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List of United States senators from Illinois facts for kids

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Current Senators from Illinois
Dick Durbin (D)
Tammy Duckworth (D)

Illinois became part of the Union on December 3, 1818. Since then, 47 people have served as U.S. Senators for Illinois. Each state has two senators who represent its people in the U.S. Senate, which is part of the U.S. Congress.

Senators from Illinois are chosen for two different groups, called Class 2 and Class 3. This means their election years are staggered, so one seat is usually up for election every two years.

One interesting fact about Illinois is that it has had more African-American senators than any other state. Three of the eight African Americans who have served in the U.S. Senate since the Reconstruction era have been from Illinois. This includes Barack Obama, who later became the president of the United States.

Currently, Illinois's U.S. senators are Democrats Dick Durbin, who has been serving since 1997, and Tammy Duckworth, who started serving in 2017. The senator who served the longest from Illinois was Shelby Moore Cullom, from 1883 to 1913.

There was one time when the Senate decided not to let Frank L. Smith serve as a senator. This happened twice, once in 1926 and again in 1927, because of concerns about how he was chosen. However, he is still included in the list of senators because he and the Governor believed he was a senator for about two years.

What is a U.S. Senator?

A U.S. Senator is an elected official who represents their state in the United States Senate. The Senate is one of two parts of the U.S. Congress, which makes laws for the whole country. Senators serve six-year terms, and their main jobs include voting on new laws, approving treaties, and confirming important government officials.

Illinois's Senators Over Time

Illinois has had many important people serve as its senators throughout history. These senators have played a big role in shaping both Illinois and the United States.

The two Senate seats for Illinois are called Class 2 and Class 3.

  • Class 2 U.S. senators are part of an election cycle that recently included 2002, 2008, 2014, and 2020. The next election for this seat will be in 2026.
  • Class 3 U.S. senators are part of an election cycle that recently included 2004, 2010, 2016, and 2022. The next election for this seat will be in 2028.

Many different people have served as senators for Illinois. Some of the notable ones include:

See also

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

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