Staggered Senate
Senators serve terms of two or four years in a set pattern each decade, so a different share of the seats is on the ballot each election: 39 of 59 in 2026.
Illinois › Illinois State Senate · November 3, 2026 · Updated Oct 16, 2026
Illinois Legislative District 53
Chris Balkema has no major-party opponent.
Chris Balkema has no major-party opponent.
How this race is decided
The candidates
RepublicanIncumbent
Chris Balkema
Incumbent state senator
- Experience
- State legislature
The district
Lean R+35: how much more Democratic or Republican than the nation it votes for president.
Presidential vote
Precinct results re-aggregated to the current district lines.
Who lives here
- Population
- 185,644
- People per km²
- 16
- Adults with a B.A.+
- 26%
- White, no degree
- 67%of adults
- White 88%
- Hispanic 7%
- Black 2%
- Asian 1%
- Other / multiracial 3%
American Community Survey 2020–2024, aggregated from census tracts.
Past results
Results in the same-numbered district; earlier elections may have used different lines.
2024
90,825 votes · Uncontested by the other party✓ Chris Balkema (R)100.0%
2024 President Vote in this district
103,263 two-party votes · R+35.6 · R+34.1 vs. the nation✓ Donald Trump (R)67.8%
Kamala Harris (D)32.2%
2022
71,697 votes · Uncontested by the other party✓ Jason Barickman (R)100.0%
2020 President Vote in this district
107,905 two-party votes · R+34.8 · R+39.4 vs. the nation✓ Donald Trump (R)67.4%
Joe Biden (D)32.6%
2018 Earlier district lines
66,592 votes · Uncontested by the other party✓ Jason Barickman (R)100.0%
2016 President Vote in this district
90,896 two-party votes · R+36.7 · R+38.9 vs. the nation✓ Donald Trump (R)68.3%
Hillary Clinton (D)31.7%