99chambers
RepublicanIn office since Nov 2024

Chris Balkema

Illinois State Senator, District 53 since 2024. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2030.

Illinois State Senator, District 53

Official websiteWikipedia

In office
1 yr
Since 2024
Bills became law
6
74 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed
1.0%
Chamber median 2.8%
With party
96%
On votes splitting the parties
Next election
2030
Nov 5, 2030

Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET

Committees

As of 2026-10.

  • Appropriations-Education · republican spokesperson
  • Agriculture
  • Behavioral and Mental Health
  • Education
  • Labor
  • Pensions
  • Revenue

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

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 74 sponsored · 6 became law
BillIntroCmteSenateHouseLaw
HB 5309 WILDLIFE CD-MUTE SWAN
Became law Aug 2026
HB 5494 STROKE CARE MODERNIZATION
Became law Jul 2026
SB 2826 PEN CD-IMRF-BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Became law Jul 2026
SB 2683 LOCAL GOV DEBT-IROQUOIS CTY
Became law Dec 2025
HB 2366 EPA-ELECTRONIC REPORTING
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 Balkema sits in the Illinois State Senate

Balkema is closer to the center than 32% of the chamber's Republicans.

Dem. medianRep. medianBalkemaMore liberalMore conservative

Closest: Craig Wilcox, Li Arellano, Dave Syverson

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

With Balkema’s party

  • Votes with the chamber's Republicans96%
  • Cosponsorships of the other party's bills33%

Black tick: the average of Republicans in the Illinois State Senate.

Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships

Key votes

Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Balkema’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.

DateBillBalkemaRep. majorityDem. majorityResult
May 31, 2026HB 5090: PROCUREMENT-CONSTRUCTIONNoNoYesPassed 42–12
May 31, 2026HB 4379: ADULT CHANGING STATIONSNoNoYesPassed 46–12
May 31, 2026HB 4571: COUNTIES CD-AFFORDABLE HOUSINGNoNoYesPassed 44–14
May 29, 2026HB 4758: JOB APPLICATION-DRIVER LICENSENoNoYesPassed 41–15
May 29, 2026HB 4339: SCH CD-HIGH SCH-REGISTER VOTERNot votingNoYesPassed 41–12

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

Career

Offices held, and every time Balkema 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.

YearRaceResultMarginSeat+/−
2026Illinois Legislative District 53Won—R+35.6—
2024Illinois State Senate, District 53Won———

Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET

Campaign money, 2025–26

Raised
$113.5K
Spent
$99.6K
Cash
$38.8K

Source: Illinois State Board of Elections filings through Sep 30, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 9:15 AM ET

Campaign committees

Open committees can still raise and spend money.

Balkema for State Senate
State		Active

Source: Illinois State Board of Elections filings through Sep 30, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 9:15 AM ET

Seats Balkema has held

Source: 99chambers results archive

How we know Balkema

One person, matched across every source we use.

Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET