Illinois's 13th Senate district
American legislative district
Illinois’ 13th Senate district is one of 59 districts in the Illinois Senate . The seat stretches along the southern shoreline of Lake Michigan , from Chicago ’s Magnificent Mile to the Indiana border. The seat is home to several Chicago landmarks, including Navy Pier , Millennium Park , Grant Park , the Field Museum of Natural History , the Shedd Aquarium , Soldier Field , the Museum of Science and Industry , and the University of Chicago . Neighborhoods located within its boundaries include Streeterville and the South Side communities of Kenwood , Hyde Park , and South Chicago .
The 13th district is home to 119,000 Black residents, who comprise a majority of the seat’s 217,000 total inhabitants. In recent years, this has made the seat a launching pad for several Black elected officials in Illinois. Notable examples include former President Barack Obama , who springboarded from this seat to the U.S. Senate in 2004 , and state Attorney General Kwame Raoul , who represented the district from 2004 to 2019.
Democrats have held this seat with ease for more than six decades. In 2020, Joe Biden (who spent eight years as Obama’s vice president ) carried it by an 89%-10% margin over Donald Trump .
Legislative district history
Prior to the ratification of the 1848 Illinois Constitution, counties (or two or more counties) were designated a certain number of Senators and Representatives. With the ratification of the 1848 Illinois Constitution, Legislative and Representative districts were numbered and called by name. Each district was still assigned a certain number of Senators and Representatives. After the passage of the 1872 Apportionment, only Legislative districts were drawn with Representatives elected
cumulatively . The 1954 amendment to the 1870 Illinois Constitution established Representative districts as separate from Legislative districts (with representatives still elected cumulatively). The boundaries of Representative and Legislative districts would differ.
[ 1] After the
United States Supreme Court ruled in
Reynolds v. Sims (1964) that "both houses of state legislatures must be apportioned according to districts of equal population," new districts were redrawn for the
Illinois Senate and
Illinois House of Representatives . While the Legislative districts were redrawn, the
Governor and
General Assembly failed to agree on Representative district boundaries. Under the 1954 amendment, "a 10-man bipartisan commission appointed by the governor from recommendations made by both parties" were directed to redraw boundaries but failed to do so in 1963. Because of this failure, and with no district boundaries redrawn, all Representative districts were temporarily merged into one at-large district with 177 representatives (the total number of representatives at the time). The 1964 Illinois House election had several candidates running for all 177 seats throughout the state.
[ 2] In 1965, the Representative districts were redrawn by the Illinois Legislative Reapportionment Commission and elections held in 1966 were done with separate districts.
[ 3] With the 1971 Apportionment (and adoption of the 1970 Illinois Constitution), Representative districts were abolished and representatives were once again elected cumulatively per Legislative district.
[ 4] After the passage of the
Cutback Amendment in 1980, the number of Representatives was reduced from 177 to 118 with Representative districts re-established and now electing a single representative.
Prominent legislators
Senators
Representatives
List of senators
1849 – 1871
Senator[ 5]
Party
Years[ a]
General Assembly (GA)
Electoral History
Counties Represented
Franklin Witt
Democratic [ 6] [ 7] [ 8] [ 9]
January 1, 1849 – ???
16th
Elected in 1848 Left the 17th General Assembly at an unknown time.
Calhoun Greene Jersey Macoupin
17th
John M. Palmer
??? – January 1, 1855
Served in the 17th GA Redistricted to the 14th Legislative district and re-elected in 1854.
18th
Hugh L. Sutphin
January 1, 1855 – January 3, 1859
19th 20th
Elected in 1854 Was not re-elected in 1858.
Calhoun Pike Scott
Chauncey L. Higbee
January 3, 1859 – January 5, 1863
21st 22nd
Elected in 1858 Was not re-elected in 1862.
Bryant T. Schofield
January 5, 1863 – January 7, 1867
23rd 24th
Elected in 1862 Was not re-elected in 1866.
Adams Hancock
Samuel R. Chittenden
January 7, 1867 – January 4, 1871
25th 26th
Elected in 1866 Was not re-elected in 1870.
Apportionment of 1870 gave the district two senators to elect cumulatively.
1871 – 1873
Senator[ 5]
Party
Party Control
Years[ a]
General Assembly (GA)
Electoral History
Counties Represented
Apportionment of 1870 gave the district two senators to elect cumulatively.
James H. Richardson
Democratic
2 Democrats
January 4, 1871 – January 8, 1873
27th
Elected in 1870 Was not re-elected in 1872.
Adams Hancock
Jesse C. Williams
Apportionment of 1872 now gives the district one senator and three representatives to elect.
1873–present
Senator[ 5]
Party
Years[ a] [ b]
General Assembly (GA)
Electoral History
Counties Represented
Apportionment of 1872 now gives the district one senator and three representatives to elect.
Miles B. Castle
Republican
January 8, 1873 – January 8, 1879
28th 29th 30th
Elected in 1872 Re-elected in 1874 Was not re-elected in 1878.
DeKalb Grundy Kendall
John R. Marshall
January 8, 1879 – January 3, 1883
31st 32nd
Elected in 1878 Was not re-elected in 1882.
Millard B. Hereley
Democratic
January 3, 1883 – January 5, 1887
33rd 34th
Elected in 1882 Was not re-elected in 1886.
Cook
Michael F. Garrity
Republican
January 5, 1887 – January 7, 1891
35th 36th
Elected in 1886 Lost re-election in 1890.
John F. O'Malley
Democratic
January 7, 1891 – January 2, 1895
37th 38th
Elected in 1890 Was not re-elected in 1894.
Joseph P. Mahoney
January 2, 1895 – January 7, 1903
39th 40th 41st 42nd
Redistricted from the 5th Legislative district and re-elected in 1894 Re-elected in 1898 Was not re-elected in 1902.
Albert C. Clark
Republican
January 7, 1903 – January 6, 1915
43rd 44th 45th 46th 47th 48th
Elected in 1902 Re-elected in 1906 Re-elected in 1910 Retired.
John A. Swanson
January 6, 1915 – 1917
49th
Elected in 1914 Resigned to become a judge in 1917.
50th
Vacant
1917 – April 1917
Albert C. Clark
Republican
April 1917 – January 5, 1927
50th 51st 52nd 53rd 54th
Elected back in 1917 special election Re-elected in 1918 Re-elected in 1922 Retired.
Harry W. Starr
January 5, 1927 – January 7, 1931
55th 56th
Elected in 1926 Lost re-election in 1930.
Francis J. Loughran
Democratic
January 7, 1931 – January 6, 1943
57th 58th 59th 60th 61st 62nd
Elected in 1930 Re-elected in 1934 Re-elected in 1938 Lost re-election in 1942.
Walker Butler
Republican
January 6, 1943 – 1953/1954
63rd 64th 65th 66th 67th 68th
Elected in 1942 Re-elected in 1946 Re-elected in 1950 Resigned after being elected a judge of the Superior Court of Cook County in 1953.
Vacant
1953/1954 – January 5, 1955
68th
Daniel Dougherty
Democratic
January 5, 1955 – January 4, 1967
69th 70th 71st 72nd 73rd 74th
Elected in 1954 Re-elected in 1958 Re-elected in 1962 Re-districted to the 30th Legislative district and re-elected in 1966.
James P. Loukas
January 4, 1967 – January 13, 1971
75th 76th
Elected in 1966 Retired.
Ben E. Palmer
January 13, 1971 – January 10, 1973
77th
Elected in 1970 Redistricted to the 12th Legislative district and re-elected in 1972.
Dawn Clark Netsch
January 10, 1973 – January 12, 1983
78th 79th 80th 81st 82nd
Elected in 1972 Re-elected in 1974 Re-elected in 1978 Redistricted to the 4th Legislative district and re-elected in 1982.
Richard H. Newhouse Jr.
January 12, 1983 – May 29, 1991
83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th
Redistricted from the 24th Legislative district and re-elected in 1982 Re-elected in 1984 Re-elected in 1988 Resigned in 1991.[ 10]
Vacant
May 29, 1991 – June 6, 1991
87th
Alice Palmer
Democratic
June 6, 1991 – January 8, 1997
87th 88th 89th
Appointed in 1991 Elected in 1992 Failed to qualify for nomination and lost renomination in 1996.
Barack Obama
January 8, 1997 – November 4, 2004
90th 91st 92nd 93rd
Elected in 1996 Re-elected in 1998 Re-elected in 2002 Elected U.S. Senator from Illinois and resigned his state senate seat in 2004.
Vacant
November 4, 2004 – November 6, 2004
93rd
Kwame Raoul
Democratic
November 6, 2004 – January 5, 2019
93rd 94th 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th
Appointed in 2004 Elected in 2006 Re-elected in 2010 Re-elected in 2012 Re-elected in 2016 Elected Illinois Attorney General in 2018.
Vacant
January 5, 2019 – January 6, 2019
100th
Robert Peters
Democratic
January 6, 2019 – present
100th 101st
Appointed in 2019 Elected in 2020
Senator election results
2020 – 2012
2010 – 2002
2000 – 1992
1990 – 1982
1980 – 1972
1970 – 1962
1960 – 1952
1950 – 1942
1940 – 1932
1930 – 1922
1920 – 1912
1910 – 1902
1900 – 1892
1890 – 1882
1880 – 1872
Historical list of representatives
1873 – 1957
Representative[ 5]
Party
Party Control
Years[ a] [ b]
General Assembly (GA)
Electoral History
Counties Represented
Apportionment of 1872 now gives the district one senator and three representatives to elect.
Perry A. Armstrong
Democratic
2 Republicans 1 Democrat
January 8, 1873 – January 6, 1875
28th
Elected in 1872 Was not re-elected in 1874.
DeKalb Grundy Kendall
George M. Hollenback
Republican
Lyman Beecher Ray
D. B. Bailey
2 Independents 1 Republican
January 6, 1875 – January 3, 1877
29th
Elected in 1874 Was not re-elected in 1876.
Philip Collins
Independent
Joshua McGrath
William M. Byers
Republican
2 Republicans 1 Democrat
January 3, 1877 – January 5, 1881
30th 31st
Elected in 1876 Re-elected in 1878 Was not re-elected in 1880.
Amos D. Clover
Democratic
January 3, 1877 – January 8, 1879
30th
Elected in 1876 Was not re-elected in 1878.
Peter S. Lott
Republican
Robert M. Brigham
2 Republicans 1 Greenback
January 8, 1879 – January 5, 1881
31st
Elected in 1878 Was not re-elected in 1880.
Alonzo B. Smith
Greenback
John C. Clark
Democratic
2 Republicans 1 Democrat
January 5, 1881 – January 3, 1883[ f]
32nd
Served during the 32nd GA Was not re-elected in 1882.
Hiram Loucks
Republican
Henry Wood
Served during the 32nd GA Redistricted to the 17th Legislative district and re-elected in 1882.
Benton F. Kleeman
Unknown
Unknown
Served during the 32nd GA Was not re-elected in 1882.
John F. Dugan
Democratic
2 Democrats 1 Republican
January 3, 1883 – January 7, 1885
33rd
Elected in 1882 Was not re-elected in 1884.
Cook
Gregory A. Klupp
Elected in 1882 Lost re-election.
Peter Sundelius
Republican
January 3, 1883 – January 5, 1887
33rd 34th
Elected in 1882 Re-elected in 1884 Was not re-elected in 1886.
Barney Brachtendorf
Democratic
January 7, 1885 – January 5, 1887
34th
Elected in 1884 Lost re-election.
Thomas F. Mulheran
Elected in 1884 Was not re-elected in 1886.
Victor Carlowski
Socialist
1 Democrat 1 Republican 1 Socialist
January 5, 1887 – January 9, 1889
35th
Elected in 1886 Was not re-elected in 1888.
J. J. Furlong
Democratic
Frank E. Schoenwald
Republican
Stanley H. Kunz
Democratic
2 Democrats 1 Republican
January 9, 1889 – January 7, 1891
36th
Elected in 1888 Was not re-elected in 1890.
William H. Lyman
January 9, 1889 – January 4, 1893
36th 37th
Elected in 1888 Re-elected in 1890
Peter Sundelius
Republican
January 9, 1889 – January 7, 1891
36th
Elected back in 1888 Was not re-elected in 1890.
Samuel E. Erickson
January 7, 1891 – January 4, 1893
37th
Elected in 1890
John A. Kwasigroch
Democratic
Samuel E. Erickson
Republican
January 4, 1893 – January 9, 1895
38th
Re-elected in 1892 Was not re-elected in 1894.
John A. Kwasigroch
Democratic
William H. Lyman
Re-elected in 1892 Redistricted to the 23rd Legislative district and re-elected in 1894.
James P. Cavanagh
Republican
January 9, 1895 – January 7, 1903
39th 40th 41st 42nd
Elected in 1894 Re-elected in 1896 Re-elected in 1898 Re-elected in 1900 Redistricted to the 15th Legislative district and re-elected in 1902.
Edward J. Novak
Democratic
January 9, 1895 – January 4, 1899
39th 40th
Redistricted from the 5th Legislative district and re-elected in 1894 Re-elected in 1896 Was not re-elected in 1898.
Simon Shaffer
January 9, 1895 – January 6, 1897
39th
Elected in 1894 Lost re-election in 1896.
William Carmody
January 6, 1897 – January 7, 1903
40th 41st 42nd
Elected in 1896 Re-elected in 1898 Re-elected in 1900 Was not re-elected in 1902.
John Churan
January 4, 1899 – January 9, 1901
41st
Elected in 1898 Was not re-elected in 1900.
Cyril R. Jandus
January 9, 1901 – January 7, 1903
42nd
Elected in 1900 Elected state Senator from the 15th Legislative district in 1902.
Henry V. Meeteren
2 Republicans 1 Democrat
January 7, 1903 – January 4, 1905
43rd
Elected in 1902 Was not re-elected in 1904.
Benton F. Kleeman
Republican
January 7, 1903 – January 9, 1907
43rd 44th
Elected in 1902 Re-elected in 1904 Was not re-elected in 1906.
James Herbert Wilkerson
January 7, 1903 – January 4, 1905
43rd
Elected in 1902 Was not re-elected in 1904.
William T. Monroe
January 4, 1905 – January 9, 1907
44th
Elected in 1904 Was not re-elected in 1906.
John J. Poulton
Democratic
January 4, 1905 – January 4, 1911
44th 45th 46th
Elected in 1904 Re-elected in 1906 Re-elected in 1908 Was not re-elected in 1910.
Edward C. Fitch
Republican
January 9, 1907 – January 6, 1909
45th
Elected in 1906 Was not re-elected in 1908.
Cornelius J. Ton
January 9, 1907 – January 4, 1911
45th 46th
Elected in 1906 Re-elected in 1908 Was not re-elected in 1910.
Benton F. Kleeman
January 6, 1909 – January 6, 1915
46th 47th 48th
Elected back in 1908 Re-elected in 1910 Re-elected in 1912 Was not re-elected in 1914.
John A. Swanson
January 4, 1911 – January 8, 1913
47th
Elected in 1910 Lost re-election in 1912.
Timothy Dunne
Democratic
Elmer Jacob Schnackenberg
Progressive
1 Progressive 1 Republican 1 Socialist
January 8, 1913 – January 6, 1915
48th
Elected in 1912 Was not re-elected in 1914.
Seymour Stedman
Socialist
James W. Ryan
Democratic
2 Republicans 1 Democrat
January 6, 1915 – January 3, 1923
49th 50th 51st 52nd
Elected in 1914 Re-elected in 1916 Re-elected in 1918 Re-elected in 1920 Was not re-elected in 1922.
Gotthard A. Dahlberg
Republican
January 6, 1915 – January 7, 1925
49th 50th 51st 52nd 53rd
Elected in 1914 Re-elected in 1916 Re-elected in 1918 Re-elected in 1920 Re-elected in 1922 Was not re-elected in 1924.
C. A. Young
January 6, 1915 – January 3, 1923
49th 50th 51st 52nd
Elected in 1914 Re-elected in 1916 Re-elected in 1918 Re-elected in 1920 Lost renomination in 1922.
William W. Powers
Democratic
January 3, 1923 – January 4, 1939
53rd 54th 55th 56th 57th 58th 59th 60th
Elected in 1922 Re-elected in 1924 Re-elected in 1926 Re-elected in 1928 Re-elected in 1930 Re-elected in 1932 Re-elected in 1934 Re-elected in 1936 Retired.
Elmer Jacob Schnackenberg
Republican
January 3, 1923 – January 3, 1945
53rd 54th 55th 56th 57th 58th 59th 60th 61st 62nd 63rd
Elected back in 1922 Re-elected in 1924 Re-elected in 1926 Re-elected in 1928 Re-elected in 1930 Re-elected in 1932 Re-elected in 1934 Re-elected in 1936 Re-elected in 1938 Re-elected in 1940 Re-elected in 1942 Retired.
Theo D. Smith
January 7, 1925 – January 5, 1927
54th
Elected in 1924 Lost re-election in 1926.
John C. Garriott, Jr.
Democratic
2 Democrats 1 Republican
January 5, 1927 – January 4, 1933
55th
Elected in 1926 Re-elected in 1928 Re-elected in 1930 Retired.
Republican
2 Republicans 1 Democrat
56th 57th
John G. Ryan
Democratic
2 Democrats 1 Republican
January 4, 1933 – January 9, 1957
58th 59th 60th 61st 62nd 63rd 64th 65th 66th 67th 68th 69th
Elected in 1932 Re-elected in 1934 Re-elected in 1936 Re-elected in 1938 Re-elected in 1940 Re-elected in 1942 Re-elected in 1944 Re-elected in 1946 Re-elected in 1948 Re-elected in 1950 Re-elected in 1952 Re-elected in 1954 Redistricted to the 25th Representative district and re-elected in 1956.
Adam S. Mioduski
January 4, 1939 – January 6, 1943
61st 62nd
Elected in 1938 Re-elected in 1940 Lost re-election.
Ragnar G. Nelson
Republican
2 Republicans 1 Democrat
January 6, 1943 – January 5, 1949
63rd 64th 65th
Elected in 1942 Re-elected in 1944 Re-elected in 1946 Lost re-election.
Adam S. Mioduski
Democratic
2 Democrats 1 Republican
January 3, 1945 – January 8, 1947
64th
Elected back in 1944 Lost re-election.
Edward Schneider
Republican
2 Republicans 1 Democrat
January 8, 1947 – January 9, 1957
65th 66th 67th 68th 69th
Elected in 1946 Re-elected in 1948 Re-elected in 1950 Re-elected in 1952 Re-elected in 1954 Redistricted to the 25th Representative district and re-elected in 1956.
Adam S. Mioduski
Democratic
2 Democrats 1 Republican
January 5, 1949 – January 3, 1951
66th
Elected back in 1948 Lost re-election.
Marie H. Suthers
Republican
2 Republicans 1 Democrat
January 3, 1951 – January 7, 1953
67th
Elected in 1950 Lost re-election.
Henry M. Lenard
Democratic
2 Democrats 1 Republican
January 7, 1953 – January 9, 1957
68th 69th
Elected in 1952 Re-elected in 1954 Redistricted to the 24th Representative district and re-elected in 1956.
Representative districts re-established in 1957
1973 – 1983
Representative[ 5]
Party
Party Control
Years[ a] [ b]
General Assembly (GA)
Electoral History
Counties Represented
Apportionment of 1971 reallocates three representatives to Legislative districts.
James Houlihan
Democratic
2 Democrats 1 Republican
January 10, 1973 – January 10, 1979
78th 79th 80th
Elected in 1972 Re-elected in 1974 Re-elected in 1976 Lost renomination in 1978.
Cook
Robert L. Thompson
January 10, 1973 – January 8, 1975
78th
Redistricted from the 12th Representative district and re-elected in 1972 Retired.
Paul J. Randolph
Republican
January 10, 1973 – January 12, 1977
78th 79th
Redistricted from the 12th Representative district and re-elected in 1972 Re-elected in 1974 Retired.
Jesse White
Democratic
January 8, 1975 – January 12, 1977
79th
Elected in 1974 Retired.
Daniel P. O'Brien
January 12, 1977 – January 12, 1983
80th 81st 82nd
Elected in 1976 Re-elected in 1978 Re-elected in 1980 Retired.
Elroy C. Sandquist, Jr.
Republican
Elected in 1976 Re-elected in 1978 Re-elected in 1980 Redistricted to the 8th Representative district and lost re-election.
Jesse White
Democratic
January 10, 1979 – January 12, 1983
81st 82nd
Elected back in 1978 Re-elected in 1980 Redistricted to the 8th Representative district and won re-election.
Representative districts re-established with approval of the Cutback Amendment .
Representative election results
1980 – 1972
1954 – 1952
1950 – 1942
1940 – 1932
1930 – 1922
1920 – 1912
1910 – 1902
1900 – 1892
1890 – 1882
Notes
^ a b c d e From 1870 to 1970, the GA met for a new session on the Wednesday after the first Monday of January.
^ a b c Since 1970, the GA meets on the second Wednesday of January for a new session.
^ Listed as "Jas. P. Mahoney"
^ Listed as J. F. O'Malley
^ Listed as "W. B. Hereley"
^ One of these four representatives left the 32nd GA at an unknown time with one of these four appointed or elected to fill the vacancy.
References
^ "Illinois blue book, 1961-1962" . Illinois Digital Archives . p. 438. Retrieved April 10, 2021 .
^ "Illinois blue book, 1965-1966" . Illinois Digital Archives . p. 43. Retrieved April 10, 2021 .
^ "Guide to Apportionment in Illinois, 1818-2001" . Illinois Digital Archives . p. 84. Retrieved April 10, 2021 .
^ "Guide to Apportionment in Illinois, 1818-2001" . Illinois Digital Archives . Illinois Secretary of State . p. 86. Retrieved April 13, 2021 .
^ a b c d e "2021–2022 ILLINOIS BLUE BOOK" (PDF) . Office of the Illinois Secretary of State . Illinois Secretary of State . Retrieved November 4, 2021 .
^ "List of members composing the Illinois state legislature, assembled at the Capitol in Springfield, Monday, January 1st, 1849" . Illinois Digital Archives . Illinois Secretary of State . Retrieved October 22, 2021 .
^ "List of the members composing the nineteenth General Assembly of the State of Illinois" . Illinois Digital Archives . Illinois Secretary of State . Retrieved October 22, 2021 .
^ "List of members composing the Illinois state legislature, assembled at the Capitol in Springfield, Monday, January 1st, 1849" . Illinois Digital Archives . Illinois Secretary of State . Retrieved April 21, 2021 .
^ "Manual for the use of the twenty-fourth General Assembly of the State of Illinois. Prepared and compiled pursuant to a resolution of the House of Representatives, adopted Jan. 3, 1865" . Illinois Digital Archives . Illinois Secretary of State . p. 42. Retrieved April 21, 2021 .
^ "NEWHOUSE RESIGNS FROM STATE SENATE" . Chicago Tribune . May 30, 1991. Retrieved October 26, 2021 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj "Downloadable Vote Totals" . Illinois State Board of Elections . Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 2, 2021 .[permanent dead link ]
^ Harlow, George H.; Paddock, James H. (1879). "State, judicial, congressional and legislative directory, compiled from official records, for the use of members of the Senate, 31st General Assembly, of the state of Illinois" . Illinois Digital Archives . Illinois Secretary of State 's Office. p. 61. Retrieved November 2, 2021 .
^ "Illinois blue book, 1909–1910" . Illinois Digital Archives . Illinois Secretary of State 's Office. 1909–1910. p. 431. Retrieved November 4, 2021 .
^ "Illinois blue book, 1905–1906" . Illinois Digital Archives . Illinois Secretary of State 's Office. 1905–1906. Retrieved November 3, 2021 .
41°45′N 87°35′W / 41.750°N 87.583°W / 41.750; -87.583