Illinois's 15th congressional district

Illinois's 15th congressional district
Illinois's 15th congressional district
	Illinois's 15th congressional district since January 3, 2013
Representative
	Mary Miller; R–Oakland
Area	14,696 sq mi (38,060 km2)
Distribution	51.4% rural; 48.6% urban;
Population (2019)	685,859
Median household; income	$56,268
Ethnicity	90.8% White; 4.3% Black; 2.7% Hispanic; 1.3% Two or more races; 0.7% Asian; 0.2% other;
Cook PVI	R+26

The 15th congressional district of Illinois is located in eastern and southeastern Illinois. It is currently represented by Republican Mary Miller.

With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+26, it is the most Republican district in Illinois.^[2] In most of the district, there are no elected Democrats above the county level, and Donald Trump carried over 70% of the district's vote in both of his bids for president.

2011 redistricting[]

The congressional district covers parts of Bond, Champaign, Ford and Madison counties, and all of Clark, Clay, Clinton, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jasper, Johnson, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Massac, Moultrie, Pope, Richland, Saline, Shelby, Vermilion, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, and White counties. All or parts of Centralia, Charleston, Danville, Edwardsville, Effingham, Glen Carbon, Mattoon, and Rantoul will be included.^[4] The representatives for these districts were elected in the 2012 primary and general elections, and the boundaries became effective on January 5, 2013.

2012 election[]

The district covered much of the territory previously in the 19th district, and its incumbent, Republican John Shimkus, filed to run in the redrawn 15th.^[5]^[6] Angela Michael, a retired nurse and pro-life activist,^[7] ran on a single-issue pro-life Democratic ticket.^[8]

Illinois's 15th congressional district, 2012^[9]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Shimkus (incumbent)	205,775	68.6
	Democratic	Angela Michael	94,162	31.4
Total votes			299,937	100.0
	Republican hold

2014 election[]

Illinois's 15th congressional district, 2014^[10]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Shimkus (incumbent)	166,274	74.9
	Democratic	Eric Thorsland	55,652	25.1
Total votes			221,926	100.0
	Republican hold

2016 election[]

Shimkus faced no opposition in the general election, after facing a challenge in the Republican primary from Illinois State Senator Kyle McCarter, who had Tea Party backing and funding from the Club for Growth.^[11]^[12]

Illinois's 15th congressional district, 2016^[13]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Shimkus (incumbent)	274,554	100.0
Total votes			274,554	100.0
	Republican hold

2018 election[]

Shimkus loomed large in the 15th, but finally faced credible (if not well-funded) Democratic opposition from a local teacher and former Obama campaign worker.^[14]

Illinois's 15th congressional district, 2018^[15]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Shimkus (incumbent)	181,294	70.9
	Democratic	Kevin Gaither	74,309	29.1
	Independent	Tim E. Buckner (write-in)	5	0.0
Total votes			255,608	100.0
	Republican hold

2020 election[]

After John Shimkus announced that he would not seek reelection, Republican nominee Mary Miller and Democratic nominee Erika Weaver emerged as contenders for the open Congressional seat.^[16]

Illinois's 15th congressional district, 2020^[17]^[18]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Mary Miller	244,947	73.45	+2.52%
	Democratic	Erika Weaver	88,559	26.55	-2.52%
Total votes			333,506	100.0
	Republican hold

History of district boundaries[]

2003 – 2013[]

The district included the cities of Charleston, Urbana, Danville, and Champaign, and all or parts of Livingston, Iroquois, Ford, McLean, DeWitt, Champaign, Vermillion, Macon, Piatt, Douglas, Edgar, Moultrie, Coles, Cumberland, Clark, Crawford, Lawrence, Wabash, Edwards, White, Saline, and Gallatin counties.

List of members representing the district[]

Representative	Party	Years	Cong ress	Electoral history
District created March 4, 1873
John R. Eden	Democratic	March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1879	43rd 44th 45th	Elected in 1872. Re-elected in 1874. Re-elected in 1876. [data unknown/missing]
Albert P. Forsythe	Greenback	March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881	46th	Elected in 1878. [data unknown/missing]
Samuel W. Moulton	Democratic	March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1883	47th	Elected in 1880. Redistricted to the 17th district.
Joseph G. Cannon	Republican	March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1891	48th 49th 50th 51st	Redistricted from the 14th district and re-elected in 1882. Re-elected in 1884. Re-elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. [data unknown/missing]
Samuel T. Busey	Democratic	March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893	52nd	Elected in 1890. Lost re-election.
Joseph G. Cannon	Republican	March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895	53rd	Elected in 1892. Redistricted to the 12th district.
Benjamin F. Marsh	Republican	March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1901	54th 55th 56th	Redistricted from the 11th district and re-elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Re-elected in 1898. [data unknown/missing]
J. Ross Mickey	Democratic	March 4, 1901 – March 3, 1903	57th	Elected in 1900. [data unknown/missing]
George W. Prince	Republican	March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1913	58th 59th 60th 61st 62nd	Redistricted from the 10th district and re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. [data unknown/missing]
Stephen A. Hoxworth	Democratic	March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1915	63rd	Elected in 1912. [data unknown/missing]
Edward J. King	Republican	March 4, 1915 – February 17, 1929	64th 65th 66th 67th 68th 69th 70th	Elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Died.
Vacant		February 17, 1929 – November 4, 1930	70th 71st
Burnett M. Chiperfield	Republican	November 4, 1930 – March 3, 1933	71st 72nd	. Re-elected in 1930. [data unknown/missing]
J. Leroy Adair	Democratic	March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1937	73rd 74th	Elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. [data unknown/missing]
Lewis L. Boyer	Democratic	January 3, 1937 – January 3, 1939	75th	Elected in 1936. Lost re-election.
Robert B. Chiperfield	Republican	January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1949	76th 77th 78th 79th 80th	Elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Redistricted to the 19th district.
Noah M. Mason	Republican	January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1963	81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th	Redistricted from the 12th district and re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. [data unknown/missing]
Charlotte T. Reid	Republican	January 3, 1963 – October 7, 1971	88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd	Elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Resigned to become member of the Federal Communications Commission.
Vacant		October 7, 1971 – April 4, 1972	92nd
Cliffard D. Carlson	Republican	April 4, 1972 – January 3, 1973	92nd	Elected to finish Reid's term. Retired.
Leslie C. Arends	Republican	January 3, 1973 – December 31, 1974	93rd	Redistricted from the 17th district and re-elected in 1972. Resigned.
Tim Lee Hall	Democratic	January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1977	94th	Elected in 1974 Lost re-election.
Tom Corcoran	Republican	January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1983	95th 96th 97th	Elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Redistricted to the 14th district.
Edward R. Madigan	Republican	January 3, 1983 – March 8, 1991	98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd	Redistricted from the 21st district and re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
Vacant		March 8, 1991 – July 2, 1991	102nd
Thomas W. Ewing	Republican	July 2, 1991 – January 3, 2001	102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th	Elected to finish Madigan's term. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Retired.
Timothy V. Johnson	Republican	January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2013	107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th	Elected in 2000 Re-elected in 2002 Re-elected in 2004 Re-elected in 2006 Re-elected in 2008 Re-elected in 2010 Retired.
John Shimkus	Republican	January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2021	113th 114th 115th 116th	Redistricted from the 19th district Re-elected in 2012 Re-elected in 2014 Re-elected in 2016 Re-elected in 2018 Retired.
Mary Miller	Republican	January 3, 2021 – Present	117th	Elected in 2020.

Recent election results from statewide races[]

Year	Office	Results
2000	President	George W. Bush 54% - Al Gore 42%
2004	President	George W. Bush 58% - John Kerry 41%
2008	President	John McCain 50% - Barack Obama 47%
2012	President	Mitt Romney 64% - Barack Obama 34%
2016	President	Donald Trump 71% - Hillary Clinton 25%
2018	Governor	Bruce Rauner 60% - J.B. Pritzker 29%
2020	President	Donald Trump 72% - Joe Biden 25%

Historical district boundaries[]

2003 - 2013

References[]

^ https://www.census.gov/mycd/?st=17&cd=15
^ ^a ^b "Introducing the 2021 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index". The Cook Political Report. April 15, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
^ Barone, Michael; McCutcheon, Chuck (2013). The Almanac of American Politics 2014. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 588–590. ISBN 978-0-226-10544-4. Copyright National Journal.
^ Illinois Congressional District 15, Illinois Board of Elections
^ "Congressman Shimkus Files for Re-Election in 15th Congressional District". WBJD Radio. December 23, 2011. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
^ "2012 General Election Candidates" (PDF). Champaign County Clerk. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
^ "IL-15: Fake Democrat running against GOP Rep. John Shimkus". dailykos.com.
^ Huchel, Brian L. (December 24, 2011). "Second candidate files in 15th Congressional District". Commercial-News. Archived from the original on July 10, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
^ "2012 General Election Official Vote Totals" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 19, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
^ "Illinois General Election 2014". Illinois State Board of Elections. November 4, 2014. Archived from the original on September 13, 2018. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
^ capitolfax.com/2016/01/13/poll-has-shimkus-leading-mccarter-65-13/
^ "Will John Shimkus be the tea party's next victim? A new poll says 'Hell no!'". dailykos.com.
^ "2016 General Election Official Vote Totals". Illinois State Board of Elections. November 8, 2016. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
^ http://www.dailyregister.com/news/20180320/democrats-nominate-gaither-to-face-shimkus-in-15th-congressional-district
^ "2018 General Election Official Vote Totals Book".
^ "Miller, Weaver face off for House". dailyeasternnews.com.
^ "Election Results 2020 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. December 4, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
^ "Illinois 2020 Election Results". Chicago Sun-Times. November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.

Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present

External links[]

Coordinates: 38°54′19″N 88°26′32″W / 38.90528°N 88.44222°W / 38.90528; -88.44222

[1] ttps://www.census.gov/mycd/?st=17&cd=15

[Cook-2] "Introducing the 2021 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index". The Cook Political Report. April 15, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2021.

[Barone2014-3] Barone, Michael; McCutcheon, Chuck (2013). The Almanac of American Politics 2014. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 588–590. ISBN 978-0-226-10544-4. Copyright National Journal.

[4] Illinois Congressional District 15, Illinois Board of Elections

[5] "Congressman Shimkus Files for Re-Election in 15th Congressional District". WBJD Radio. December 23, 2011. Retrieved December 26, 2011.

[6] "2012 General Election Candidates" (PDF). Champaign County Clerk. Retrieved November 6, 2012.

[7] "IL-15: Fake Democrat running against GOP Rep. John Shimkus". dailykos.com.

[8] Huchel, Brian L. (December 24, 2011). "Second candidate files in 15th Congressional District". Commercial-News. Archived from the original on July 10, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2011.

[9] "2012 General Election Official Vote Totals" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 19, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2012.

[Generalelection-10] "Illinois General Election 2014". Illinois State Board of Elections. November 4, 2014. Archived from the original on September 13, 2018. Retrieved December 18, 2014.

[11] tolfax.com/2016/01/13/poll-has-shimkus-leading-mccarter-65-13/

[12] "Will John Shimkus be the tea party's next victim? A new poll says 'Hell no!'". dailykos.com.

[13] "2016 General Election Official Vote Totals". Illinois State Board of Elections. November 8, 2016. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2016.

[14] ttp://www.dailyregister.com/news/20180320/democrats-nominate-gaither-to-face-shimkus-in-15th-congressional-district

[Generalresults-15] "2018 General Election Official Vote Totals Book".

[16] "Miller, Weaver face off for House". dailyeasternnews.com.

[ILSBE-17] "Election Results 2020 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. December 4, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2020.

[STGeneral-18] "Illinois 2020 Election Results". Chicago Sun-Times. November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.

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