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Who ran Illinois
| Years | Governor | The legislature |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 to 1991 | Jim Thompson (R) | Democrats ran the legislature most of these years |
| 1991 to 1999 | Jim Edgar (R) | Split; Republicans held both chambers only in 1995 and 1996 |
| 1999 to 2003 | George Ryan (R) | Split: Republican Senate, Democratic House |
| 2003 to 2009 | Rod Blagojevich (D) | Democrats ran both chambers |
| 2009 to 2015 | Pat Quinn (D) | Democrats ran both chambers |
| 2015 to 2019 | Bruce Rauner (R) | Democrats ran both chambers |
| 2019 to now | JB Pritzker (D) | Democrats run both chambers |
Political party strength in Illinois (seat counts by year).
The turning points
- 1994
Illinois adopts a 50-year pension plan with a slow “ramp” of payments. By the state's own account the payments were too small to keep up, so the debt kept growing. Source: State bond disclosure; WTTW.
- 2003
Gov. Blagojevich (D) borrows $10 billion for pensions; for FY2006 and FY2007 the state cuts its pension payments roughly in half. Source: State bond disclosure.
- 2009
Gov. Blagojevich (D) is impeached and removed from office. In 2011 he is convicted of corruption. Source: NPR.
- 2011
Gov. Quinn (D) and a Democratic legislature raise the income tax from 3% to 5%, called temporary. Source: Civic Federation.
- 2015
Gov. Rauner (R) and the Democratic legislature begin a budget standoff: 736 days without a full budget. Unpaid bills peak at $16.7 billion in November 2017. Source: Illinois budget impasse; State bond disclosure.
- 2017
Illinois falls to one notch above junk with Moody's and S&P, the lowest ever for a U.S. state (June 1). In July the House overrides Gov. Rauner's veto, 71 to 42, and the income tax becomes 4.95%. Source: Pensions & Investments; Chicago Sun-Times.
- 2019
Gov. Pritzker (D) signs a law doubling the gas tax to 38 cents, with automatic inflation increases each July. It is 48.3 cents today; the July 2026 increase was paused to January 1, 2027. Source: Illinois Department of Revenue; IDOR bulletin.
- 2020
Voters reject the graduated income tax amendment, 53% to 47%. Source: Ballotpedia.
- 2021
Michael Madigan (D) loses the Speaker's gavel after 36 of the previous 38 years. In 2025 he is convicted of bribery and sentenced to seven and a half years. Source: Capitol News Illinois; WTTW.
- 2021
Paying bills on time brings the first credit upgrade in 21 years; upgrades from all three agencies follow. Illinois is still the lowest-rated state with two of them. Source: Civic Federation; Capitol News Illinois, Aug 2026.
- 2026
The Tollway board, appointed by the governor, votes 8-0 to raise car tolls about 57% on January 1, 2027. The budget signed in June is $55.9 billion, the largest in state history. Source: WTTW; GOMB.
One party, one record
Democrats have held at least one chamber of the legislature every year since 1977 except 1995-96, both chambers every year since 2003, and the governor's office too for 20 of the last 24 years. The 2011 income tax increase passed with Democratic majorities, and the 2017 increase passed over the Republican governor's veto. The credit upgrades since 2021 are real, and Illinois is still the lowest-rated state with Moody's and S&P. Source: Party strength in Illinois.
That is the case for balance. When one party writes every budget, nobody has to answer for the bill. Republicans in Springfield and here in Logan County are the check: more voices at the table, more questions before the next tax, toll or fee goes up. On November 3, vote the Republican line, all the way down.
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Springfield's choices land on Logan County.
Every race on the ballot counts, from the County Board to the Governor. Vote early at the Courthouse, Room 20, or on November 3.