Meg Loughran Cappel

Meg Loughran Cappel
Member of the Illinois Senate
from the 49th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 10, 2020 (2020-December-10)
Preceded byJennifer Bertino-Tarrant
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseJason
Children3
RelativesFrancis J. Loughran (Grandfather)
Residence(s)Shorewood, Illinois, U.S.

Mary "Meg" Loughran Cappel is a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate from the 49th district since December 10, 2020. The 49th district, located in the Chicago area, includes all or parts of Aurora, Bolingbrook, Boulder Hill, Channahon, Crest Hill, Crystal Lawns, Joliet, Montgomery, Naperville, Oswego, Plainfield, Romeoville, and Shorewood.[1]

Cappel was elected to the Illinois Senate to succeed Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, who successfully ran for Will County, Illinois Executive. Cappel was appointed early on December 10, 2020 after Bertino-Tarrant resigned her state Senator position and inaugurated as Executive on December 7, 2020.[2]

Early life, education, and career

Cappel grew up in Joliet, Illinois. She is a lifelong educator, specializing in special education. She currently serves on the Shorewood Chamber of Commerce. She previously served as a union representative for AFT-IFT Local 604. In 2019, she and her husband Jason started a small business named Elite Driving School in Shorewood.[3][4]

Political career

In 2017, Cappel was elected to the Joliet Township High School District 204 Board. In 2020, Cappel ran for the Illinois Senate 49th district and won with a 12% margin of victory.

As of July 2022, Senator Cappel was a member of the following Illinois Senate committee:[5]

  • Appropriations - Education Committee (SAPP-SAED)
  • Appropriations - Emergency Management Committee (SAPP-SAEM)
  • Behavioral and Mental Health Committee (SBMH)
  • Commerce Committee (SCOM)
  • Education Committee (SESE)
  • Labor Committee (SLAB)
  • Redistricting - Kankakee & Will Counties Committee (SRED-SDKW)
  • State Government Committee (SGOA)

Electoral history

Joliet Township High School District 204 Board General Election, 2017[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Tracy Spesia 6,465 29.03
Nonpartisan Mary 'Meg' Cappel 5,888 26.44
Nonpartisan Angel Contreras 5,284 23.73
Nonpartisan Frank Edmon, Jr. 4,632 20.80
Total votes 22,269 100.0
Illinois 49th State Senate District Democratic Primary, 2020[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Meg Loughran Cappel 15,159 59.50
Democratic Larry E. Hug 5,203 20.42
Democratic Michael Crowner 5,114 20.07
Total votes 25,476 100.0
Illinois 49th State Senate District General Election, 2020[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Meg Loughran Cappel 64,276 56.22
Republican Thomas McCullagh 50,052 43.78
Total votes 114,328 100.0

Personal life

Cappel, her husband Jason, and her three children all currently reside in Shorewood, Illinois.[9]

References

  1. ^ "STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: State Senate District 49 (Illinois)" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2013-05-18. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  2. ^ Tuskey, Anastasia (2020-12-07). "Bertino-Tarrant Sworn In As Next Will County Executive". Will County, Illinois. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  3. ^ "About". Meg for Illinois. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  4. ^ "About". Elite Driving School. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  5. ^ "Illinois General Assembly - Senator Committees". ilga.gov. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  6. ^ "April 4, 2017 Consolidated Election". Will County, Illinois Clerk. 2019-05-01. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  7. ^ "Election Results 2020 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  8. ^ "Election Results 2020 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  9. ^ "Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D)". Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved 2021-04-08.