Bill Cunningham
Illinois State Senator, District 18 since 2012. Did not run for re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027.
- In office
- 14 yrs
- Since 2012
- Bills became law
- 23
- 106 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 1.9%
- Chamber median 2.8%
- With party
- 100%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +18.7
- Won 2022
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Assignments · vice chair
- Committee on Administrative Rules · co-chair
- Executive · vice chair
- Energy and Public Utilities
- Executive Appointments
- Higher Education
- Insurance
- Tourism Special
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Cunningham sits in the Illinois State Senate
Cunningham is closer to the center than 13% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Laura Murphy, Sara Feigenholtz, Robert Peters
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:50 PM ET
With Cunningham’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats100%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills7%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Illinois State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Cunningham’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Cunningham | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2026 | HB 5090: PROCUREMENT-CONSTRUCTION | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 42–12 |
| May 31, 2026 | HB 4379: ADULT CHANGING STATIONS | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 46–12 |
| May 31, 2026 | HB 4571: COUNTIES CD-AFFORDABLE HOUSING | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 44–14 |
| May 29, 2026 | HB 4758: JOB APPLICATION-DRIVER LICENSE | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 41–15 |
| May 29, 2026 | HB 4339: SCH CD-HIGH SCH-REGISTER VOTER | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 41–12 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Cunningham was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Illinois State Senate, District 18 | Won | D+18.7 |
| 2018 | Illinois State Senate, District 18 | Won | — |
| 2014 | Illinois State Senate, District 18 | Won | D+16.7 |
| 2012 | Illinois State Senate, District 18 | Won | D+27.5 |
| 2010 | Illinois House of Representatives, District 35 | Won | D+16.7 |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Seats Cunningham has held
- Illinois State Senate, District 18 · since 2012
- Illinois House of Representatives, District 35 · 2010–2012
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Cunningham has run against
- Christine Shanahan McGovern (R) · 2022 general, won
- Shaun Colin Murphy (R) · 2014 general, won
- Barbara Ruth Bellar (R) · 2012 general, won
- Barbara Ruth Bellar (R) · 2010 general, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know Cunningham
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/5fe6a4a5-da36-4fa0-8c36-739648b9ce0c
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET