Leaving office January 1, 2027.Lost re-election in 2026. This page switches to the former-officeholder layout when the term ends.

DemocratIn office until January 1, 2027

Linda Holmes

Illinois State Senator, District 42 since 2006. Lost re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027. Ran in 7 elections between 2006 and 2022, winning 7.

Illinois State Senator, District 42Born 1959

Official website Wikipedia

In office: 20 yrs; Since 2006
Bills became law: 10; 46 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed: 3.9%; Chamber median 2.8%
With party: 99%; On votes splitting the parties
Last margin: +20.5; Won 2022
Elections: 8; 2006–2026

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

Committees

As of 2026-10.

Local Government · vice chair
Agriculture
Executive
Labor
Office of the Legislative Ethics Commission
Pensions

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

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 46 sponsored · 10 became law

BillIntroCmteSenateHouseLaw

SB 807 STATE GOVERNMENT-TECH
Became law Aug 2026

SB 2802 PEN CD-IMRF-DEATH BENEFIT
Became law Aug 2026

HB 4540 POSSESSION DISPUTES-PETS
Became law Jul 2026

HB 4462 POWER OF ATTY-PROPERTY
Became law Jul 2026

HB 4255 CRIM CD-TRAVELING ANIMAL ACTS
Became law Jun 2026

Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where Holmes sits in the Illinois State Senate

Holmes is closer to the center than 77% of the chamber's Democrats.

Closest: Lakesia Collins, Emil Jones, Julie Morrison

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

With Holmes’s party

Votes with the chamber's Democrats99%
Cosponsorships of the other party's bills15%

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

Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships

Key votes

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

Date	Bill	Holmes	Dem. majority	Rep. majority	Result
May 31, 2026	HB 5090: PROCUREMENT-CONSTRUCTION	Yes	Yes	No	Passed 42–12
May 31, 2026	HB 4379: ADULT CHANGING STATIONS	Yes	Yes	No	Passed 46–12
May 31, 2026	HB 4571: COUNTIES CD-AFFORDABLE HOUSING	Yes	Yes	No	Passed 44–14
May 29, 2026	HB 4758: JOB APPLICATION-DRIVER LICENSE	Yes	Yes	No	Passed 41–15
May 29, 2026	HB 4339: SCH CD-HIGH SCH-REGISTER VOTER	Yes	Yes	No	Passed 41–12

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

Career

Offices held, and every time Holmes was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.

200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262028Illinois State Senate, District 42

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 Legislative District 42	Lost	—	—	—
2022	Illinois State Senate, District 42	Won	D+20.5	D+26.3	−5.8
2018	Illinois State Senate, District 42	Won	—	—	—
2014	Illinois State Senate, District 42	Won	—	—	—
2014	Illinois State Senate, District 42 (primary)	Won	—	—	—
2012	Illinois State Senate, District 42	Won	D+29.2	—	—
2008	Illinois State Senate, District 42	Won	D+9.2	—	—
2006	Illinois State Senate, District 42	Won	D+4.8	—	—