Illinois Senate elections, 2012

← 2010 November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) 2014 →
All 59 seats in the Illinois State Senate 30 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader John Cullerton Christine Radogno Party Democratic Republican Leader's seat 6th-Chicago 41st-La Grange Last election 35 24 Seats won 40 19 Seat change 5 5 Popular vote 2,528,684 2,017,014 Percentage 55.63% 44.37% Swing 1.16% 1.16%
Results by gains and holds Results by winning party vote share Results:      Democratic gain      Republican gain      Democratic hold      Republican hold Vote Share:      50–60%      60–70%      >90%      50–60%      60–70%      >90%
President before election John Cullerton Democratic President-Elect John Cullerton Democratic

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v t e

The Illinois State Senate Election of 2012 was held on November 6, 2012. Elections were held in all 59 senate seats because the election followed a redistricting of the state's legislative districts.

List of candidates

District 1

March 30 Democratic primary candidates:

• Adolfo Mondragon
• Antonio Munoz Incumbent Munoz was first elected to the Senate in 1998.

Note: Edgar Diaz was running but was removed from the ballot on January 4, 2012.^[1]

March 30 Republican primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 2

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• William Delgado Incumbent Delgado was first elected to the Senate in 1996.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 3

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Mattie Hunter Incumbent Hunter was first elected to the Senate in 2002.

Note: Larry D. Craddieth was running but withdrew from the race on December 28.^[2]

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 4

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Kimberly Lightford Incumbent Lightford was first elected to the Senate in 1998.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 5

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Patricia Van Pelt Watkins
• Annazette Collins Incumbent Collins was first elected to the Senate in 2011.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

November 6 general election candidates:

• Patricia Van Pelt Watkins won her primary against Annazette Collins

District 6

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• John Cullerton Incumbent Cullerton was first elected to the Senate in 1990.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 7

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Heather Steans Incumbent Steans was first elected to the Senate in 2008.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 8

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Ira Silverstein Incumbent Silverstein was first elected to the Senate in 1998.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 9

Note: Incumbent Jeffrey Schoenberg (D) is not running for re-election.

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Daniel Biss Biss is the current District 17 incumbent in the House.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Marc Levine

November 6 general election candidates:

District 10

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• John G. Mulroe Incumbent Mulroe was first elected to the Senate in 2010.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 11

Note: Incumbent Steve Landek (D) is not running for re-election in District 11. Instead he is running in District 12.

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Martin Sandoval Incumbent Sandoval, of District 12, was first elected to the Senate in 2002.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 12

Note: Incumbent Martin Sandoval (D) is not running for re-election in District 12. Instead he is running in District 11.

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Steven Landek Incumbent Landek, of District 11, was first appointed to the Senate in 2011.

• Raul Montes, Jr.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 13

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Kwame Raoul Incumbent Raoul was first appointed to the Senate in 2004.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 14

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Emil Jones III Incumbent Jones was first elected to the Senate in 2008.

Note Richard J. Lewandowski filed to run but withdrew from the race January 9, 2012.^[3]

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 15

Note: Incumbent James Meeks (D) is not running for re-election.

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Patricia Mahon
• Joseph Letke, Jr.
• Donna Miller
• Napoleon Harris

Note: Marquise D. Alston filed to run but was removed from the ballot on January 12, 2012.^[4]

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 16

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Jacqueline Collins Incumbent Collins was first elected to the Senate in 2003.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 17

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Donne Trotter Incumbent Trotter was first elected to the Senate in 1993.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 18

Note: Incumbent Edward Maloney (D) is not running for re-election.

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Bill Cunningham Cunningham is currently the District 35 incumbent in the State House.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Barbara Ruth Bellar
• Ricardo Fernandez

November 6 general election candidates:

District 19

Note: Incumbent Maggie Crotty initially filed to run but announced on December 29, 2011 that she would be withdrawing.^[5]

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Michael Hastings
• Gregory Hannon

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 20

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Iris Martinez Incumbent Martinez was first elected to the Senate in 2003.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 21

Note: Incumbent Ron Sandack (R) is not running for re-election.

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Michael Connelly Connelly is currently the District 48 incumbent in the State House.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 22

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Michael Noland Incumbent Noland was first elected to the Senate in 2007.
• Tim Elenz

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 23

Democratic primary candidates:

• Kevin Allen
• Greg Brownfield
• Tom Cullerton, Village President of Villa Park

Republican primary candidates:

• Carole Pankau, State Senator first elected to the Senate in 2005.
• Randy Ramey, State Rep in District 55

November 6 general election candidates:

District 24

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• A. Ghani

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Kirk Dillard Incumbent Dillard was first elected to the Senate in 1993.
• Chris Nybo Nybo is currently the District 41 incumbent in the State House.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 25

Note: Incumbent Chris Lauzen (R) is not running for re-election.

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Corinne Pierog
• Steven L. Hunter

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Jim Oberweis
• Dave Richmond
• Richard Slocum

November 6 general election candidates:

District 26

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Amanda Howland

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Dan Duffy Incumbent Duffy was first elected to the Senate in 2009.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 27

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Matt Murphy Incumbent Murphy was first elected to the Senate in 2007.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 28

Note: Incumbent John Millner (R) is not running for re-election.

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Daniel Kotowski Kotowski is currently the District 33 incumbent in the State Senate.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Jim O'Donnell
• Gayle Smolinski

November 6 general election candidates:

District 29

Note: Incumbent Susan Garrett (D) is not running for re-election.

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Julie Morrison
• Milton J. Sumption

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Arie Friedman

November 6 general election candidates:

District 30

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Terry Link Incumbent Link was first elected to the Senate in 1997.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Don Castella

Note: Gregory S. Jacobs was removed from the ballot on January 9, 2012.^[6]

November 6 general election candidates:

District 31

Note: Incumbent Suzi Schmidt (R) is not running for re-election.

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Melinda Bush

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Linwood "Lennie" Jarratt
• Lawrence Leafblad
• Michael White
• Joe Neal

November 6 general election candidates:

District 32

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Pamela Althoff Incumbent Althoff was first elected to the Senate in 2003.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 33

Note: Incumbent Dan Kotowski (D) is not running for re-election in District 33. Instead he is running in District 28.

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Karen McConnaughay
• Cliff Surges

Note: Craig M. Powers was running but withdrew from the race on December 23.^[7]

November 6 general election candidates:

District 34

Note: Incumbent Dave Syverson (R) is not running for re-election in District 34. Instead he is running in District 35.

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Dan Lewandowski
• Steve Stadelman
• Glenn Patterson
• Marla Wilson

Note: Jim Hughes withdrew from the race on December 12.^[8]

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Frank Gambino

November 6 general election candidates:

District 35

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Dave Syverson Incumbent Syverson, of District 34, was first elected to the Senate in 1993.
• Christine J. Johnson Incumbent Johnson was first elected to the Senate in 2011.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 36

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Mike Jacobs Incumbent Jacobs was first elected to the Senate in 2005.
• Mike Boland, former Illinois State Rep from 1971-2011

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Bill Albracht

November 6 general election candidates:

District 37

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Darin LaHood Incumbent LaHood was first elected to the Senate in 2011.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 38

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Christine Benson
• Tom Ganiere
• Kevin Kunkel

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Sue Rezin Incumbent Rezin was first elected to the Senate in 2010.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 39

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Don Harmon Incumbent Harmon was first elected to the Senate in 2003.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 40

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Toi Hutchinson Incumbent Hutchinson was first elected to the Senate in 2009.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 41

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Christine Radogno Incumbent Radogno was first elected to the Senate in 1997.

Note: Duane Bradley was removed from the ballot on January 9, 2012 for having insufficient signatures.^[9]

November 6 general election candidates:

District 42

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Linda Holmes Incumbent Holmes was first elected to the Senate in 2007.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Peter Hurtado

November 6 general election candidates:

District 43

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Arthur Wilhelmi Incumbent Wilhelmi was first elected to the Senate in 2005.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Sandy Johnson

November 6 general election candidates:

District 44

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Bill Brady Incumbent LaHood was first elected to the Senate in 2002.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 45

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Tim Bivins Incumbent Bivins was first elected to the Senate in 2009.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 46

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Dave Koehler Incumbent Koehler was first elected to the Senate in 2006.
• James Polk
• Marvin Bainter

Note: G. Allen Mayer withdrew from the race on December 2, 2011.^[10]

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Pat Sullivan

November 6 general election candidates:

District 47

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• John Sullivan Incumbent Sullivan was first elected to the Senate in 2003.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Randy Frese

November 6 general election candidates:

District 48

Note: Incumbent Tom Johnson (R) is not running for re-election.

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Andy Manar

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Mike McElroy

November 6 general election candidates:

District 49

Note: Incumbent William "Sam" McCann (R) is not running for re-election in District 49. Instead he is running in District 50.

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Gary Fitzgerald
• Anthony Giles
• Garrett Peck
• Brian Smith

November 6 general election candidates:

District 50

Note: Incumbent Larry Bomke (R) is not running for re-election.

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Steven Dove
• William McCann Incumbent McCann was first elected to the Senate in 2011.
• Gray Noll

November 6 general election candidates:

District 51

Note: Incumbent Kyle McCarter (R) is not running for re-election in District 51. Instead he is running in District 54.

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Tom Pliura
• Chapin Rose Rose is currently the District 110 incumbent in the State House.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 52

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Mike Frerichs Incumbent Frerichs was first elected to the Senate in 2006.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

Note: Alan Nudo withdrew from the race on January 21, 2012.^[11]

November 6 general election candidates:

District 53

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Jason Barickman Barickman is currently the District 105 incumbent in the State House.
• Shane Cultra Incumbent Cultra was first elected to the Senate in 2011.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 54

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Danny L. Stover

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Kyle McCarter Incumbent McCarter was first elected to the Senate in 2009.

Note: John O. Jones withdrew from the race on January 4, 2012.^[12] Incumbent Jones was first elected to the Senate in 2003.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 55

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Dale A. Righter Incumbent Righter was first elected to the Senate in 2003.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 56

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• William Haine Incumbent Haine was first elected to the Senate in 2002.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Mike Babcock

November 6 general election candidates:

District 57

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• James Clayborne Jr. Incumbent Clayborne was first elected to the Senate in 1995.
• Wyatt Frazer

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Dave Barnes

November 6 general election candidates:

District 58

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• No candidates have filed.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• David Luechtefeld Incumbent Luechtefeld was first elected to the Senate in 1995.

November 6 general election candidates:

District 59

March 20 Democratic primary candidates:

• Fred Kondritz
• Gary Forby Incumbent Forby was first elected to the Senate in 2003.

March 20 GOP primary candidates:

• Mark Minor
• Ken Burzynski

November 6 general election candidates: