2018 Illinois House of Representatives election


The 2018 elections for the Illinois House of Representatives took place on Tuesday, November 6, 2018, to elect representatives from all 118 districts. The winners of this election served in the 101st General Assembly, with seats apportioned among the states based on the 2010 United States census. The Democratic Party had held a House majority since 1997. The inauguration of the 101st General Assembly occurred on Wednesday, January 9, 2019. The Democrats flipped eight seats, while Republicans flipped one seat, resulting in a net gain of seven seats for the Democratic caucus.
The elections for Illinois's 18 congressional districts, governor and lieutenant governor, statewide constitutional officers, and the Illinois Senate were also held on this date.

Results

Retirements

The Illinois House of Representatives saw 28 representatives choose to either retire or not run before the 2018 election.

Democratic retirements

  • 4th district: Cynthia Soto: Soto ran for a seat on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.
  • 5th district: Juliana Stratton: Stratton became J. B. Pritzker's running mate in the 2018 gubernatorial election.
  • 17th district: Laura Fine: On July 28, 2017, Fine announced her intention to run for the senate seat being vacated by Daniel Biss.
  • 21st district: Silvana Tabares: On June 15, 2018, Tabares was appointed as the 23rd Ward alderman of Chicago after Mike Zalewski retired from the position on May 31, 2018.
  • 25th district: Barbara Flynn Currie: Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie, the longest tenured female legislator in Illinois history, announced she would retire.
  • 34th district: Elgie Sims: After State Senator Donne Trotter announced his retirement, Sims was appointed to his seat and sworn in on January 26, 2018.
  • 38th district: Al Riley: On September 26, 2017, Riley announced he would not seek reelection to a seventh term.
  • 57th district: Elaine Nekritz announced she was planning to resign. Her official resignation became effective on October 2, 2017.
  • 58th district: Scott Drury: Drury attempted to run for governor of Illinois, but opted to run for Illinois Attorney General after the retirement of Lisa Madigan.
  • 59th district: Carol Sente: Sente announced she would not run for reelection on September 12, 2017.
  • 67th district: Litesa Wallace: Wallace became Daniel Biss's running mate in the 2018 gubernatorial election.
  • 85th district: Emily McAsey: McAsey resigned from her seat on June 2, 2017, to, according to the Daily Southtown, "join her husband who accepted a job out of state."
  • 111th district: Dan Beiser: On August 30, 2017, Beiser announced his retirement from the Illinois House of Representatives. Beiser chose to resign in December 2017, and was succeeded by Monica Bristow.
  • 118th district: Brandon Phelps: Phelps resigned in September 2017. Natalie Phelps Finnie was appointed to succeed him.

    Republican retirements

  • 42nd district: Jeanne Ives: In October 2017, Jeanne Ives announced her intention to run for the Republican nomination for Illinois Governor in 2018, adding that she had stopped distributing petitions for state representative.
  • 47th district: Patti Bellock: On August 1, 2017, Deputy Republican Leader Bellock announced her intention to retire at the end of her term.
  • 49th district: Mike Fortner: Fortner announced on August 7, 2017, that he would not seek reelection.
  • 51st district: Nick Sauer: On August 1, 2018, Politico reported on Sauer allegedly using his ex-girlfriend's nude photos to catfish for seeking online relationships with men. Sauer resigned at 5 pm on the same day.
  • 53rd district: David Harris: On October 4, 2017, Harris announced his retirement from the Illinois House, citing frustration from the Illinois Budget Impasse. Harris was one of the Republicans who crossed party lines to vote to end the impasse, which included an income tax increase.
  • 64th district: Barbara Wheeler: Wheeler did not run for reelection in 2018.
  • 65th district: Steven Andersson: On August 16, 2017, Andersson announced he would not seek reelection to the Illinois House of Representatives in 2018 during an appearance on Chicago Tonight. Andersson was one of the Republicans who voted to end the Illinois budget impasse which included an income tax increase.
  • 70th district: Bob Pritchard: The 72 year old legislator announced he would retire at the end of the 100th General Assembly. Pritchard was one of the Republicans who voted to end the Illinois budget impasse which included an income tax increase.
  • 89th district: Brian W. Stewart: Stewart vacated his seat to run for the senate seat being vacated by Tim Bivins.
  • 99th district: Sara Wojcicki Jimenez: Wojcicki Jimenez announced she would not seek reelection in 2018.
  • 101st district: Bill Mitchell: The Assistant Republican Leader announced he would not run for another term in the Illinois House on August 3, 2017.
  • 104th district: Chad Hays: On July 7, 2017, Hays announced his retirement from the Illinois House, citing the budget impasse.
  • 107th district: John Cavaletto: On September 18, 2017, Cavaletto announced he would not seek reelection.
  • 110th district: Reggie Phillips: On September 22, 2017, Phillips announced he would not run for a third term.

    Predictions

District index

Districts 1–25

District 1

The 1st district, located in the Chicago area, includes parts of Forest View, as well as all or parts of the Chicago neighborhoods of Archer Heights, Brighton Park, Chicago Lawn, Garfield Ridge, New City, and West Elsdon. The district had been represented by Democrat Daniel J. Burke since January 9, 2013, previously serving the 23rd district from January 9, 1991, to January 9, 2013. Burke faced primary challenger Aaron Ortiz, a teacher and college counselor at Back of the Yards High School. After defeating Burke in the primary, Ortiz faced no Republican challenger.

District 2

The 2nd district includes all or parts of the Chicago neighborhoods of Armour Square, Bridgeport, Brighton Park, Lower West Side, McKinley Park, Near South Side, Near West Side, and New City. The district had been represented by Democrat Theresa Mah since January 11, 2017. Mah faced neither a Democratic challenger in the primary election nor a Republican challenger in the general election.

District 3

The 3rd district, located in the Chicago area, includes parts of Elmwood Park, as well as all or parts of the Chicago neighborhoods of Austin, Belmont Cragin, Dunning, Hermosa, Logan Square, Montclare, and Portage Park. The district had been represented by Democrat Luis Arroyo since his appointment in December 2006. He was an Assistant Majority Leader of the Illinois House of Representatives during the 100th General Assembly. Arroyo faced neither a Democratic challenger in his primary nor a Republican challenger in the general election.

District 4

The 4th district includes parts of the Chicago neighborhoods of Hermosa, Humboldt Park, Logan Square, and West Town. The district had been represented by Democrat Cynthia Soto since January 10, 2001. Soto ran for commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, and did not run for re-election for her seat. The Democratic primary for the 4th district seat featured four candidates.
  • Iris J. Millán, community affairs liaison for Wilbur Wright College, former community development manager of St. Joseph Services, and former director of community affairs for the 1st Ward Office for the City of Chicago
  • Alyx S. Pattison, campaign staffer and congressional aide to Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky; former local school council member and tutor of Jose de Diego Community Academy, Wicker Park; and former commissioner of the Cook County Commission on Women's Issues
  • Delia C. Ramirez, former campaign chair for Irizarry for 26th Ward Alderman, former deputy director of the Community Renewal Society, and former executive director of the Center for Changing Lives
  • Anne Shaw, community activist and civil rights attorney After winning the primary election, Ramirez faced no Republican challenger in the general election.

    District 5

The 5th district includes parts of the Chicago neighborhoods of Armour Square, Avalon Park, Douglas, Englewood, Fuller Park, Grand Boulevard, Greater Grand Crossing, Loop, Near North Side, Near South Side, South Shore, Washington Park, and Woodlawn. The district had been represented by Democrat Juliana Stratton since January 11, 2017. Stratton later became Governor J. B. Pritzker's running mate for lieutenant governor, leaving her seat open. The Democratic primary for the 5th district seat featured four candidates.
  • Felicia Bullock, first-time candidate and procurement buyer
  • Ken Dunkin, former representative of the 5th district, losing his primary race in 2016 to former representative Juliana Stratton
  • Lamont Robinson, small business owner, director of the Kappa Leadership Institute based out of Kenwood High School, and member of the 51st Street Business Association
  • Dilara Sayeed, first-time candidate and volunteer for several campaigns and candidates over 15 years, educator, and tech entrepreneur
After winning the primary election, Lamont Robinson faced no Republican challenger in the general election. Through his election and swearing-in, hemade history by becoming the first openly LGBTQ person of color to serve in the Illinois General Assembly.

District 6

The 6th district includes parts of the Chicago neighborhoods of Armour Square, Bridgeport, Chicago Lawn, Douglas, Englewood, Fuller Park, Grand Boulevard, Greater Grand Crossing, Loop, Near North Side, Near South Side, Near West Side, New City, and West Englewood. The district had been represented by Democrat Sonya Harper since her appointment in October 2015. Harper faced neither a Democratic challenger in her primary nor a Republican challenger in the general election.