Illinois State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2022
Illinois Legislative District 17
A district of about 203,000 people, 66% Black, 26% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes D+62.6 relative to the nation for president.
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.
Democratic
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 race on these lines
Results recomputed from precinct returns as if today's boundaries had always existed, so years compare like for like.
| 2016 | 2018 | 2020 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Senate | D+2.2 | No race | R+4.7 | No race |
| Governor | No race | R+6.7 | No race | No race |
| Illinois State Senate | No race | No race | No race | D+71.3 |
Outlined: the race for this seat itselfBlank: no race that year
Source: 99chambers results archive: precinct results allocated to current lines; 2026: civicAPIUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 3:01 PM ET
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 17.
Lower than 69% of seats.
Lower than 86% of seats.
Higher than 52% of seats.
Highest of 59 seats.
Lower than 95% of seats.
Less dense than 69% 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 1549% Black · 25% college gradsD+50.2Held DDistrict 4
23% Hispanic · 45% BlackD+56.4Not up in 2026District 16
27% Hispanic · 46% BlackD+50.2Not up in 2026District 14
46% Black · 30% college gradsD+41.0Held D
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
Who has held it
These lines took effect in 2022.
- Elgie Sims (D)
2027– · Won 2026 by 71.3 - Elgie R. Sims Jr. (D)
2023–2027 · Won 2022 by 97.7
Source: Past results: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)