Illinois State Senate District 51

Tue, Nov 3 · Represented by Chapin Rose Republican · Member list as of Oct 28

Chapin RoseRepublican · Incumbent14 years since first win

One candidate on the printed ballot.

Last election: Chapin Rose (Republican) was unopposed, 2022
On the 2026 ballot: 1 candidate

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More about this race

Candidates on the ballot

Uncontested

One candidate on the printed ballot.

Chapin RoseIncumbentRepublican

Party nominees only, not the certified ballot.

Source: elections.il.gov, dated Oct 28

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Official results for Illinois

History (19 elections for this seat)

Illinois Senate District 51, 1970 to 2022, 2022, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanChapin RoseWon(incumbent)	Republican	72,990100.0%	100.0%

Illinois Senate District 51, 1970 to 2022, 2018, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanChapin RoseWon(incumbent)	Republican	77,252100.0%	100.0%

Illinois Senate District 51, 1970 to 2022, 2014, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanChapin RoseWon(incumbent)	Republican	69,665100.0%	100.0%

Illinois Senate District 51, 1970 to 2022, 2012, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanChapin RoseWon	Republican	86,710100.0%	100.0%

Illinois Senate District 51, 1970 to 2022, 2010, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanKyle McCarterWon	Republican	43,00961.4%	61.4%
DemocraticTim Dudley	Democratic	27,06638.6%	38.6%

Illinois Senate District 51, 1970 to 2022, 2008, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanFrank WatsonWon(incumbent)	Republican	82,718100.0%	100.0%

Illinois Senate District 51, 1970 to 2022, 2006, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanFrank WatsonWon(incumbent)	Republican	54,230100.0%	100.0%

Votes for listed candidates: 69,161
Election day: November 5, 2002
District map: Older district map (2002 to 2011)

Illinois Senate District 51, 1970 to 2022, 2002, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanFrank WatsonWon(incumbent)	Republican	41,08359.4%	59.4%
DemocraticJohn F. Dunn	Democratic	28,07840.6%	40.6%

Votes for listed candidates: 83,125
Election day: November 7, 2000
District map: Older district map (1992 to 2001)

Illinois Senate District 51, 1970 to 2022, 2000, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanN. Duane NolandWon(incumbent)	Republican	58,79670.7%	70.7%
DemocraticStephen F. John	Democratic	24,32929.3%	29.3%

Votes for listed candidates: 67,635
Election day: November 3, 1998
Type: Special election
District map: Older district map (1992 to 2001)

Illinois Senate District 51, 1970 to 2022, 1998, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanN. Duane NolandWon	Republican	41,64361.6%	61.6%
DemocraticKevin Kehoe	Democratic	25,99238.4%	38.4%

Votes for listed candidates: 78,610
Election day: November 5, 1996
District map: Older district map (1992 to 2001)

Illinois Senate District 51, 1970 to 2022, 1996, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticPenny L. SevernsWon(incumbent)	Democratic	53,24867.7%	67.7%
RepublicanP. Duane Potter	Republican	25,36232.3%	32.3%

Illinois Senate District 51, 1970 to 2022, 1992, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticPenny L. SevernsWon(incumbent)	Democratic	71,726100.0%	100.0%

Votes for listed candidates: 75,764
Election day: November 8, 1988
District map: Older district map (1982 to 1991)

Illinois Senate District 51, 1970 to 2022, 1988, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticPenny L. SevernsWon(incumbent)	Democratic	47,40262.6%	62.6%
RepublicanJim O. Edgcomb	Republican	28,36237.4%	37.4%

Votes for listed candidates: 59,222
Election day: November 4, 1986
District map: Older district map (1982 to 1991)

Illinois Senate District 51, 1970 to 2022, 1986, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticPenny L. SevernsWon	Democratic	31,64653.4%	53.4%
RepublicanJames H. Rupp(incumbent)	Republican	27,57646.6%	46.6%

Votes for listed candidates: 66,680
Election day: November 2, 1982
District map: Older district map (1982 to 1991)

Illinois Senate District 51, 1970 to 2022, 1982, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanJames H. RuppWon(incumbent)	Republican	37,15855.7%	55.7%
DemocraticJ. E. Miller	Democratic	29,52244.3%	44.3%

Votes for listed candidates: 81,317
Election day: November 4, 1980
District map: Older district map (1972 to 1981)

Illinois Senate District 51, 1970 to 2022, 1980, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanJames H. RuppWon(incumbent)	Republican	52,70364.8%	64.8%
DemocraticJeffrey K. Davison	Democratic	28,61435.2%	35.2%

Votes for listed candidates: 81,219
Election day: November 2, 1976
District map: Older district map (1972 to 1981)

Illinois Senate District 51, 1970 to 2022, 1976, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanJames H. RuppWon	Republican	42,46052.3%	52.3%
DemocraticRobert W. McCarthy(incumbent)	Democratic	38,75947.7%	47.7%

Votes for listed candidates: 78,152
Election day: November 7, 1972
District map: Older district map (1972 to 1981)

Illinois Senate District 51, 1970 to 2022, 1972, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticRobert W. McCarthyWon(incumbent)	Democratic	46,19259.1%	59.1%
RepublicanLois R. Raber	Republican	31,96040.9%	40.9%

Votes for listed candidates: 71,148
Election day: November 3, 1970
District map: Older district map (1966 to 1971)

Illinois Senate District 51, 1970 to 2022, 1970, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticJames H. DonnewaldWon(incumbent)	Democratic	41,68658.6%	58.6%
RepublicanOrval W. Hittmeier	Republican	29,46241.4%	41.4%

1970 to 2022: State Legislative Election Returns, 1967-2022 (Carl Klarner, Harvard Dataverse), retrieved Oct 28, 2026. Compiled by Carl Klarner (Harvard Dataverse) from official returns; not an official source

Last contest in this district on file: 2022.

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Election Wrld. (2026). Illinois State Senate District 51, election results 1970 to 2022. https://www.electionwrld.com/il/senate/51. Retrieved October 31, 2026.

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Sources

Sources: Census TIGERweb Legislative MapServer (120th CDs layer 0, 119th CDs layer 4, 2026 SLD upper layer 1 and lower layer 2) (US Census Bureau, public domain), retrieved Oct 28, 2026; Open Civic Data division identifiers (census_autogenerated us_sldl/us_sldu and openstates state files); also (sld-recent.json): Open Civic Data division identifiers (country-us) (CC0 (repository); also (sld-recent.json): CC0 1.0), retrieved Oct 28, 2026; Open States people (current) CSVs (CC0-1.0 (Open States people data)), retrieved Oct 28, 2026, compiled by Open States volunteers and staff (rosters from state legislature sites) from official returns, not an official source; State Legislative Election Returns, 1967-2022 (Carl Klarner, Harvard Dataverse) (CC0 1.0), retrieved Oct 28, 2026, compiled by Carl Klarner (Harvard Dataverse) from official returns, not an official source.

District id: ocd-division/country:us/state:il/sldu:51

DataState data (JSON)Sources: State Legislative Election Returns, 1967-2022 (Carl Klarner, Harvard Dataverse), DIME (ODC-BY)Data as of Oct 28, 2026