99chambers
DemocratIn office since Nov 2022

Willie Preston

Illinois State Senator, District 16 since 2022. Next on the ballot in 2028.

Illinois State Senator, District 16

Official websiteWikipedia

In office
3 yrs
Since 2022
Bills became law
8
109 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed
3.0%
Chamber median 2.8%
With party
98%
On votes splitting the parties
Next election
2028
Nov 7, 2028

Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Committees

As of 2026-10.

  • Consumer Protection · chair
  • State Government · vice chair
  • Appropriations-Public Safety and Infrastructure
  • Commerce
  • Education
  • Financial Institutions
  • Insurance

Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 109 sponsored · 8 became law
BillIntroCmteSenateHouseLaw
SB 3070 EDUC-FOREIGN LANG ALTERNATIVE
Became law Aug 2026
HB 5511 DIGITAL AGE ASSURANCE
Became law Jul 2026
SB 2918 PARENT-TEACHER ADVISORY COMM
Became law Jul 2026
SB 2899 INS CD-STUTTERING COVERAGE
Became law Jun 2026
HB 1575 RESTRICT COVENANT MODIFY FEE
Became law Aug 2025

Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where Preston sits in the Illinois State Senate

Preston is closer to the center than 79% of the chamber's Democrats.

Dem. medianRep. medianPrestonMore liberalMore conservative

Closest: Mike Hastings, Linda Holmes, Mike Halpin

Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:50 PM ET

With Preston’s party

  • Votes with the chamber's Democrats98%
  • Cosponsorships of the other party's bills9%

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: Preston’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.

DateBillPrestonDem. majorityRep. majorityResult
May 31, 2026HB 5090: PROCUREMENT-CONSTRUCTIONYesYesNoPassed 42–12
May 31, 2026HB 4379: ADULT CHANGING STATIONSYesYesNoPassed 46–12
May 31, 2026HB 4571: COUNTIES CD-AFFORDABLE HOUSINGYesYesNoPassed 44–14
May 29, 2026HB 4758: JOB APPLICATION-DRIVER LICENSENot votingYesNoPassed 41–15
May 29, 2026HB 4339: SCH CD-HIGH SCH-REGISTER VOTERYesYesNoPassed 41–12

Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls

Career

Offices held, and every time Preston 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.

YearRaceResultMargin
2024Illinois State Senate, District 16Won—
2022Illinois State Senate, District 16Won—

Source: 99chambers results archive

Seats Preston has held

Source: 99chambers results archive

How we know Preston

One person, matched across every source we use.

Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET