Illinois State Senate District 20
Illinois State Senate District 20 is represented by Natalie Toro (D).
As of the 2020 Census, Illinois state senators represented an average of 217,335 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 218,040 residents.
About the chamber
Members of the Illinois State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Illinois legislators assume office the second Wednesday in January. Under the Illinois Constitution of 1970, Senators are divided into three groups. Each group has a two-year term at a different part of the decade between censuses, and the rest of the decade is taken up by two four-year terms.[1] Depending on the election year, roughly one-third, two-thirds, or all of the senate seats may have terms ending.
All three groups hold elections in the first election year following the decennial census and subsequent redistricting (i.e. 1992, 2002, 2012, etc.). Starting with that election, the terms for the three groups are structured as follows:[1]
- Group 1: four-year term, four-year term, two-year term
- Group 2: four-year term, two-year term, four-year term
- Group 3: two-year term, four-year term, four-year term
Qualifications
Article IV of the Illinois Constitution states: "To be eligible to serve as a member of the General Assembly, a person must be a United States citizen, at least 21 years old, and for the two years preceding his election or appointment a resident of the district which he is to represent."[2]
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[3] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $89,250/year | $166/day |
Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in the Illinois General Assembly, the state constitution mandates that the seat must be filled by appointment when allowed by law. The appointment must be made within 30 days after the vacancy. If a vacancy occurs in the Senate with more than twenty-eight months remaining in the term, the appointment is interim until the next general election, when a special election must be held. All other House and Senate vacancies are to be filled by an appointment from the same political party that last held the seat.[4] If the vacated seat was held by an independent (no party affiliation), the governor is to appoint an independent successor within 30 days.[5]
The vacancy must be filled by the respective party organizations covering the legislative district.[6] The respective committeemen and committeewomen representing the legislative district must vote on a replacement.[7] The person selected for the seat serves for the remainder of the unfilled term.[8]
See sources: Illinois Const. Art. 4, Sec. 2(d) and Illinois Rev. Stat. ch. 10, § 5/25-6
District map
Redistricting
2020-2022
The Illinois State Legislature approved new state legislative maps in a special session on August 31, 2021. Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) signed the new maps into law on September 24, 2021.[9] These maps were revised versions of maps enacted on June 4, 2021, that the legislature based on non-census population estimates. Following the release of census data in August, the legislature reconvened to develop and approve a revised map. These maps were later subject to a federal lawsuit that was decided on December 30, 2021, with the court upholding the maps enacted on September 24, 2021.[10] Learn more here.
How does redistricting in Illinois work? The Illinois General Assembly is responsible for drawing both congressional and state legislative district lines. Both chambers of the state legislature must approve a redistricting plan. The governor may veto the lines drawn by the state legislature.[11]
In the event that both chambers of the state legislature do not approve a legislative redistricting plan, a backup commission must draw the lines. The majority and minority leaders of each chamber must appoint two members each to the commission (one legislator and one general citizen). Of the eight commission members, no more than four may belong to the same political party. In the event that these eight members cannot approve a plan, the Illinois Supreme Court must select two individuals (from different political parties) as potential tiebreakers. The secretary of state must then appoint one of these individuals to the backup commission to break the tie.[11]
The Illinois Constitution requires that state legislative districts be "contiguous and reasonably compact." There are no such requirements in place for the state's congressional districts.[11]
State law also mandates the establishment of state legislative districts "that allow racial or language minority communities to elect--or influence the election of--the candidates of their choice, even if no comparable district would be required by the federal Voting Rights Act."[11]
Illinois State Senate District 20
until January 10, 2023
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Illinois State Senate District 20
starting January 11, 2023
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Elections
2024
A special election for Illinois State Senate District 20 was called for November 5, 2024. A primary was scheduled for March 19, 2024. The candidate filing deadline was December 4, 2023. The candidate filing deadline for the general election was June 24, 2024.[12]
The seat became vacant after Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D) resigned on May 31, 2023. Natalie Toro (D) was appointed to the vacant seat until the special election.[13][14]
The Chicago Sun-Times' Mitchell Armentrout called Senate District 20 "one of the most left-leaning in Illinois." Armentrout described the special primary as "a grudge match between the incumbent Toro and Guzmán after last summer’s appointment process to replace Cristina Pacione-Zayas, who gave up the Senate seat to join Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration. Guzmán was Pacione-Zayas’ chief of staff." Toro won the appointment through the support of Iris Martinez, who represented District 20 for 17 years before joining the Cook County goverment.[15]
Toro was endorsed by three members of the city council. Graciela Guzman (D) was endorsed by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, and three members of the city council's Progressive Caucus.[15]
General election
Special general election for Illinois State Senate District 20
Graciela Guzman defeated Jason Proctor in the special general election for Illinois State Senate District 20 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Graciela Guzman (D)  | 80.5 | 52,796 |
 | Jason Proctor (R) | 19.5 | 12,795 | |
| Total votes: 65,591 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Special Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 20
Graciela Guzman defeated incumbent Natalie Toro, Dave Nayak, and Geary Yonker in the special Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 20 on March 19, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Graciela Guzman | 51.3 | 13,521 |
 | Natalie Toro | 29.2 | 7,701 | |
 | Dave Nayak | 15.1 | 3,973 | |
 | Geary Yonker | 4.4 | 1,153 | |
| Total votes: 26,348 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Special Republican primary for Illinois State Senate District 20
Jason Proctor advanced from the special Republican primary for Illinois State Senate District 20 on March 19, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jason Proctor | 100.0 | 1,924 |
| Total votes: 1,924 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2022
- See also: Illinois State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Illinois State Senate District 20
Incumbent Cristina Pacione-Zayas defeated Patrycja Karlin in the general election for Illinois State Senate District 20 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D) | 86.3 | 44,972 |
 | Patrycja Karlin (R) | 13.7 | 7,164 | |
| Total votes: 52,136 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 20
Incumbent Cristina Pacione-Zayas advanced from the Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 20 on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Cristina Pacione-Zayas | 100.0 | 19,000 |
| Total votes: 19,000 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2018
- See also: Illinois State Senate elections, 2018
General election
General election for Illinois State Senate District 20
Incumbent Iris Martinez won election in the general election for Illinois State Senate District 20 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Iris Martinez (D) | 100.0 | 55,151 |
| Total votes: 55,151 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 20
Incumbent Iris Martinez defeated Bart Goldberg in the Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 20 on March 20, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Iris Martinez | 73.4 | 19,414 |
 | Bart Goldberg | 26.6 | 7,050 | |
| Total votes: 26,464 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
- See also: Illinois State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Illinois State Senate were held in 2016. The primary election was held on March 15, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was November 30, 2015.[16]
Incumbent Iris Martinez ran unopposed in the Illinois State Senate District 20 general election.[17][18]
| Illinois State Senate, District 20 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic |  Iris Martinez Incumbent (unopposed) | |
| Source: Illinois State Board of Elections | ||
Incumbent Iris Martinez ran unopposed in the Illinois State Senate District 20 Democratic primary.[19][20]
| Illinois State Senate, District 20 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Iris Martinez Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2012
- See also: Illinois State Senate elections, 2012
Elections for the office of Illinois State Senate consisted of a primary election on March 20, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was December 5, 2011. Incumbent Iris Martinez (D) was unopposed in both the general election and Democratic primary.[21][22]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Iris Martinez Incumbent |
100% | 47,688 | |
| Total Votes | 47,688 | |||
Campaign contributions
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From 2000 to 2024, candidates for Illinois State Senate District 20 raised a total of $7,874,962.
Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $302,883 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money
| Campaign contributions, Illinois State Senate District 20 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
| 2024 | $4,510,707 | 10 | $451,071 |
| 2022 | $299,371 | 2 | $149,686 |
| 2018 | $620,972 | 2 | $310,486 |
| 2016 | $391,663 | 1 | $391,663 |
| 2012 | $139,406 | 1 | $139,406 |
| 2010 | $178,164 | 1 | $178,164 |
| 2008 | $1,089,508 | 3 | $363,169 |
| 2006 | $143,834 | 1 | $143,834 |
| 2004 | $96,557 | 1 | $96,557 |
| 2002 | $349,496 | 2 | $174,748 |
| 2000 | $55,285 | 2 | $27,643 |
| Total | $7,874,962 | 26 | $302,883 |
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Illinois General Assembly, "Article IV of the Illinois Constitution (Section 2a)," accessed February 4, 2021
- ↑ Illinois General Assembly, "Constitution of the State of Illinois," accessed February 10, 2023
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Illinois General Assembly, "Illinois Constitution," accessed February 4, 2021 (Section Article IV, Section 2(d))
- ↑ Illinois General Assembly, "Illinois Compiled Statutes," accessed February 4, 2021 (Statute 10 ILCS 5/25-6)
- ↑ Illinois General Assembly, "Illinois Election Code," accessed February 4, 2021 (Statute 10 ILCS 5/25 6 (a), (c))
- ↑ Illinois General Assembly, "Illinois Election Code," accessed February 4, 2021 (Statute 10 ILCS 5/25 6 (d))
- ↑ Illinois General Assembly, "Illinois Election Code," accessed February 4, 2021 (Statute 10 ILCS 5/25 6 (f))
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedseptmapexplain - ↑ Longview News-Journal, "Court upholds Illinois legislative redistricting plan," Jan. 4, 2021
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 All About Redistricting, "Illinois," accessed April 16, 2015
- ↑ Ballotpedia staff, "Email communication with Matt Dietrich, Public Information Officer of the Illinois State Board of Elections," November 30, 2023
- ↑ Nadig Newspapers, "Van Pelt to constituents: It has been an honor to serve you," May 25, 2023
- ↑ Chicago Business, "Dems appoint Natalie Toro to fill state Senate seat vacated by Cristina Pacione-Zayas," July 11, 2023
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Chicago Sun-Times, "Bernie Sanders endorses Graciela Guzmán in Northwest Side state Senate race," March 12, 2024
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Election and Campaign Finance Calendar," accessed November 30, 2015
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Candidate list: General Election - 11/8/2016," accessed August 8, 2016
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Election results, General election 2016," accessed December 15, 2016
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Candidate Filing Search," accessed January 3, 2016
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Election Results: GENERAL PRIMARY - 3/15/2016," accessed August 8, 2016
- ↑ "Illinois State Board of Elections - Official Primary Election Results," accessed October 9, 2013
- ↑ "Illinois State Board of Elections - Official General Election Results," accessed October 9, 2013
