99chambers

Illinois State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2022

Illinois Legislative District 7

A district of about 223,000 people, 61% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes D+78.1 relative to the nation for president.

Mike Simmons-Gessesse (D) · since Nov 8, 2022Next election Nov 7, 2028

2024 election

Nov 5, 2024
  1. Mike Simmons-Gessesse (D) · won100.0%

Unopposed.

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.

D+78.11st most
Democratic
Most DemocraticMost Republican30th seat · the majority lineDistrict 7

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

19 races since 1970; the seat changed party 1 time. District numbers are redrawn after each census: each group is one set of lines.

YearWinnerRunner-upWon by
Lines first used in 2022
2024Mike Simmons-Gessesse (D)—Unopposed
2022Mike Simmons-Gessesse (D)—Unopposed
Lines first used in 2012
2020Heather A. Steans (D)—Unopposed
2016Heather A. Steans (D)—Unopposed
2012Heather A. Steans (D)—Unopposed
Lines first used in 2002
2010Heather A. Steans (D)Adam Robinson (R)67.4
2008 specialHeather A. Steans (D)Tom Durkin (I)61.6
2006Carol Ronen (D)Frank Thomas (R)73.6
2002Carol Ronen (D)—Unopposed
Lines first used in 1992
1998Walter W. Dudycz (R)Michael J. McCormack (D)14.5
1996Walter W. Dudycz (R)Robert Martwick (D)2.9
1992Walter W. Dudycz (R)James M. McGing (D)3.3
Lines first used in 1982
1988Walter W. Dudycz (R)Richard Valentino (D)30.9
1984Walter W. Dudycz (R)FlipRobert J. Egan (D)15.0
1982Robert J. Egan (D)William O. Walters (R)35.4
Lines first used in 1972
1978Leonard F. Becker (R)Thomas N. Geovanis (D)33.3
1974James C. Soper (R)Thomas N. Geovanis (D)15.7
1972James C. Soper (R)Robert C. Pechous (D)27.8
Lines first used in 1962
1970James C. Soper (R)Joseph S. Witkoski (D)23.3

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 7

The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 7's area in each.

U.S. House
IL-9 72%, IL-5 28%
Illinois House of Representatives
RD-13 59%, RD-14 40%

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 7.

Adults with a bachelor's degree61% 93rd pct · 5th of 59 in IL

Higher than 93% of seats.

White adults without a degree14% 16th pct · 50th of 59 in IL

Lower than 84% of seats.

Hispanic residents17% 62nd pct · 23rd of 59 in IL

Higher than 62% of seats.

Black residents15% 74th pct · 16th of 59 in IL

Higher than 74% of seats.

Asian residents9% 69th pct · 19th of 59 in IL

Higher than 69% of seats.

People per square mile27,141 98th pct · 2nd of 59 in IL

Denser than 98% 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 5
41% Black · 55% college gradsD+70.0Held DDistrict 6
84% college gradsD+68.2Held DDistrict 9
70% college gradsD+53.5Held DDistrict 13
45% Black · 54% college gradsD+75.3Not 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