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Illinois' 17th Congressional District

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Illinois' 17th Congressional District
Incumbent
Assumed office: January 3, 2023

Illinois' 17th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives is represented by Eric Sorensen (D).

As of the 2020 Census, Illinois representatives represented an average of 754,279 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 714,688 residents.

Elections

2024

See also: Illinois' 17th Congressional District election, 2024

Illinois' 17th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 19 Republican primary)

Illinois' 17th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 19 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Illinois District 17

Incumbent Eric Sorensen defeated Joseph G. McGraw in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 17 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Eric Sorensen
Eric Sorensen (D)
 
54.4
 
170,261
Image of Joseph G. McGraw
Joseph G. McGraw (R)
 
45.6
 
142,567

Total votes: 312,828
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 17

Incumbent Eric Sorensen advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 17 on March 19, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Eric Sorensen
Eric Sorensen
 
100.0
 
28,533

Total votes: 28,533
Candidate Connection = 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.

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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 17

Joseph G. McGraw defeated Scott Crowl in the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 17 on March 19, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Joseph G. McGraw
Joseph G. McGraw
 
67.6
 
20,223
Image of Scott Crowl
Scott Crowl
 
32.4
 
9,696

Total votes: 29,919
Candidate Connection = 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.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

2022

See also: Illinois' 17th Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Illinois District 17

Eric Sorensen defeated Esther Joy King in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 17 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Eric Sorensen
Eric Sorensen (D) Candidate Connection
 
52.0
 
121,186
Image of Esther Joy King
Esther Joy King (R)
 
48.0
 
111,931
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.0
 
6

Total votes: 233,123
Candidate Connection = 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.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 17

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 17 on June 28, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Eric Sorensen
Eric Sorensen Candidate Connection
 
37.7
 
14,702
Image of Litesa Wallace
Litesa Wallace
 
23.3
 
9,103
Image of Jonathan Logemann
Jonathan Logemann
 
14.4
 
5,628
Image of Angie Normoyle
Angie Normoyle Candidate Connection
 
12.4
 
4,818
Image of Marsha Williams
Marsha Williams Candidate Connection
 
6.9
 
2,701
Image of Jacqueline McGowan
Jacqueline McGowan Candidate Connection
 
5.2
 
2,040
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.0
 
14

Total votes: 39,006
Candidate Connection = 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.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 17

Esther Joy King defeated Charlie Helmick in the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 17 on June 28, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Esther Joy King
Esther Joy King
 
68.5
 
31,065
Image of Charlie Helmick
Charlie Helmick
 
31.5
 
14,274

Total votes: 45,339
Candidate Connection = 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.

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2020

See also: Illinois' 17th Congressional District election, 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House Illinois District 17

Incumbent Cheri Bustos defeated Esther Joy King and General Parker in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 17 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Cheri Bustos
Cheri Bustos (D)
 
52.0
 
156,011
Image of Esther Joy King
Esther Joy King (R)
 
48.0
 
143,863
Image of General Parker
General Parker (Independent) (Write-in) Candidate Connection
 
0.0
 
21

Total votes: 299,895
Candidate Connection = 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.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 17

Incumbent Cheri Bustos defeated Spanky Edwards in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 17 on March 17, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Cheri Bustos
Cheri Bustos
 
99.7
 
56,388
Image of Spanky Edwards
Spanky Edwards (Write-in) Candidate Connection
 
0.3
 
189

Total votes: 56,577
Candidate Connection = 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.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 17

Esther Joy King defeated Bill Fawell in the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 17 on March 17, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Esther Joy King
Esther Joy King
 
65.1
 
19,464
Image of Bill Fawell
Bill Fawell
 
34.9
 
10,423

Total votes: 29,887
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = 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.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

2018

See also: Illinois' 17th Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House Illinois District 17

Incumbent Cheri Bustos defeated Bill Fawell in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 17 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Cheri Bustos
Cheri Bustos (D)
 
62.1
 
142,659
Image of Bill Fawell
Bill Fawell (R) Candidate Connection
 
37.9
 
87,090

Total votes: 229,749
Candidate Connection = 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 U.S. House Illinois District 17

Incumbent Cheri Bustos advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 17 on March 20, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Cheri Bustos
Cheri Bustos
 
100.0
 
42,964

Total votes: 42,964
Candidate Connection = 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

Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 17

Bill Fawell advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 17 on March 20, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Bill Fawell
Bill Fawell Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
38,411

Total votes: 38,411
Candidate Connection = 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' 17th Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Democratic. Incumbent Cheri Bustos (D) defeated Patrick Harlan (R) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Bustos ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on March 15, 2016, while Harlan defeated Jack Boccarossa to win the Republican nomination.[1][2]

U.S. House, Illinois District 17 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngCheri Bustos Incumbent 60.3% 173,125
     Republican Patrick Harlan 39.7% 113,943
Total Votes 287,068
Source: Illinois State Board of Elections


U.S. House, Illinois District 17 Republican Primary, 2016
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngPatrick Harlan 75.7% 52,405
Jack Boccarossa 24.3% 16,805
Total Votes 69,210
Source: Illinois State Board of Elections

2014

SimmeringRace.jpg
See also: Illinois' 17th Congressional District elections, 2014

The 17th Congressional District of Illinois held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Cheri Bustos (D) defeated challenger Bobby Schilling (R) in the general election.

U.S. House, Illinois District 17 General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngCheri Bustos Incumbent 55.5% 110,560
     Republican Bobby Schilling 44.5% 88,785
Total Votes 199,345
Source: Illinois State Board of Elections Official Results

General election candidates


March 18, 2014, primary results

Republican Party Republican Primary

Democratic Party Democratic Primary

Withdrew from race

2012

See also: Illinois' 17th Congressional District elections, 2012

The 17th Congressional District of Illinois held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012. Democrat Cheri Bustos won the election, beating incumbent Bobby Schilling.[5]

U.S. House, Illinois District 17 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngCheri Bustos 53.3% 153,519
     Republican Bobby Schilling Incumbent 46.7% 134,623
     Independent Eric Reyes 0% 10
Total Votes 288,152
Source: Illinois Board of Elections "2012 General Election Official Vote Totals"

2010
On November 2, 2010, Bobby Schilling won election to the United States House. He defeated Phil Hare (D) and Roger K. Davis (G) in the general election.[6]

U.S. House, Illinois District 17 General Election, 2010
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngRobert T. Schilling 52.6% 104,583
     Democratic Phil Hare incumbent 43% 85,454
     Green Roger K. Davis 4.5% 8,861
Total Votes 198,898


2008
On November 4, 2008, Phil Hare won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Mark Edward Lioen (Write-in) in the general election.[7]

U.S. House, Illinois District 17 General Election, 2008
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngPhil Hare incumbent 99.8% 220,961
     Write-in Mark Edward Lioen 0.2% 517
Total Votes 221,478


2006
On November 7, 2006, Phil Hare won election to the United States House. He defeated Andrea Zinga (R) in the general election.[8]

U.S. House, Illinois District 17 General Election, 2006
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngPhil Hare 57.2% 115,025
     Republican Andrea Zinga 42.8% 86,161
Total Votes 201,186


2004
On November 2, 2004, Lane Evans won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Andrea Lane Zinga (R) in the general election.[9]

U.S. House, Illinois District 17 General Election, 2004
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngLane Evans incumbent 60.7% 172,320
     Republican Andrea Lane Zinga 39.3% 111,680
Total Votes 284,000


2002
On November 5, 2002, Lane Evans won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Peter Calderone (R) in the general election.[10]

U.S. House, Illinois District 17 General Election, 2002
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngLane Evans incumbent 62.4% 127,093
     Republican Peter Calderone 37.6% 76,519
Total Votes 203,612


2000
On November 7, 2000, Lane Evans won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Mark Baker (R) in the general election.[11]

U.S. House, Illinois District 17 General Election, 2000
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngLane Evans incumbent 54.9% 132,494
     Republican Mark Baker 45.1% 108,853
Total Votes 241,347


District map

Redistricting

2020-2021

See also: Redistricting in Illinois after the 2020 census

Illinois enacted a congressional map on November 24, 2021, after Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) signed the proposal into law.[12] The Illinois State Senate voted 41-18 in favor of the map on October 28, 2021, followed by the Illinois House of Representatives voting 71-43 in favor on October 29, 2021.[13]

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.[14]

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.[14]

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.[14]

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."[14]

Illinois District 17
until January 2, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Illinois District 17
starting January 3, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

2010-2011

This is the 17th Congressional District of Illinois after the 2001 redistricting process.
See also: Redistricting in Illinois after the 2010 census

In 2011, the Illinois State Legislature re-drew the congressional districts based on updated population information from the 2010 census.

District analysis

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores

2026

Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is D+3. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 3 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made Illinois' 17th the 188th most Democratic district nationally.[15]

2024

Heading into the 2024 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was D+2. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 2 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made Illinois' 17th the 198th most Democratic district nationally.[16]

Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Joe Biden (D) would have defeated Donald Trump (R) 52.7%-44.9%.[17]

2022

Heading into the 2022 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was D+2. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 2 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made Illinois' 17th the 196th most Democratic district nationally.[18]

Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Joe Biden (D) would have received 52.7% of the vote in this district and Donald Trump (R) would have received 44.9%.[19]

2018

Heading into the 2018 elections, based on results from the 2016 and 2012 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was D+3. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 3 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made Illinois' 17th Congressional District the 181st most Democratic nationally.[20]

FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 0.97. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 0.97 points toward that party.[21]

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. Illinois State Board of Elections, "Candidate List," accessed November 30, 2015
  2. The New York Times, "Illinois Primary Results," March 15, 2016
  3. QC Times "Schilling eyes 2014" accessed June 11, 2013
  4. QC Times, "Reyes withdraws from congressional primary," accessed January 14, 2014
  5. Politico, "2012 Election Map, Illinois"
  6. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
  7. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 2008," accessed March 28, 2013
  8. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2006," accessed March 28, 2013
  9. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2004," accessed March 28, 2013
  10. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 2002," accessed March 28, 2013
  11. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2000," accessed March 28, 2013
  12. The Associated Press, "Gov. Pritzker signs new Illinois congressional map into law," Nov. 24, 2021
  13. Chicago Tribune, "Fourth version of a Democratic-drawn congressional map passed by legislators, heads to Pritzker," Oct. 29, 2021
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 All About Redistricting, "Illinois," accessed April 16, 2015
  15. Cook Political Report, "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)," accessed July 1, 2025
  16. Cook Political Report, "The 2022 Cook Partisan Voting Index (Cook PVI℠)," accessed January 10, 2024
  17. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2020 presidential results by congressional district, for new and old districts," accessed September 15, 2022
  18. Cook Political Report, "The 2022 Cook Partisan Voting Index (Cook PVI℠)," accessed February 6, 2023
  19. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2020 presidential results by congressional district, for new and old districts," accessed September 15, 2022
  20. Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
  21. FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018


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