Illinois State Senate District 59

Tue, Nov 3 · Represented by Paul Jacobs Republican · Member list as of Oct 28

Paul JacobsRepublican · Incumbent

No published poll names both candidates.The last winner we have no longer holds this seat, so that result isn't shown.

Tamiko "T.C." MuellerDemocratic

Last election: Dale Fowler (Republican) was unopposed, 2022
On the 2026 ballot: 2 candidates

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More about this race

Candidates on the ballot

Tamiko "T.C." MuellerDemocratic
Paul JacobsIncumbentRepublican

Party nominees only, not the certified ballot.

Source: elections.il.gov, dated Oct 28

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Official results for Illinois

History (17 elections for this seat)

Illinois Senate District 59, 1972 to 2022, 2022, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanDale FowlerWon(incumbent)	Republican	65,708100.0%	100.0%

Votes for listed candidates: 82,600
Election day: November 6, 2018
District map: Older district map (2012 to 2021)

Illinois Senate District 59, 1972 to 2022, 2018, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanDale FowlerWon(incumbent)	Republican	50,47561.1%	61.1%
DemocraticSteve Webb	Democratic	32,12538.9%	38.9%

Votes for listed candidates: 97,004
Election day: November 8, 2016
District map: Older district map (2012 to 2021)

Illinois Senate District 59, 1972 to 2022, 2016, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
RepublicanDale FowlerWon	Republican	53,50155.1%	55.1%
DemocraticGary Forby(incumbent)	Democratic	43,50344.9%	44.9%

Votes for listed candidates: 93,937
Election day: November 6, 2012
District map: Older district map (2012 to 2021)

Illinois Senate District 59, 1972 to 2022, 2012, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticGary F. ForbyWon(incumbent)	Democratic	55,50259.1%	59.1%
RepublicanMark Minor	Republican	38,43540.9%	40.9%

Votes for listed candidates: 96,279
Election day: November 4, 2008
District map: Older district map (2002 to 2011)

Illinois Senate District 59, 1972 to 2022, 2008, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticGary ForbyWon(incumbent)	Democratic	49,55251.5%	51.5%
RepublicanKen W. Burzynski	Republican	46,72748.5%	48.5%

Illinois Senate District 59, 1972 to 2022, 2004, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticGary ForbyWon	Democratic	52,03752.7%	52.7%
RepublicanRon Summers	Republican	46,76247.3%	47.3%

Votes for listed candidates: 77,104
Election day: November 5, 2002
District map: Older district map (2002 to 2011)

Illinois Senate District 59, 1972 to 2022, 2002, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticLarry D. WoolardWon	Democratic	53,63769.6%	69.6%
RepublicanGeorge Helfrich	Republican	23,46730.4%	30.4%

Illinois Senate District 59, 1972 to 2022, 1998, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticJames F. ReaWon(incumbent)	Democratic	62,306100.0%	100.0%

Illinois Senate District 59, 1972 to 2022, 1994, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticJames F. ReaWon(incumbent)	Democratic	49,630100.0%	100.0%

Illinois Senate District 59, 1972 to 2022, 1992, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticJames F. ReaWon(incumbent)	Democratic	74,321100.0%	100.0%

Illinois Senate District 59, 1972 to 2022, 1990, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticJames F. ReaWon	Democratic	54,41973.2%	73.2%
RepublicanGreg Boren	Republican	19,88026.8%	26.8%

Votes for listed candidates: 77,062
Election day: November 4, 1986
District map: Older district map (1982 to 1991)

Illinois Senate District 59, 1972 to 2022, 1986, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticGlenn PoshardWon(incumbent)	Democratic	55,20771.6%	71.6%
RepublicanRichard Simmons	Republican	21,85528.4%	28.4%

Votes for listed candidates: 92,284
Election day: November 6, 1984
Type: Special election
District map: Older district map (1982 to 1991)

Illinois Senate District 59, 1972 to 2022, 1984, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticGlenn PoshardWon	Democratic	47,20651.1%	51.1%
RepublicanRobert C. Winchester	Republican	39,20142.5%	42.5%
OtherEve Johns	Other	5,8776.4%	6.4%

Votes for listed candidates: 77,975
Election day: November 2, 1982
District map: Older district map (1982 to 1991)

Illinois Senate District 59, 1972 to 2022, 1982, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticGene JohnsWon(incumbent)	Democratic	41,82853.6%	53.6%
RepublicanC. L. McCormick	Republican	34,35744.1%	44.1%
OtherBen J. Brinkley	Other	1,7902.3%	2.3%

Votes for listed candidates: 70,299
Election day: November 7, 1978
District map: Older district map (1972 to 1981)

Illinois Senate District 59, 1972 to 2022, 1978, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticGene JohnsWon(incumbent)	Democratic	36,08551.3%	51.3%
RepublicanGeorge Albert Williams	Republican	34,21448.7%	48.7%

Votes for listed candidates: 92,881
Election day: November 2, 1976
District map: Older district map (1972 to 1981)

Illinois Senate District 59, 1972 to 2022, 1976, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticGene JohnsWon(incumbent)	Democratic	49,25053.0%	53.0%
RepublicanDavid Barkhausen	Republican	43,63147.0%	47.0%

Votes for listed candidates: 89,756
Election day: November 7, 1972
District map: Older district map (1972 to 1981)

Illinois Senate District 59, 1972 to 2022, 1972, every candidate
Candidate	Party	Votes and share	Share
DemocraticGene JohnsWon(incumbent)	Democratic	47,47252.9%	52.9%
RepublicanJames E. Eatherly	Republican	42,28447.1%	47.1%

1972 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 59, election results 1972 to 2022. https://www.electionwrld.com/il/senate/59. Retrieved October 30, 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:59

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