Illinois 2012 Election Results

Illinois held its general election on November 6, 2012, deciding 177 legislative seats. No chamber changed party control.

Highlights

• Democrats won three-fifths, veto-proof majorities in both chambers, growing to 71-47 in the House and 40-19 in the Senate. It was the first time in Illinois history that one party won veto-proof majorities in both chambers in the same general election.
• It was the first election on maps drawn by the Democratic majority, with House Speaker Michael Madigan the architect of the redistricting. Democrats netted seven House seats and five Senate seats, and every incumbent who lost in November was a Republican:
  • Tom Cullerton (D) unseated Carole Pankau (R), a 20-year legislative veteran, by about 1,900 votes in Senate District 23.
  • In a member-vs-member race in House District 59, Rep. Carol Sente (D) beat Rep. Sidney Mathias (R), who had represented the old 53rd District, by about 12 points.
  • Sam Yingling (D) beat Sandy Cole (R) by about 11 points in House District 62.
  • Kathleen Willis (D) beat Angelo Saviano (R) by about 5 points in House District 77.
  • Mike Smiddy (D) beat Richard Morthland (R) by about 4 points in House District 71.
• Democrats also took the open Republican-held Senate District 31, where Melinda Bush (D) won by about 3 points, and Andy Manar (D) won the newly drawn Senate District 48 by about 11 points. In House District 10, Derrick Smith (D), whom the House had expelled in August over a bribery charge, won the seat back by about 26 points over Lance Tyson (10th District Unity), whom Democratic leaders had backed on a new party line. Beyond the flips, 2 House races finished inside two points: Kate Cloonen (D) held the open House District 79 by 91 votes over Glenn Nixon (R), and Dwight Kay (R) held House District 112 by about 330 votes over Marleen Suarez (D). Another 81 legislative races had only one candidate.
• The lone statewide question, the pension amendment, would have required a three-fifths vote of any public body to raise pension benefits. It drew majority support but still failed. A Chicago Tribune editorial had argued it would have "virtually no impact."

Legislature

• House (118 seats): 64 D, 54 R before the election, 71 D, 47 R after; control stayed with Democrats.
• Senate (59 seats): 35 D, 24 R before the election, 40 D, 19 R after; control stayed with Democrats.

Legislative races

Ballot measures