The illinois delegation
congressional officials …
The Illinois congressional delegation is among the top-sized delegations in the country and is diverse and highly educated.
Of the 19 members in the 2022-2023 class, seven are female, and 12 are male. Six are minority representation through the end of the year. Four are lawyers, four hold doctorates, and twelve Master’s degrees have been conferred upon delegation members.
The University of Illinois has conferred degrees on four members, the highest number received by any delegation member from within the state. Northwestern University and Northern Illinois University have conferred degrees on three members each.
Several members of the Illinois congressional delegation are military members. One member was a registered nurse.
The average tenure for the delegation is almost 4.6 terms, assuming everyone completes their service through the end of 2024. Two delegation members have the distinction of having been elected, lost their initial re-election efforts, and then turned around and were re-elected to Congress. The longest-serving member has been in Congress since 1983.
Four members of the Illinois delegation are freshmen.
When you look at these profiles, we have given each a letter grade for their effort this Congress, based on various factors, which you will find in What Is Thomas Looking For? These letter grades are probably pretty familiar to you if you have ever been a school student (we hope the answer to that is we all have!)
If you see a meager score for a particular member, it will probably be due to one or two key factors: ethics challenges or anti-democratic behavior.
Republicans have been hit hard on their lack of pushback on former President Trump and their support of election denying in the 2020 presidential campaign. The unanswered soaring deficit on their watch, the dismantling of allied relationships around the globe, and opposition to funding anti-authoritarian initiatives. The denial of climate change weighs heavily on us as well. We make no secret that transparency and Government in the Sunshine are important to us, and we further argue that some have been awful stewards of this category. For example, two of the 19 Illinois delegation members voted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results on the same evening as Trump supporters stormed the United States Capitol
Democrats have been hit hard for their lack of progress on key matters because they do control the United States Senate and have a razor-close margin in the U.S. House of Representatives. They have not been, in our opinion, innovative or necessarily insistent on finding rational, reasonable solutions to the problems plaguing the American public today. We want to see more and better.
Both have been dinged for being too partisan and not collaborative where evident. In our opinion, being too doctrinaire and an obstructionist to good government in the 21st century is unacceptable.
We also indicate what we believe might be the outcome of these Members’ 2024 elections today. The overwhelming majority of House members were re-elected in 2022, and neither of the United States Senators is up for re-election this season.
Our prospect ratings fall into three categories:
Safe Bet - which means what it means. These members of Congress are running strong and look to be overwhelming prospects for re-election at this time. However, we reserve the right to re-categorize their chances if necessary.
It’s A Race - means this race is too close to call, and we can not reasonably predict who will win this seat.
Nudging - means the seat is leaning one way or another for this candidate. We have just a small number of current members of Congress in this category. Stay tuned!
So, would you like to meet these fascinating Illinoisans? If so, keep reading on!
what is thomas looking for?
There are two potentially vulnerable races Thomas is watching in Illinois for 2024:
IL13 - Nikki Budzinski’s seat (Incumbent D)
IL17 -Eric Sorensen’s seat (Incumbent D)
the senators
Credit: US Sen. Dick Durbin
United States Senator Dick durbin (d)
The senior senator from Illinois is a five-term member of the Senate who previously served in the U.S. House before entering the Senate in 1996, Dick Durbin. Senator Durbin, who serves on the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee; the Appropriations Committee; and chairs the Judiciary Committee; is also the Senate Majority Whip. He holds an undergraduate and law degree from Georgetown University, is married, and is the father of three.
Thomas Take: Not Up For Re-Election in 2024
Thomas Rank: A
Credit: US Sen. Tammy Duckworth
United states senator tammy duckworth (D)
Illinois’ junior senator is in her second term and is a Purple Heart combat veteran injured in Iraq while piloting a helicopter. She eventually retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army National Guard. A graduate of the University of Hawaii with a graduate degree from George Washington University and a doctorate from Capella University, Senator Duckworth serves on the Armed Services Committee; the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee; and the Foreign Relations Committee. She is married and the mother of two.
Thomas Take: Not Up For Re-Election in 2024
Thomas Rank: B
the representatives
Credit: US Rep. Jonathan Jackson
district 1 - u.s. rep. jonathan jackson (d)
Congressman Jonathan Jackson represents the south side of Chicago in the U.S. House in his freshman term. A graduate of North Carolina A&T State University with a graduate degree from Northwestern University, Congressman Jackson serves on the Agriculture and Foreign Affairs committees. He is married and the father of three.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: B
district 2 - U.S. Rep. robin kelly (D)
Congresswoman Robin Kelly represents southern and southeastern Chicago in the U.S. House and is in her sixth term. A member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the widowed mother of two graduated from Bradley University with both her undergraduate and graduate degrees and also earned her doctorate from Northern Illinois University.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: B
Credit: US Rep. Robin Kelly
Credit: U.S. Rep. Della Ramirez
District 3 - U.S. Rep. della ramirez (d)
Congresswoman Della Ramirez is a freshman member of the U.S. House and represents parts of Cook County and Chicago. A member of the Homeland Security Committee and the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, the Congresswoman graduated from Northeastern Illinois University and is married.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: B
District 4 - U.S. Rep. chuy García (d)
Representing parts of Cook County and Chicago in Congress, Representative Chuy García is a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is married, the father of three, and holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Illinois.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: B
Credit: US Rep. Chuy García
Credit: US Rep. Mike Quigley
district 5 - U.S. rep. mike quigley (D)
Eight-term Congressman Mike Quigley represents parts of Cook County and Chicago in the U.S. House where he is a member of the House Appropriations Committee. Married and the father of two, Congressman Quigley graduated from Roosevelt University, earned his graduate degree from the University of Chicago, and has a law degree from Loyola University.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: B
district 6 - U.S. rep. sean casten (D)
Congressman Sean Casten’s district runs through Cook and DuPage counties. A graduate of Middlebury College with two graduate degrees from Dartmouth University, three-term Congressman Casten serves on the Financial Services Committee and the Space, Science, and Technology Committee. He is married and the father of two.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: B
Credit: US Rep. Sean Casten
Credit: US Rep. Danny Davis
district 7 - U.S. rep. danny davis (D)
Thirteen-term Congressman Danny Davis represents Cook County and is a member of the Ways and Means Committee. Previously a member of the Socialist party, the married father of two, graduated from the University of Arkansas, earned a graduate degree from Chicago State University, and has a doctorate from Union Institute and University.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: C
district 8 - U.S. Rep. raja krishnamoorthi (D)
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi is a four-term member of the U.S. House who represents a district in Chicago’s northwestern suburbs. A graduate of Princeton University with a law degree from Harvard University, the Congressman serves on the Oversight and Accountability Committee; the Select Committee on Intelligence; and the Strategic Competition Between the United States and Chinese Community Party Committee. He is married and the father of three.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: B
Credit: US Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi
Credit: US Rep. Jan Schakowsky
district 9 - U.S. rep. jan schakowsky (D)
Representing northern Chicago in the U.S. House, thirteen-term Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Budget Committee. A graduate of the University of Illinois, the Congresswoman is married and the mother of two.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: B
district 10 - u.s. rep. brad schneider (D)
Five-term Congressman Brad Schneider represents Chicago’s northern suburbs and is a member of the Financial Services Committee. He first entered Congress in 2012, lost re-election in 2014, and won again as well as subsequently since 2016. The married father of two serves on the Foreign Affairs and Ways and Means committees. He has undergraduate and graduate degrees from Northwestern University.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: B
Credit: US Rep. Brad Schneider
Credit: US Rep. Bill Foster
district 11 - U.S. Rep. bill foster (D)
Congressman Bill Foster is a seven-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing a district that runs from the western side of the Chicago area over the Indiana border. Holding a doctorate in physics as well as his graduate degree from Harvard University and an undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin, Congressman Foster serves on the Financial Services Committee. He is married and the father of two.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: B
district 12 - U.S. Rep. mike bost (R)
Congressman Mike Bost serves the southern part of the state and is a five-term member. He attended the University of Illinois without graduating, was a firefighter, and served in the United States Marine Corps. Married and the father of three, Congressman Bost is a member of the Agriculture Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: D
Credit: US Rep. Mike Bost
Credit: US Rep. John Joyce
district 13 - U.S. Rep. nikki budzinski
A graduate of the University of Illinois and representing a district in central Illinois that includes the Urbana and Champaign areas, freshman Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski serves on the Agriculture and Veterans’ Affairs committees.
Thomas Take: Nudging Democrat
Thomas Rank: B
district 14 - U.S. Rep. lauren underwood (D)
Representing the western suburbs of Chicago, three-term Congresswoman Lauren Underwood serves on the Appropriations Committee and was a Registered Nurse before her House service. She is a member of the Appropriations Committee, graduated from the University of Michigan, and earned two graduate degrees from Johns Hopkins University.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: B
Credit: US Rep. Lauren Underwood
Credit: US Rep. Mary Miller
district 15 - U.S. Rep. mary miller (R)
Representing central Illinois, two-term Congresswoman Mary Miller serves on the Agriculture Committee and the Committee on Education and the Workforce. Married and the mother of seven, Congresswoman Miller graduated from Eastern Illinois University.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: D
district 16 - U.S. Rep. darin lahood (R)
Five-term Congressman Darin LaHood represents north-central Illinois in the U.S. House. The married father of three Congressman is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee; the Select Committee on Intelligence; and the Strategic Competition Between the United States and Chinese Communist Party Committee. He is a graduate of Loras University and has a law degree from John Marshall Law School.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: B
Credit: US Rep. Darin LaHood
Credit: US Rep. Eric Sorensen
district 17 - U.S. Rep. eric sorensen (D)
Representing northwestern Illinois, Congressman Eric Sorensen is serving in his first term and is a member of the Agriculture Committee and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. He is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.
Thomas Take: Nudging Democrat
Thomas Rank: B