Prairie State Wire

Seven more Illinois Senate districts are battlegrounds for major-party candidates on Nov. 6 compared to what occurred in the last midterm election in 2014, according to a Prairie State Wire analysis.

With Democratic and Republican candidates competing head-to-head in 19 of the 39 Senate districts on the ballot this year, the election has the potential to shift the balance of power in the Senate, where Democrats occupy 37 seats and Republicans have 22.

Republicans would have to flip at least eight seats to gain control of the Illinois State Senate.

Those running for re-election in the Senate are 17 incumbent Democrats and 15 GOP incumbents. Seven open seats will be decided next week.

Six Republicans – all incumbents – are running unopposed, while 14 Democrats – 13 of whom are incumbents – are running unopposed. In all, Republicans are running 25 Senate candidates, and Democratic candidates number 33. 

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2018 Illinois Senate Races

District	Democrat	Hometown	Republican	Hometown
2	Omar Aquino **	Chicago / Humboldt Park	None
3	Mattie Hunter **	Chicago / Washington Park	None
5	Patricia Van Pelt**	Chicago / East Garfield Park	None
6	John J. Cullerton**	Chicago / Ravenswood Manor	None
8	Ram Villivalam	Chicago / Mayfair	None
9	Laura Fine	Glenview	Joan McCarthy Lasonde	Wilmette
11	Martin A. Sandoval**	Chicago / West Elsdon	None
12	Steven Landek**	Bridgeview	None
14	Emil Jones, III**	Chicago / West Pullman	None
15	Napoleon B. Harris III**	Harvey	None
17	Elgie R. Sims, Jr.**	Chicago / Chatham	None
18	Bill Cunningham**	Chicago / Beverly	None
20	Iris Martinez**	Chicago / Irving Park East	None
21	Laura Ellman	Naperville	Michael Connelly**	Lisle
23	Thomas Cullerton**	Villa Park	Seth Lewis	Bartlett
24	Suzanne Glowiak	Western Springs	Chris Nybo**	Elmhurst
26	Tom Georges	Mundelein	Dan McConchie**	Hawthorn Woods
27	Ann Gillespie	Arlington Heights	Tom Rooney**	Rolling Meadows
29	Julie Morrison**	Deerfield	Barrett Davie	Lake Forest
30	Terry Link**	Vernon Hills	Soojae Lee	Buffalo Grove
32	Mary Mahady	McHenry	Craig Wilcox**	McHenry
33	Nancy Zettler	Algonquin	Donald P. DeWitte**	St. Charles
35	None		Dave Syverson**	Rockford
36	Gregg Johnson	East Moline	Neil Anderson**	Andalusia
38	Heidi Henry	Marseilles	Sue Rezin**	Morris
39	Don Harmon**	Oak Park	None
41	Bridget M. Fitzgerald	Western Springs	John Curran**	Downers Grove
42	Linda Holmes**	Aurora	None
44	None		Bill Brady**	Bloomington
45	David Simpson	Shabbona	Brian W. Stewart	Freeport
47	None		Jil Tracy**	Quincy
48	Andy Manar**	Bunker Hill	Seth McMillion	Taylorville
50	None		Steve McClure	Springfield
51	None		Chapin Rose**	Mahomet
53	None		Jason Barickman**	Bloomington
54	Brian Stout	Vandalia	Jason Plummer	Edwardsville
56	Rachelle Aud Crowe	Glen Carbon	Hal Patton*	Edwardsville
57	Christopher Belt	Cahokia	Tanya Hildenbrand	Belleville
59	Steve Webb	Tunnel Hill	Dale Fowler**	Harrisburg

* Hal Patton is technically on the "Downstate United" ticket.

** Indicates incumbent