbent	100%	72,411
Total Votes				72,411

Illinois State Senate, District 35 Republican Primary, 2012

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Dave Syverson Incumbent	57.6%	14,368
Christine J. Johnson Incumbent	42.4%	10,592
Total Votes		24,960

Syverson was targeted for defeat in the primary by Family-Pac.

2010

See also: Illinois State Senate elections, 2010

Syverson won re-election to the 34th District Seat in the Illinois State Senate against Democrat Marla Wilson.

Illinois State Senate, District 34 (2010)
Candidates		Votes	Percent
Dave Syverson (R)		28,145	52.56%
Marla Wilson (D)		25,407	47.44%

The election took place on November 2, 2010. Syverson ran unopposed in the Republican primary election on February 2nd.

2006

On November 7, 2006, Republican Dave Syverson won re-election to the Illinois State Senate District 34 receiving 29,131 votes, ahead of Democrat Daniel Lewandowski (23,120 votes).

Illinois State Senate, District 34 (2006)
Candidates		Votes
Dave Syverson (R)		29,131
Daniel Lewandowski (D)		23,120

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Dave Syverson has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. Send a message to Dave Syverson asking him to fill out the survey. If you are Dave Syverson, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

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You can ask Dave Syverson to fill out this survey by using the button below or emailing lori@syversonforsenate.com.

2022

Dave Syverson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2012

Syverson's website highlighted the following campaign themes:

• Creating Jobs

Excerpt: "Dave Syverson has the knowledge it takes to create jobs and revive our economy. For more than 20 years he has worked in the private sector creating jobs in the Northern Illinois region."

• Supporting Veterans

Excerpt: "We owe our Nation’s Veterans a debt of gratitude for protecting the freedoms we enjoy every day."

• Cutting Taxes

Excerpt: "Illinois does not have a revenue problem; it has a spending problem."

• Improving Education

Excerpt: "Illinois must have a world-class education system if we expect our children and our companies to be competitive in this global economy."

• Reducing Government

Excerpt: "We must cut state government to free up resources for productive investment."

Campaign finance summary

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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.

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Dave Syverson campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2022	Illinois State Senate District 35	Won general	$936,874	$691,213
2018	Illinois State Senate District 35	Won general	$307,831	N/A**
2016	Illinois State Senate, District 35	Won	$437,041	N/A**
2012	Illinois State Senate, District 35	Won	$524,961	N/A**
2010	Illinois State Senate, District 34	Won	$738,807	N/A**
2006	Illinois State Senate, District 34	Won	$994,848	N/A**
2002	Illinois State Senate, District 34	Won	$337,351	N/A**
1998	Illinois State Senate, District 34	Won	$319,250	N/A**
1996	Illinois State Senate, District 34	Won	$538,071	N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards, State legislative scorecards in Illinois

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.

• 2025
• 2024
• 2023
• 2022
• 2021
• 2020
• 2019
• 2018
• 2017
• 2016
• 2015
• 2014
• 2013
• 2012

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.

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.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Illinois General Assembly in 2016.

• 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.
• 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 2015.

• Illinois Environmental Council — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
• 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 2014.

• Illinois Environmental Council — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental 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 2013.

• Illinois Environmental Council — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
• National Association of Social Workers Illinois Chapter — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to the social work profession.
• 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 2012.

• Illinois Environmental Council — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
• Illinois Opportunity Project — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
• The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
• URF Action — Legislators are scored on their stances on conservative issues.

See also

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Illinois State Senate District 35

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by -	Illinois State Senate District 35 1993-Present	Succeeded by -

[show]

Current members of the Illinois State Senate

Leadership

Senate President:Don Harmon

Majority Leader:Kimberly Lightford

Minority Leader:John Curran

Senators

District 1

Javier Cervantes (D)

District 2

Omar Aquino (D)

District 3

Mattie Hunter (D)

District 4

Kimberly Lightford (D)

District 5

Lakesia Collins (D)

District 6

Sara Feigenholtz (D)

District 7

Mike Simmons (D)

District 8

Ram Villivalam (D)

District 9

Laura Fine (D)

District 10

Robert Martwick (D)

District 11

Mike Porfirio (D)

District 12

Celina Villanueva (D)

District 13

Robert Peters (D)

District 14

Emil Jones (D)

District 15

Napoleon Harris (D)

District 16

Willie Preston (D)

District 17

Elgie Sims (D)

District 18

Bill Cunningham (D)

District 19

Michael Hastings (D)

District 20

Graciela Guzman (D)

District 21

Laura Ellman (D)

District 22

Cristina Castro (D)

District 23

Suzanne Glowiak Hilton (D)

District 24

Seth Lewis (R)

District 25

Karina Villa (D)

District 26

Darby Hills (R)

District 27

Mark Walker (D)

District 28

Laura Murphy (D)

District 29

Julie Morrison (D)

District 30

Adriane Johnson (D)

District 31

Mary Edly-Allen (D)

District 32

Craig Wilcox (R)

District 33

Don DeWitte (R)

District 34

Steve Stadelman (D)

District 35

Dave Syverson (R)

District 36

Michael Halpin (D)

District 37

Li Arellano (R)

District 38

Sue Rezin (R)

District 39

Don Harmon (D)

District 40

Patrick Joyce (D)

District 41

John Curran (R)

District 42

Linda Holmes (D)

District 43

Rachel Ventura (D)

District 44

Sally Turner (R)

District 45

Andrew Chesney (R)

District 46

David Koehler (D)

District 47

Neil Anderson (R)

District 48

Doris Turner (D)

District 49

Meg Loughran Cappel (D)

District 50

Jil Tracy (R)

District 51

Chapin Rose (R)

District 52

Paul Faraci (D)

District 53

Chris Balkema (R)

District 54

Steve McClure (R)

District 55

Jason Plummer (R)

District 56

Erica Harriss (R)

District 57

Christopher Belt (D)

District 58

Terri Bryant (R)

District 59

Dale Fowler (R)

Democratic Party (40)

Republican Party (19)