Illinois State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2022
Illinois Legislative District 46
A district of about 227,000 people, 34% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes D+16.2 relative to the nation for president.
2024 election
Nov 5, 2024- Dave Koehler (D) · won57.6%
- Sally Owens (R)42.4%
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 12:13 PM ET
Where it sits among all 59 seats
Every Illinois State Senate seat by partisan lean, from most Democratic to most Republican. Lean is the seat's presidential vote on current lines, relative to the nation.
Democratic
Source: 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET
Every election for this seat
18 races since 1970. District numbers are redrawn after each census: each group is one set of lines.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Won by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lines first used in 2022 | |||
| 2024 | Dave Koehler (D) | Sally Owens (R) | 15.2 |
| 2022 | Dave Koehler (D) | Desi Anderson (R) | 16.1 |
| Lines first used in 2012 | |||
| 2020 | Dave Koehler (D) | Mary Burress (R) | 7.8 |
| 2016 | Dave Koehler (D) | — | Unopposed |
| 2012 | Dave Koehler (D) | Pat Sullivan (R) | 8.4 |
| Lines first used in 2002 | |||
| 2010 | Dave Koehler (D) | — | Unopposed |
| 2006 | Dave Koehler (D) | Ernest E. Russell (R) | 15.2 |
| 2002 | George P. Shadid (D) | — | Unopposed |
| Lines first used in 1992 | |||
| 1998 | George P. Shadid (D) | — | Unopposed |
| 1996 | George P. Shadid (D) | — | Unopposed |
| 1992 | Richard Luft (D) | John W. Stevens (R) | 34.1 |
| Lines first used in 1982 | |||
| 1988 | Richard Luft (D) | — | Unopposed |
| 1984 | Richard Luft (D) | Robert Hass (R) | 34.8 |
| 1982 | Richard Luft (D) | Craig J. Findley (R) | 1.7 |
| Lines first used in 1972 | |||
| 1978 | Prescott E. Bloom (R) | Mary E. Harkrader (D) | 21.1 |
| 1974 | Prescott E. Bloom (R) | Daniel W. Hardy (D) | 1.1 |
| 1972 | Ralph Hudson Sours (R) | Joseph J. Solls (D) | 18.0 |
| Lines first used in 1962 | |||
| 1970 | Edward McBroom (R) | — | Unopposed |
Won by: the winner's lead over the runner-up, in points of the vote. Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Districts that overlap District 46
The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 46's area in each.
Every race on these lines
Results recomputed from precinct returns as if today's boundaries had always existed, so years compare like for like.
| 2016 | 2018 | 2020 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President | R+2.3 | No race | D+0.4 | D+2.5 |
| U.S. Senate | R+8.1 | No race | R+0.7 | No race |
| Governor | No race | R+0.2 | No race | No race |
Outlined: the race for this seat itselfBlank: no race that year
Source: 99chambers results archive: precinct results allocated to current lines; 2026: civicAPIUpdated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Who lives here, compared
Grey bars show the spread of all 59 seats. Small marks are other seats in Illinois. The black marker is District 46.
Higher than 50% of seats.
Higher than 69% of seats.
Lower than 78% of seats.
Higher than 76% of seats.
Lower than 57% of seats.
Less dense than 67% of seats.
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current linesUpdated Oct 13, 2026, 5:06 AM ET
Seats most like this one
Nearest seats on demographics, density and lean.
District 4832% college gradsD+3.9Held DDistrict 18
37% college gradsD+10.2Held DDistrict 57
30% Black · 30% college gradsD+11.6Held DDistrict 19
28% Black · 41% college gradsD+10.1Not up in 2026
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current lines; 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET