Dems Expand Legislative Supermajorities to Record Numbers
Rep. Nabeela Syed (D-Palatine) will join the Senate in January after defeating Sen. Darby Hills (R-Barrington HIlls) Tuesday. (Photo: Chicago Tribune)
Democrats in the Illinois Senate gained at least four seats Tuesday night and lead in two other districts, which could increase their majority to 46 seats.
In the House, Democrats have gained at least two seats and lead in five others. If Democrats hold on in all seven districts, they would increase their already supermajority caucus to 85 seats, both records since the legislative cutback amendment passed in 1980.
The victories would leave Republicans with 13 seats in the Senate and 33 in the House.
As of around 2 a.m., the Associated Press had called these flips:
24th Senate: Ben McAdams (D) 55%, Sen. Seth Lewis (R) 45%
26th Senate: Rep. Nabeela Syed (D) 57%, Sen. Darby Hills (R) 43%
33rd Senate: Michele Clark (D) 62%, Danielle Penman (R) 38%
56th Senate: Marsie Geldert-Murphey (D) 53%, Sen. Erica Harriss (R) 47%
47th House: Erica Bray-Parker (D) 59%, Robert Vrankovich (R) 41%
52nd House: Maria Peterson (D) 56%, Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R) 44%
As of around 2 a.m., Democrats lead but the Associated Press hasn’t yet called:
32nd Senate: Karen Battaglia (D) 53%, Sen. Craig Wilcox (R) 47% (90% counted)
35th Senate: Sarah Mertens (D) 50.6%, Sen. Dave Syverson (R) 49.4% (83% counted)
Mertens leads Syverson (who was elected to the Senate in 1992(!) by 913 votes
48th House: Amanda Zahorak (D) 55%, Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro (R) 45% (84% counted)
65th House: Ricky Rivard (D) 58%, Rep. Dan Ugaste (R) 42% (63% counted)
70th House: Veronica Garcia-Martinez (D) 53%, Rep. Jeff Keicher (R) 47% (72% counted)
104th House: Mary Catherine Roberson (D) 51.3%, Rep. Brandun Schweizer (R) 48.7% (79% counted)
114th House: George McClellan Jr. (D) 50.8%, Rep. Kevin Schmidt (R) 49.2% (96% counted)
House Speaker Chris Welch celebrated the victories in a statement late Tuesday.
“We set out to protect our incumbents, expand our majority, and make sure members had the resources necessary to compete and win. Tonight, we delivered on that promise,” Welch said. “Our historic supermajority is not just a reflection of electoral success. It is a mandate to continue delivering meaningful results for the people of Illinois.”
“We have done a lot of work to talk to people at their doorstep about the kind of government that they want to see, one that is responsive to the needs of working families in our community,” Rep. Nabeela Syed (D-Palatine), told the Daily Herald. “And I believe communicating that vision here locally was a large part of us flipping this district.”
Republicans appear to believe Wilcox, Sanalitro, Ugaste, and Schweizer are likely to fall by the time the vote count settles.
Other Republicans we spoke to Tuesday night and Wednesday morning were “shocked” the wave election has both Keicher and Syverson losing their races.
“These guys weren’t on anyone’s radar,” the Republican said. “This is a massacre. This is a murder. It’s a bloodbath.”
Neither House Republican Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) or Senate Republican Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove) issued statements in response to the projected losses.
Welch, who is also likely facing internal strife in his caucus, says he’s focused on governing in 2027.
“As we celebrate tonight’s victories, we also recognize the responsibility that comes with them,” Welch said. “The people of Illinois expect us to govern, to lead, and to deliver. We will continue doing exactly that. Our majority is stronger, our caucus is growing, and our commitment to building a better Illinois has never been greater.”
