Illinois State Senate elections, 2020
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2022→ ←2018 | |
| 2020 Illinois Senate Elections | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General | November 3, 2020 |
| Primary | March 17, 2020 |
| Past Election Results |
| 2018・2016・2014 2012・2010・2008 |
| 2020 Elections | |
|---|---|
| Choose a chamber below: | |
Elections for the office ofIllinois State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for March 17, 2020. The filing deadline was December 2, 2019.
Democrats gained seats in 2020, expanding their existingsupermajority. Twenty of the chamber's 59 seats were up for regular election in 2020. Heading into the election, Democrats had a 40-19 majority in the state Senate overall. Democrats controlled a 16-4 majority of the seats up in 2020. Democrats gained a netone seat in the 2020 elections, expanding their supermajority to 41-18.
TheIllinois State Senate was one of 86 state legislative chambers with elections in2020. A total of 20 of 59 Illinois Senate seats were up for election in 2020. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In2018, 87 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections.
Special elections were called for District 6 and District 11 of the Illinois State Senate.Click here for more on the special elections.
Illinois' 2020 state legislative elections affected partisan control ofredistricting following the 2020 census. In Illinois, the state legislature is responsible for drafting both congressional and state legislative district plans. District plans are subject to gubernatorial veto.
Election procedure changes in 2020
Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of thecoronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.
Illinois modified its absentee/mail-in voting and candidate filing procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:
- Absentee/mail-in voting: Mail-in ballot applications were sent to all registered voters in the general election who cast ballots in the 2018 general election, the 2019 consolidated election, or the 2020 primary election.
- Candidate filing procedures: The following changes were made to the filing procedures for unaffiliated and new-party candidates: petition signature requirements were reduced to 10 percent of their original numbers; candidates were authorized to collect petition signatures electronically; and the filing deadline was extended to July 20, 2020.
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak,click here.
Party control
| Illinois State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2020 | After November 4, 2020 | |
| Democratic Party | 40 | 41 | |
| Republican Party | 19 | 18 | |
| Total | 59 | 59 | |
Candidates
General election candidates
Illinois State Senate General Election 2020 | |||
| |||
| Office |  Democratic |  Republican | Other |
| District 1 |
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| District 4 | |||
| District 7 |
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| District 10 |
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| District 13 |
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| District 16 | |||
| District 19 |
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| District 22 |
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| District 25 | |||
| District 28 |
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| District 31 |
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| District 34 |
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| District 37 | Marcus Throneburg (Independent) (Write-in) Did not make the ballot: | ||
| District 40 |
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| District 43 | |||
| District 46 |
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| District 49 | |||
| District 52 |
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| District 55 | |||
| District 58 | |||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate ConnectionPrimary candidates
The candidate list below is based on candidate filing lists provided by the Illinois State Board of Elections. (I) denotes an incumbent.[1]
Illinois State Senate Primary 2020 | |||
| |||
| Office | Democratic | Republican | Other |
| District 1 | The Republican primary was canceled. | ||
| District 4 | The Republican primary was canceled. | ||
| District 7 |
| The Republican primary was canceled. | |
| District 10 | |||
| District 13 | Did not make the ballot: | The Republican primary was canceled. | |
| District 16 | The Republican primary was canceled. | ||
| District 19 |
| August Deuser (Write-in) | |
| District 22 | The Republican primary was canceled. | ||
| District 25 | |||
| District 28 |
| Pete Dombrowski (Write-in) | |
| District 31 |
| ||
| District 34 |
| The Republican primary was canceled. | |
| District 37 | The Democratic primary was canceled. | Did not make the ballot: | |
| District 40 |
Did not make the ballot: | ||
| District 43 | |||
| District 46 |
| ||
| District 49 | |||
| District 52 |
| The Republican primary was canceled. | |
| District 55 | The Democratic primary was canceled. | ||
| District 58 | The Democratic primary was canceled. | ||
Incumbents who were not re-elected
Incumbents defeated in the general election
No incumbents lost in the Nov. 3 general election.
Incumbents defeated in primary elections
No incumbents lost in the March 17 primaries.
Retiring incumbents
There were sixopen seats where the incumbent legislator did not file for re-election in 2020.[2] Those incumbents were:
The 6 seats left open in 2020 were similar to recent elections. The table below shows the number of open seats in each election held between 2010 and 2020.
| Open Seats in Illinois State Senate elections: 2010 - 2020 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total seats | Open seats | Seats with incumbents running for re-election |
| 2020 | 20 | 6 (30 percent) | 14 (70 percent) |
| 2018 | 39 | 6 (15 percent) | 33 (85 percent) |
| 2016 | 40 | 5 (13 percent) | 35 (87 percent) |
| 2014 | 19 | 1 (5 percent) | 18 (95 percent) |
| 2012 | 59 | 12 (20 percent) | 47 (80 percent) |
| 2010 | 21 | 1 (5 percent) | 20 (95 percent) |
Process to become a candidate
See statutes:Chapter 10, Section 5, Article 7 of the Illinois Statutes
InIllinois, a candidate may run with an established political party, with a new party, as an independent candidate, or as a write-in candidate. Candidate qualification processes are detailed below.[3]
Political party candidates and independent candidates
Established political party candidates, new party candidates, and independent candidates must file nomination papers with theIllinois State Board of Elections in order to qualify for placement on the ballot. These nomination papers must be filed during the designated filing period. The filing period for established party candidates begins 127 days before the primary election and ends 120 days before the primary election. New party and independent candidates have a separate filing period. Their filing period begins 141 days before the general election and ends 134 days before the general election.[4][3]
Nomination papers include the following:[3]
- The statement of candidacy must indicate the candidate's address, the office being sought, and the candidate's political party designation (if applicable). This form also includes a statement affirming that the candidate is qualified for the office being sought. This form must be signed by the candidate and notarized.[5]
- The original statement of economic interests must be filed with theIllinois Secretary of State, which will then issue the receipt of the statement of economic interests for the candidate to file with theIllinois State Board of Elections. This form is not required from candidates seeking federal office. It is suggested that this form be filed at the same time as all other nomination papers, but it may be filed after the other papers as long as it is filed within the candidate filing period.[3]
- The loyalty oath form is optional. If a candidate chooses to sign it, he or she must affirm that he or she is not affiliated directly or indirectly with any organization that seeks to overthrow the government of the United States or the state ofIllinois.[3]
- A petition containing the signatures of qualified electors. A candidate can begin circulating petitions 90 days before the last day of the filing period. Signature requirements for petitions vary according to the candidate's political party affiliation and the office being sought. Signature requirements are detailed in the table below.[3][6][3]
| Petition signature requirements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Office | Established party candidates | New party candidates | Independent candidates[7] |
| Statewide office (e.g., governor and lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, comptroller, treasurer) | 5,000 (no more than 10,000) primary voters belonging to the candidate's party | 1% of the number of voters who voted in the most recent general election or 25,000, whichever is less | 1% of the number of voters who voted in the most recent general election or 25,000, whichever is less |
| United States Representative | 0.5% of primary voters in the district belonging to the candidate's party | 5% of the total number of district voters who voted in the last general election | 5% of the total number of district voters who voted in the last general election |
| State senator | 1,000 (no more than 3,000) district voters belonging to the candidate's party | 5% of the total number of district voters who voted in the last general election | 5% of the total number of district voters who voted in the last general election |
| State representative | 500 (no more than 1,500) district voters belonging to the candidate's party | 5% of the total number of district voters who voted in the last general election | 5% of the total number of district voters who voted in the last general election |
Any objections to nomination papers must be filed no later than five business days after the filing deadline.[3]
Write-in candidates
Write-in votes will not be counted unless the candidate files a declaration of intent no later than 61 days before the election in which he or she is running. This form must indicate the office being sought by the candidate.[3][8]
2020 ballot access requirements
The table below details filing requirements for Illinois State Senate candidates in the 2020 election cycle.
| Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber name | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
| Illinois State Senate | Qualified party | 1,000 | N/A | 12/2/2019 | Source |
| Illinois State Senate | Unaffiliated | 10% of original requirement (by court order) | N/A | 7/20/2020 | Source |
Qualifications
Article IV of theIllinois Constitution states: To be eligible to serve as a member of the General Assembly, a person must be a United States citizen, at least 21 years old, and for the two years preceding his election or appointment a resident of the district which he is to represent.
Salaries and per diem
| State legislative salaries, 2025[9] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $93,712/year | $178/day |
When sworn in
Illinois legislators assume office the second Wednesday in January.[10]
Illinois political history
Trifectas
Astate government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government.
Illinois Party Control: 1992-2026
20 years of Democratic trifectas • Two years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
Presidential politics in Illinois
2016 Presidential election results
| U.S. presidential election, Illinois, 2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Electoral votes | |
| Democratic |  Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine | 55.8% | 3,090,729 | 20 | |
| Republican | Donald Trump/Mike Pence | 38.8% | 2,146,015 | 0 | |
| Libertarian | Gary Johnson/Bill Weld | 3.8% | 209,596 | 0 | |
| Green | Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka | 1.4% | 76,802 | 0 | |
| - | Write-in votes | 0.2% | 13,282 | 0 | |
| Total Votes | 5,536,424 | 20 | |||
| Election results via:Illinois State Board of Elections | |||||
Voter information
How the primary works
Aprimary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. In Illinois, state law provides for aclosed primary where a voter must be affiliated with a party to vote in that party's primary. However, voters state their affiliation at the polls and any voter may change their affiliation on the day of the primary. A voter's eligibility to vote a party's ballot may be challenged.[11]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, seethis article.
Poll times
InIllinois, all polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Central Time.[12] Anyone in line when the polls close must be allowed to vote.[13]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration statushere.
To register to vote in Illinois, a person must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of an Illinois precinct for at least 30 days prior to election day, and at least 18 years old by Election Day. A 17-year-old may vote in a primary if he or she will be 18 years old at the subsequent general election. Preregistration is available starting at age 16.[14][15]
Regular registration closes during the period beginning 27 days prior to an election. Online registration closes 16 days prior to an election. Grace period registration is available in person through Election Day at certain locations.[14]
Prospective voters can register online, by mail, or at any of the following locations:[16]
| “ |
| ” |
Two forms of identification are required to register in person, one of which must display the voter's current address. Eligible forms of ID include but are not limited to driver's license, bank statement, residence contract or lease, utility bill, or state identification card number.[14]
Automatic registration
- See also:Automatic voter registration
Illinoisautomatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles and other designated automatic voter registration agencies.[18]
Online registration
- See also:Online voter registration
Illinois has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visitingthis website.
Same-day registration
- See also:Same-day voter registration
Illinois allowssame-day voter registration.[19]
Residency requirements
Illinois law requires individuals to reside "in this State and in theelection district 30 days next preceding any election" to be eligible to vote.[20]
Verification of citizenship
Illinois does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.[21]
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[22] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
TheRegistration Lookup page, run by the Illinois Board of Elections, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Voter ID requirements
Illinois does not require voters to present identification while voting, in most cases.Pursuant to theHelp America Vote Act, first-time voters who registered by mail and did not submit their driver’s license number, state ID number, last four digits of their social security number, or other form of ID are required to present identification showing their name and address before voting.
The following list of accepted ID was current as of December 2025.[14]Click here for the Illinois State Board of Elections voting information page to ensure you have the most current information.
| “ | At least one form of ID showing your current address is needed. These may include but are not limited to:
| ” |
Early voting
Illinois permits early voting. Learn more by visitingthis website.
Early voting allows citizens to cast their ballots in person at a polling place before an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting. Alabama, Mississippi, and New Hampshire do not offer no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
All voters are eligible to vote absentee/by-mail in Illinois. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting by mail.[23][24]
To vote by mail, a ballot application must be received by the election office between 90 and five days prior to the election, if sent by mail. An application submitted in-person must be received no later than the day before the election. A returned absentee/mail-in ballot must then be postmarked no later than midnight the night before the election and received no later than 14 days after the election.[23][24]
Voters can sign up for a permanent vote-by-mail list and automatically receive vote-by-mail ballots for subsequent elections.[25][24]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑Illinois State Board of Elections, "Candidate Filing Search: General Primary - 3/17/2020" accessed December 3, 2019
- ↑Ballotpedia defines an incumbent as retiring if the incumbent did not file for office or filed for office but withdrew, was disqualified, or otherwise left a race in a manner other than losing the primary, primary runoff, or convention. If an incumbent runs as a write-in candidate, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring. If an incumbent runs in the same chamber for a different seat, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring.
- ↑3.03.13.23.33.43.53.63.73.8Illinois State Board of Elections, "State of Illinois Candidate's Guide 2025," accessed February 26, 2025
- ↑Illinois Statutes, "Chapter 10, Section 5, Article 10, Section 12," accessed February 26, 2025
- ↑Illinois Statutes, "Chapter 10, Section 5, Article 7, Section 10.1," accessed February 26, 2025
- ↑Illinois Statutes, "Chapter 10, Section 5, Article 7, Section 10," accessed February 26, 2025
- ↑Illinois Statutes, "Chapter 10, Section 5, Article 10, Section 3," accessed February 26, 2025
- ↑Illinois Statutes, "Chapter 10, Section 5, Article 7, Section 59," accessed February 26, 2025
- ↑National Conference of State Legislatures, "2025 Legislator Compensation," December 2, 2025
- ↑Illinois Constitution, "Article 4, Section 5a," accessed November 1, 2021
- ↑Illinois General Assembly, "Ill. Rev. Stat. ch. 10, § 5/7–44," accessed December 4, 2025
- ↑Illinois State Board of Elections, "Election Day Information," accessed December 4, 2025
- ↑Sandamon County Clerk, "Sangamon County Polling Places," accessed December 4, 2025
- ↑14.014.114.214.3Illinois State Board of Elections, "Registering to Vote in Illinois," accessed December 4, 2025
- ↑Illinois General Assembly, "Ill. Rev. Stat. ch. 10, § 5/3-6," accessed December 4, 2025
- ↑Illinois State Board of Elections, "Frequently Asked Questions," accessed December 4, 2025
- ↑17.017.1Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑WBEZ, "Illinois Governor Signs Automatic Voter Registration Law," August 28, 2017
- ↑DuPage County, "Register to Vote," accessed December 4, 2025
- ↑Illinois General Assembly, "Ill. Rev. Stat. ch. 10, § , 5/3-1," accessed December 4, 2025
- ↑Illinois Secretary of State, "Illinois Voter Registration Application," accessed December 4, 2025
- ↑Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship.According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑23.023.1Illinois General Assembly, "Ill. Rev. Stat. ch. 10, § 5/19-1," accessed December 4, 2025
- ↑24.024.124.2Illinois State Board of Elections, "2026 Illinois Voter Guide For Voting By Mail," accessed December 4, 2025
- ↑Illinois General Assembly, "Bill Status of SB0825," accessed December 4, 2025
