Chris Balkema
Illinois State Senator, District 53 since 2024. Ran in 1 election in 2024, winning 1. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2030.
- 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
- Elections
- 2
- 2024–2026
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
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Balkema sits in the Illinois State Senate
Balkema is closer to the center than 32% of the chamber's Republicans.
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.
| Date | Bill | Balkema | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2026 | HB 5090: PROCUREMENT-CONSTRUCTION | No | No | Yes | Passed 42–12 |
| May 31, 2026 | HB 4379: ADULT CHANGING STATIONS | No | No | Yes | Passed 46–12 |
| May 31, 2026 | HB 4571: COUNTIES CD-AFFORDABLE HOUSING | No | No | Yes | Passed 44–14 |
| May 29, 2026 | HB 4758: JOB APPLICATION-DRIVER LICENSE | No | No | Yes | Passed 41–15 |
| May 29, 2026 | HB 4339: SCH CD-HIGH SCH-REGISTER VOTER | Not voting | No | Yes | Passed 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.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Illinois State Senate, District 53 | Won | — | R+35.6 | — |
| 2024 | Illinois State Senate, District 53 | Won | — | R+35.6 | — |
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
- Illinois State Senate, District 53 · since 2024
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know Balkema
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/fe9dc27f-4e47-4cb0-a008-df80642f6be0
- Wikidata Q132186093
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET