Samantha Gasca

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This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Samantha Gasca
Image of Samantha Gasca

Republican Party

Elections and appointments
Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

Graduate

Moody Bible Institute, 2021

Personal
Birthplace
Palos Heights, Ill.
Religion
Christianity
Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

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Personal Facebook

Personal YouTube

Personal LinkedIn

Samantha Gasca (Republican Party) ran for election to the Illinois State Senate to represent District 19. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Gasca completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Samantha Gasca was born in Palos Heights, Illinois. She earned a graduate degree from Illinois State University in 2012 and a seminary degree from the Moody Bible Institute in 2021. Gasca's career experience includes working as a pastoral counselor and data analyst. [1]

Elections

2024

See also: Illinois State Senate elections, 2024

General election

General election for Illinois State Senate District 19

Incumbent Michael Hastings defeated Samantha Gasca in the general election for Illinois State Senate District 19 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Michael Hastings
Michael Hastings (D)
 
56.4
 
62,942
Image of Samantha Gasca
Samantha Gasca (R) Candidate Connection
 
43.6
 
48,755

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 111,697
Candidate Connection = 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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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 19

Incumbent Michael Hastings advanced from the Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 19 on March 19, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Michael Hastings
Michael Hastings
 
100.0
 
16,571

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 16,571
Candidate Connection = 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 19

Samantha Gasca defeated Hillary Mattsey Kurzawa and Max Solomon in the Republican primary for Illinois State Senate District 19 on March 19, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Samantha Gasca
Samantha Gasca Candidate Connection
 
36.8
 
3,670
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Hillary Mattsey Kurzawa
 
34.0
 
3,391
Image of Max Solomon
Max Solomon
 
29.1
 
2,904
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
11

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2

Total votes: 9,976
Candidate Connection = 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.

Campaign finance

Endorsements

Gasca received the following endorsements.

Pledges

Gasca signed the following pledges.

  • U.S. Term Limits

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Samantha Gasca completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Gasca's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

My name is Samantha J. Gasca and I am running as the Grassroots Republican Senate Candidate for the 19th District of Illinois. I am a Data Analyst/Specialist (Christian Talk Radio) and a Pastoral Counselor (business owner), who serves those impacted by domestic violence/abuse/trauma on a daily basis. I am looking forward to representing our people with love, grace, Truth, a backbone, diligence, honor, and integrity.
  • Immigration/Safer Streets/2A
  • Parent's Choice & Better Economy/Lower Taxes
  • Mental Health/Social Concerns (Veterans/Elderly/Youth/Disabled, etc.)
I am personally passionate about loving people... the way in which this manifests is multifaceted. Beginning with a personal desire for integrity (attempting to align who I say I am with who I really am on the outside), and stemming into authenticity, transparency, and the utilization of my gifts/education (14 years in college/almost 8 years in Christian ministry) for the betterment of others.

I believe in a transparent government that tells more Truth, with government officials who are are personally transparent, despise corruption (to the extent that they are willing to expose themselves and step down as an act of honor when necessary), and does whatever they can to support and serve the people.

Here are a few more items on my list to mention:

-Lower Taxes/Fiscal Responsibility
-Parent's Rights/School Choice
-2A
-Cutting the Safety Act/No Cash Bail
-Veterans/Elderly/Disabled
-Domestic Violence/Mental Health Awareness

-The Cowboy Code of Honor
For me, the number one answer here is Jesus. The Bible outlines how I should conduct myself personally and how I should act towards others (even though many believers show a false representation of who Christ really is)... it is the basis for my moral foundation. More specifically related to people today, I tend to respect people who have done great things (especially raising a family) WHILE upholding their moral character. I respect people who are good at their craft, and have humility. I respect people who are out for the betterment of others in a tangible way. And I respect people who own up to their mistakes and try to do something different the next time.
Elected officials should be oriented towards transparency and grit, truth and justice. They must be willing to make the sacrifices necessary to do what is right at any cost. If they aren't prepared to give of their lives in "war," then they shouldn't enlist. This is part of "counting the cost."
I am a "gap" person. I tend to see holes in arguments/places where loopholes exist. This would give me the unique ability to look at bills as a researcher, in order to expose inconsistencies and unconstitutional errors/deceit, so that voters can be aware of what is going on behind the scenes. In addition, my ministry background (homeless, urban, church, and teaching/pastoral ministry, etc.) teaches me to lead from a quiet place of strength, peace, and dignity to exude compassion and love, but also possess a stern conviction of what is right and wrong.
Be an example. Do what is right. Self educate. Listen to wisdom: in the presence of many counselors, there is wisdom. Have a weighted, educated opinion after much research into credible sources. Offer thoughts/information in a way that is loving and concerned. There is much more, but I believe if my heart is right, then the abundance of everything else will flow through that medium.
One of someone who had grit, honor, integrity, and most importantly a love for Jesus in all that they did.
9/11: I remember several historical events, but to me, the memory of that day stands out most vividly. I believe I was a freshman in high school at the time. The events of that day were terrifying, heartbreaking, and unimaginable.
My very first long-term job as an adult was working at the Illinois State University pig farm. I worked there from about 18-23 years old; in fact, I ended up getting my first Master's degree in swine nutrition and behavior (before that, I had worked a few summer jobs and with my family's construction/contracting business). At the ISU farm, I mostly pressure washed pig feces. Never despise the days of small beginnings!
The Bible. Outside of that, every book has things I like about it, and things I don't- eat the meat, spit out the bones. I tend to like Self-Compassion by Dr. Kristin Neff, writings by Aldous Huxley, and Mastering the Rockefellar Habits by Verne Harnish.
Workin' Hard/A Man's Prayer by Larry Fleet, Cody Jinks - Somewhere in the Middle, or By Your Grace by Cody Johnson.
I have many struggles. One struggle I have is the heart-wrenching conviction to do what is right at all costs, which has come at the expense of relationships. Another struggle I have is making sure I am communicating all things in a godly way (which doesn't always happen, I am not pleased to say).
-Financial (Pensions, Taxes, State Debt, etc.)
-Immigration (illegal)
With corruption afoot in an amalgamation of disparate ways, I believe it is beneficial for state legislators to NOT have previous experience in government or politics. To stay elected, people do some dirty things, so maybe having some non-politicians in the mix could benefit society.
In a way, yes. It is important to have respect and a working relationship with others as to see them as human and not as the object of our distaste.
This depends heavily on what the people would want... meaning, if they think I do a decent job and want me to run for another office, then I might consider it (I am not one to volunteer for something with such a heavy responsibility and great consequences as a result of my decisions; I also I feel if someone is a person of character, others will recognize that in them and ask them to lead).
Almost every day I hear stories that are touching, memorable, and impactful. This is because it is what I have been doing for years. When I go out in public, I always say something (positive) if I feel it in my heart. This usually starts conversations with the most amazing people... a man with ALS who said he has been through domestic spousal abuse, police motorcycle clubs/police funding Christmas gifts for those in need, women who are continually being bullied by their abusive former husbands, etc. Because I myself haven't had the easiest road (domestic violence, sexual abuse, financial lack, etc.), I try to relate to hardship. I can't forget where I came from.
This depends on whether "compromise" is meant in terms of: 1) "a settlement of differences by mutual concessions; an agreement reached by adjustment of conflicting or opposing claims, principles, etc., by reciprocal modification of demands" (Dictionary.com) , or 2) sellout morally. The former, absolutely yes... the latter, absolutely not.
Organizationally, I am thrilled to be associated with the Martin Luther King Republicans and the Black Chamber of Commerce (south suburbs of Chicago).

At this time I will not be accepting personal endorsements.

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 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.

Samantha Gasca campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* Illinois State Senate District 19Lost general$11,218 $8,962
Grand total$11,218 $8,962
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

See also

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External links

Candidate

Illinois State Senate District 19
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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on January 3, 2024


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