List of United States senators from Illinois

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Current delegation
Dick Durbin (D)
Tammy Duckworth (D)

Illinois was admitted to the Union on December 3, 1818, and has been represented in the United States Senate by 47 senators. Senators from Illinois are elected to Class 2 and Class 3.

The Senate twice refused to seat Frank L. Smith, in December 1926 for an appointed term and in March 1927 for an elected one, due to corruption, but he is included in this list because Smith and the Governor considered him to be a senator for approximately two years.

Of the eight African Americans ever to sit in the U.S. Senate since Reconstruction, three have held Illinois's Class 3 seat, including Barack Obama who went on to become the president of the United States. This makes Illinois the state with the most African-American senators. Illinois's current U.S. senators are Democrats Dick Durbin (serving since 1997) and Tammy Duckworth (serving since 2017).

List of senators[]

Class 2

Class 2 U.S. senators belong to the electoral cycle that has recently been contested in 2002, 2008, 2014, and 2020. The next election will be in 2026.

C

Class 3

Class 3 U.S. senators belong to the electoral cycle that has recently been contested in 1998, 2004, 2010, and 2016. The next election will be in 2022.

# Senator Party Dates in office Electoral history T T Electoral history Dates in office Party Senator #
1 JBThomas.jpg
Jesse B. Thomas
Democratic-
Republican
December 3, 1818 –
March 3, 1829
Elected October 7, 1818. 1 15th 1 Elected October 7, 1818. December 3, 1818 –
March 3, 1824
Democratic-
Republican
Ninian.Edwards.png
Ninian Edwards
1
16th 2 Re-elected in early February 1819.

Resigned.
17th
Re-elected in 1823.

Retired.
2 18th
  March 4, 1824 –
November 24, 1824
Vacant
Elected to finish Edwards's term.

Retired.
November 24, 1824 –
March 3, 1825
Democratic-
Republican
JMcLean-Senator.jpg
John McLean
2
Anti-Jacksonian 19th 3 Elected in 1825. March 4, 1825 –
December 12, 1835
Jacksonian EliasKane.jpg
Elias Kane
3
20th
2 JMcLean-Senator.jpg
John McLean
Jacksonian March 4, 1829 –
October 14, 1830
Elected in 1829.

Died.
3 21st
Vacant October 14, 1830 –
November 12, 1830
 
3 DJ Baker-Senator.jpg
David J. Baker
Jacksonian November 12, 1830 –
December 11, 1830
Appointed to continue McLean's term.

Retired.
4 JMRobinson-Senator.jpg
John M. Robinson
Jacksonian December 11, 1830 –
March 3, 1841
Elected to finish McLean's term.
22nd 4 Re-elected in 1831.

Died.
23rd
Re-elected in 1835.

Retired.
4 24th
  December 12, 1835 –
December 30, 1835
Vacant
Appointed to finish Kane's term.

Lost election to full term.
December 30, 1835 –
March 3, 1837
Jacksonian William Lee Davidson Ewing bioguide.jpg
William Lee D. Ewing
4
Democratic 25th 5 Elected in 1837.

Retired.
March 4, 1837 –
March 3, 1843
Democratic RYoung.jpg
Richard M. Young
5
26th
5 SMcRoberts-Senator.jpg
Samuel McRoberts
Democratic March 4, 1841 –
March 27, 1843
Elected in 1841.

Died.
5 27th
28th 6 Elected in 1843.

Lost renomination.
March 4, 1843 –
March 3, 1849
Democratic SBreese.jpg
Sidney Breese
6
Vacant March 27, 1843 –
August 16, 1843
 
6 James Semple.jpg
James Semple
Democratic August 16, 1843 –
March 3, 1847
Appointed to continue McRoberts's term.

Elected December 11, 1844 to finish McRoberts's term.[1]

Retired.
29th
7 SADouglas.jpg
Stephen A. Douglas
Democratic March 4, 1847 –
June 3, 1861
Elected in 1846. 6 30th
31st 7 Elected January 13, 1849.[2]

Election voided.[a]
March 4, 1849 –
March 15, 1849
Democratic James Shields - Brady-Handy.jpg
James Shields
7
  March 15, 1849 –
October 27, 1849
Vacant
Elected to finish his own term.

Lost re-election.
October 27, 1849 –
March 3, 1855
Democratic James Shields - Brady-Handy.jpg
James Shields
32nd
Re-elected in 1852. 7 33rd
34th 8 Elected in 1855. March 4, 1855 –
March 3, 1873
Democratic Lyman Trumbull - Brady-Handy.jpg
Lyman Trumbull
8
35th Republican
Re-elected in 1859.

Died.
8 36th
37th 9 Re-elected in 1861.
Vacant June 3, 1861 –
June 26, 1861
 
8 Orville Hickman Browning - Brady-Handy.jpg
Orville Browning
Republican June 26, 1861 –
January 12, 1863
Appointed to continue Douglas's term.

Retired.
9 William Alexander Richardson - Brady-Handy.jpg
William A. Richardson
Democratic January 12, 1863 –
March 3, 1865
Elected to finish Douglas's term.

Retired.
38th
10 Richard.Yates.1.jpg
Richard Yates
Republican March 4, 1865 –
March 3, 1871
Elected in 1864 or 1865.

Retired.
9 39th
40th 10 Re-elected in 1867.

[data unknown/missing]
41st
11 John Alexander Logan.jpg
John A. Logan
Republican March 4, 1871 –
March 3, 1877
Elected in 1870 or 1871.

Lost re-election.
10 42nd Liberal
Republican
43rd 11 Elected in 1873.

Retired.
March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1879
Republican Richard James Oglesby.jpg
Richard J. Oglesby
9
44th
12 DDavis.jpg
David Davis
Independent March 4, 1877 –
March 3, 1883
Elected in 1877.

Retired.
11 45th
46th 12 Elected in 1879. March 4, 1879 –
March 3, 1885
Republican John Alexander Logan.jpg
John A. Logan
10
47th
13 Shelby Moore Cullom - Brady-Handy.jpg
Shelby Moore Cullom
Republican March 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1913
Elected in 1882. 12 48th
49th 13 Legislature failed to elect. March 4, 1885 –
May 18, 1885
Vacant
Re-elected late in 1885.

Died.
May 19, 1885 –
December 26, 1886
Republican John Alexander Logan.jpg
John A. Logan
  December 26, 1886 –
January 19, 1887
Vacant
Elected to finish Logan's term.

Retired.
January 19, 1887 –
March 3, 1891
Republican C.B.Farwell.jpg
Charles B. Farwell
11
50th
Re-elected in 1888. 13 51st
52nd 14 Elected in 1890.

Retired.
March 4, 1891 –
March 3, 1897
Democratic John.M.Palmer.jpg
John M. Palmer
12
53rd
Re-elected in 1894. 14 54th
55th 15 Elected January 20, 1897.[3]

Retired.
March 4, 1897 –
March 3, 1903
Republican William E. Mason.jpg
William E. Mason
13
56th
Re-elected January 22, 1901. 15 57th
58th 16 Elected January 20, 1903.

Lost re-election.
March 4, 1903 –
March 3, 1909
Republican AHopkins.jpg
Albert J. Hopkins
14
59th
Re-elected January 22, 1907.[4]

Lost renomination.
16 60th
61st 17   March 4, 1909 –
June 18, 1909
Vacant
Elected May 26, 1909, but ineligible until resignation from U.S. House.

Election voided.
June 18, 1909 –
July 13, 1912
Republican William Lorimer, Illinois Senator, GGB photo.jpg
William Lorimer
15
62nd
  July 13, 1912 –
March 26, 1913
Vacant
Vacant March 4, 1913 –
March 26, 1913
Legislature elected late. 17 63rd
14 Hamilton lewis.jpg
J. Hamilton Lewis
Democratic March 26, 1913 –
March 3, 1919
Elected late March 26, 1913.

Lost re-election.
Elected March 26, 1913 to finish Lorimer's term. March 26, 1913 –
March 3, 1921
Republican Lawrence Yates Sherman.jpg
Lawrence Y. Sherman
16
64th 18 Re-elected in 1914.

Retired.
65th
15 Joseph Medill McCormick.jpg
Medill McCormick
Republican March 4, 1919 –
February 25, 1925
Elected in 1918.

Lost renomination and died just before the end of the term.
18 66th
67th 19 Elected in 1920.

Lost renomination and died just before the end of the term.
March 4, 1921 –
December 7, 1926
Republican William Brown McKinley.jpg
William B. McKinley
17
68th
16 Charles.S.Deneen.jpg
Charles S. Deneen
Republican February 26, 1925 –
March 3, 1931
Appointed to finish McCormick's term, having already been elected to the next term.
Elected in 1924.

Lost renomination.
19 69th
Appointed to continue McKinley's term.

Not seated/resigned.[b]
December 7, 1926 Republican Frank L. Smith.jpg
Frank L. Smith
18
  December 7, 1926 –
December 3, 1928
Vacant
70th 20
Elected to finish the term.

Lost re-election.
December 3, 1928 –
March 3, 1933
Republican Otis Ferguson Glenn.jpg
Otis F. Glenn
19
71st
17 Hamilton lewis.jpg
J. Hamilton Lewis
Democratic March 4, 1931 –
April 9, 1939
Elected in 1930. 20 72nd
73rd 21 Elected in 1932.

Retired.
March 4, 1933 –
January 3, 1939
Democratic WilliamDieterich.jpg
William H. Dieterich
20
74th
Re-elected in 1936.

Died.
21 75th
76th 22 Elected in 1938. January 3, 1939 –
January 3, 1951
Democratic ScottWikeLucas.jpg
Scott W. Lucas
21
Vacant April 9, 1939 –
April 14, 1939
 
18 James Slattery.jpg
James M. Slattery
Democratic April 14, 1939 –
November 21, 1940
Appointed to continue Lewis's term.

Lost election to finish Lewis's term.
19 CWBrooks-Senator.jpg
Charles W. Brooks
Republican November 22, 1940 –
January 3, 1949
Elected to finish Lewis's term.
77th
Re-elected in 1942.

Lost re-election.
22 78th
79th 23 Re-elected in 1944.

Lost re-election.
80th
20 Paul Douglas.JPG
Paul Douglas
Democratic January 3, 1949 –
January 3, 1967
Elected in 1948. 23 81st
82nd 24 Elected in 1950. January 3, 1951 –
September 7, 1969
Republican EverettDirksen.jpg
Everett Dirksen
22
83rd
Re-elected in 1954. 24 84th
85th 25 Re-elected in 1956.
86th
Re-elected in 1960.

Lost re-election.
25 87th
88th 26 Re-elected in 1962.
89th
21 Charles Percy.jpg
Charles H. Percy
Republican January 3, 1967 –
January 3, 1985
Elected in 1966. 26 90th
91st 27 Re-elected in 1968.

Died.
  September 7, 1969 –
September 17, 1969
Vacant
Appointed to continue Dirksen's term.

Lost election to finish Dirksen's term.
September 17, 1969 –
November 3, 1970
Republican Ralph T. Smith.jpg
Ralph Tyler Smith
23
  November 3, 1970 –
November 17, 1970
Vacant
Elected to finish Dirksen's term. November 17, 1970 –
January 3, 1981
Democratic AdlaistevensonIII.jpg
Adlai Stevenson III
24
92nd
Re-elected in 1972. 27 93rd
94th 28 Re-elected in 1974.

Retired.
95th
Re-elected in 1978.

Lost re-election.
28 96th
97th 29 Elected in 1980. January 3, 1981 –
January 3, 1993
Democratic Alan John Dixon.jpg
Alan J. Dixon
25
98th
22 Paul Simon (US Senator from Illinois).jpg
Paul Simon
Democratic January 3, 1985 –
January 3, 1997
Elected in 1984. 29 99th
100th 30 Re-elected in 1986.

Lost renomination.
101st
Re-elected in 1990.

Retired.
30 102nd
103rd 31 Elected in 1992.

Lost re-election.
January 3, 1993 –
January 3, 1999
Democratic Sen. Carol Moseley Braun.jpg
Carol Moseley Braun
26
104th
23 Richard Durbin official photo.jpg
Dick Durbin
Democratic January 3, 1997 –
Present
Elected in 1996. 31 105th
106th 32 Elected in 1998.

Retired.
January 3, 1999 –
January 3, 2005
Republican Peter Fitzgerald.jpg
Peter Fitzgerald
27
107th
Re-elected in 2002. 32 108th
109th 33 Elected in 2004.

Resigned to become U.S. President.
January 3, 2005 –
November 16, 2008
Democratic BarackObamaportrait.jpg
Barack Obama
28
110th
  November 16, 2008 –
January 12, 2009
Vacant
Re-elected in 2008. 33 111th
Appointed December 30, 2008, but was certified late because his appointment was disputed.

Retired when successor qualified.
January 12, 2009–
November 29, 2010
Democratic Sen Roland Burris.jpg
Roland Burris
29
Elected to finish Obama's term.[c] November 29, 2010 –
January 3, 2017
Republican Senator Mark Kirk official portrait crop.jpg
Mark Kirk
30
112th 34 Elected to full term in 2010.[c]

Lost re-election.
113th
Re-elected in 2014. 34 114th
115th 35 Elected in 2016. January 3, 2017 –
Present
Democratic Tammy Duckworth, official portrait, 115th Congress (cropped).jpg
Tammy Duckworth
31
116th
Re-elected in 2020. 35 117th
118th 36 To be determined in the 2022 election.
119th
To be determined in the 2026 election. 36 120th
# Senator Party Years in office Electoral history T   T Electoral history Years in office Party Senator #
Class 2 Class 3

Living former senators[]

As of August 2021, there are six living former U.S. senators from Illinois. The most recent senator to die was Alan J. Dixon (served 1981–1993) on July 6, 2014. The most recently serving senator to die was Paul Simon (served 1985–1997) on December 9, 2003.

Senator Term of office Date of birth (and age)
Adlai Stevenson III November 17, 1970 – January 3, 1981 (1930-10-10) October 10, 1930 (age 90)
Carol Moseley Braun January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1999 (1947-08-16) August 16, 1947 (age 74)
Peter Fitzgerald January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2005 (1960-10-20) October 20, 1960 (age 60)
Barack Obama January 3, 2005 – November 16, 2008 (1961-08-04) August 4, 1961 (age 60)
Roland Burris January 12, 2009 – November 29, 2010 (1937-08-03) August 3, 1937 (age 84)
Mark Kirk November 29, 2010 – January 3, 2017 (1959-09-15) September 15, 1959 (age 61)

Superlatives[]

Longest service[]

Senator First served Last served Length of service
Shelby Moore Cullom March 4, 1883 March 4, 1913 30 years, 0 days
(10,956 days)
Dick Durbin January 3, 1997 Present 24 years, 237 days
(9,003 days)
Everett Dirksen January 3, 1951 September 7, 1969 18 years, 247 days
(6,822 days)
Charles H. Percy January 3, 1967 January 3, 1985 18 years, 0 days
(6,575 days)
Paul Douglas January 3, 1949 January 3, 1967 18 years, 0 days
(6,574 days)

Shortest service[]

Senator First served Last served Length of service
David J. Baker November 12, 1830 December 11, 1830 4 weeks and 1 day
(29 days)
Ralph Tyler Smith September 17, 1969 November 16, 1970 1 year, 1 month, 4 weeks and 2 days
(425 days)
William Lee D. Ewing December 30, 1835 March 3, 1837 1 year, 2 months and 3 days
(429 days)
Orville Hickman Browning June 26, 1861 January 12, 1863 1 year, 6 months, 2 weeks and 3 days
(565 days)
James M. Slattery April 14, 1939 November 21, 1940 1 year, 7 months and 1 week
(587 days)

Youngest at beginning of service[]

Senator Date of birth First served Age
Elias Kane June 7, 1794 March 4, 1825 30 years, 8 months and 25 days
John McLean February 4, 1791 November 23, 1824 33 years, 9 months and 19 days
Stephen A. Douglas April 23, 1813 March 4, 1847 33 years, 10 months and 9 days
John McCracken Robinson April 10, 1794 December 11, 1830 36 years, 8 months and 1 day
David J. Baker September 7, 1792 November 12, 1830 38 years, 2 months and 5 days

Oldest at end of service[]

Senator Date of birth Last served Age
Shelby Moore Cullom November 22, 1829 March 3, 1913 83 years, 3 months and 9 days
John M. Palmer September 13, 1817 March 3, 1897 79 years, 5 months and 18 days
Dick Durbin November 21, 1944 Present 76 years, 9 months and 7 days
J. Hamilton Lewis May 18, 1863 April 9, 1939 75 years, 10 months and 22 days
Paul Douglas March 26, 1892 January 3, 1967 74 years, 9 months and 8 days

Notes[]

  1. ^ Shields was not seated because he had not been a citizen for the required nine years. He reached that mark on October 21, 1849, so his subsequent election was accepted by the Senate.
  2. ^ When Smith presented his credentials to serve the remainder of McKinely's term, the Senate refused to seat him based on what it saw as an election rife with fraud and corruption When Smith returned with his credentials for the term he was elected to, the Senate again refused to seat him for the same reasons. Smith and the Governor considered him to be the rightful senator, but he resigned in February 1928. The Senate does not consider him to have been a senator.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Kirk was elected to fill the remainder of Barack Obama's term in a special election held the same day as the general election for the next term, which he also won.
  1. ^ Byrd & Wolff, p. 101.
  2. ^ Polk, James (1853). The Statesman's Manual: The Addresses and Messages of the Presidents of the United States, Inaugural, Annual, and Special, from 1789 to 1851. E. Walker. p. 1890. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  3. ^ "Mason in Illinois". The New York Times. January 21, 1897. p. 2.
  4. ^ "NO CHOICE IN RHODE ISLAND". The New York Times. January 23, 1907. p. 1.

References[]

See also[]

  • List of United States representatives from Illinois
  • United States congressional delegations from Illinois
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