Laura Kent Donahue (born April 22, 1949) was an American businesswoman and politician. She served as a Republican member of the Illinois Senate from 1981 to 2003.
Born in Quincy, Illinois, Donahue received a Bachelor of Science from Stephens College. She worked in the merchandise and bookkeeping business. Donahue also had her own business as an instructor, musical theatre consultant, choreographer. In 1981, she succeeded her late mother Mary Lou Kent in the Illinois State Senate. Donaue served as a Republican Caucus Chair, Assistant Majority Leader, Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee and as Minority Spokesperson on the executive committee at various points during her legislative tenure.[1][2][3]
Days after her defeat by Democrat John M. Sullivan, George Ryan appointed her to the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board where she served for fourteen months. In 2011, she announced she was running for the position of Adams County Circuit Clerk to succeed fellow Republican Randy Frese.[4] Kent Donahue lost to Democratic candidate Lori Geschwandner by a margin of 1,582 votes.[5]
Kent Donahue was the Chairwoman of the Adams County Republican Party from April 14, 2017[6] until June 25, 2019.[7][8]
On May 16, 2019, Governor J. B. Pritzker nominated Kent Donahue for a position on the Illinois State Board of Elections for a term beginning July 1, 2019 and ending June 30, 2023. The Illinois Senate confirmed Kent Donahue unanimously on May 31, 2019.[9]
Judith Gail Biggert is an American politician and attorney. She is the former U.S. Representative for Illinois's 13th congressional district, serving from 1999 to 2013. She is a member of the Republican Party.
Iris Y. Martinez is an American politician and administrator. In 2020, she was elected clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. She previously served as a member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 20th district from 2003 until becoming clerk. A member of the Democratic Party, she rose to Assistant Majority Leader in the State Senate. As court clerk and as a state senator, she is the first Latina to have held either of those offices.
William Haine was a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate representing the 56th district from his appointment in November 2002 until 2019.
John M. Sullivan is an American politician and the former Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Prior to this, he served as a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate for the 47th district of Illinois from 2003 to 2017.
Karen Hasara is a Republican member of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees and a past member of the Illinois General Assembly (1986-1995) as well as the Mayor of Springfield, Illinois for two terms from 1995-2003.
Andy Manar is a former Democratic member of the Illinois Senate. He represented the 48th district, including part or all of Christian, Macon, Macoupin, Madison, Montgomery, and Sangamon counties. Andy Manar is known for being the chief advocate for SB 1947, which made dramatic reforms to Illinois’ education funding formula. Prior to his service in the Illinois Senate, he was chairman of the Macoupin County Board from 2003 to 2012.
Karen McConnaughay is an Illinois politician from Kane County. A Republican, she was a member of the Illinois Senate from the 33rd district from 2013 until her resignation in 2018. The 33rd district includes all or parts of Geneva, St. Charles, West Dundee, Hampshire, Huntley, Carpentersville, Lake in the Hills and Algonquin. A resident of St. Charles, she served as the Kane County Board Chairman from 2004 through 2012 prior to her election to the legislature. Don DeWitte, a former Mayor of St. Charles, Illinois, was appointed by local Republican leaders to succeed her in the Illinois Senate.
Laura Fine is a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate for the 9th district.
Frances Ann Hurley was the Illinois state representative for the 35th district. The 35th district includes the Mount Greenwood neighborhoods of Chicago along with all or part of Orland Park, Orland Hills, Palos Heights, Palos Park, Worth, Oak Lawn, Alsip, Merrionette Park and Evergreen Park. On February 17, 2023, Governor J. B. Pritzker announced his intention to appoint Hurley to the Illinois Labor Relations Board. She resigned the House of Representatives on February 28th, 2023.
Mary Lou Kent was an American businesswoman and politician.
The 2018 Illinois gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the Governor of Illinois, concurrently with the 2018 Illinois general election and other midterm elections. Incumbent Republican Governor Bruce Rauner ran for re-election to a second term in office, but was defeated by Democratic nominee J. B. Pritzker.
Juliana Stratton is an American lawyer and politician, serving as the 48th lieutenant governor of Illinois since 2019. She previously served as a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 2017 to 2019. She is the first African-American woman to become Illinois' lieutenant governor, and the state's fourth woman lieutenant governor overall, after Corinne Wood, Sheila Simon, and Evelyn Sanguinetti.
Susan Catania is an American former politician who served as a Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1973 to 1983. She was involved in women's rights issues, and led the unsuccessful effort to get the federal Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) ratified by the Illinois General Assembly. Catania also served as chairperson of the Illinois Commission on the Status of Women. A representative from Chicago, she was described as a liberal, feminist, and maverick member of the Republican legislative caucus.
The 2018 elections for the Illinois Senate took place on November 6, 2018 to elect senators from 39 of the state's 59 Senate districts to serve in the 101st General Assembly, with seats apportioned among the states based on the 2010 United States census. Under the Illinois Constitution of 1970, senators are divided into three groups, each group having a two-year term at a different part of the decade between censuses, with the rest of the decade being taken up by two four-year terms. The Democratic Party has held a majority in the Senate since 2003, and gained a net of 3 seats.
Steve McClure is an American Republican politician who is currently a member of the Illinois Senate. He represents the 54th district and serves as the Floor Leader and as an Assistant Leader for the Senate Republican Caucus. The 54th district, located in Central Illinois, includes all or parts of Christian, Cumberland, Effingham, Macon, Macoupin, Menard, Montgomery, Moultrie, Sangamon, and Shelby counties.
Robert Jason Plummer is an American businessman and politician serving as a Republican member of the Illinois Senate and serves as Assistant Leader in the Illinois Republican Senate Caucus. Plummer represents the 54th District, which is located on the Illinois side of Greater St. Louis and includes all or portions of Bond, Clinton, Effingham, Fayette, Madison, Marion, Washington, and St. Clair counties.
The Illinois general election was held on November 3, 2020. Primary elections, held using an open primary system, took place on March 17, 2020.
The Cook County, Illinois, general election was held on November 3, 2020. Elections were held for Clerk of the Circuit Court, State's Attorney, Cook County Board of Review district 1, three seats on the Water Reclamation District Board, and judgeships on the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Cristina H. Pacione-Zayas is an American politician and a former Democratic member of the Illinois State Senate. She resigned from the chamber in May 2023 to serve as deputy chief of staff to Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson.
The 2022 elections for the Illinois Senate occurred on November 8, 2022 to elect Senators from all of the state's 59 Legislative districts in the Illinois Senate. The primary election took place on Tuesday, June 28, 2022. The winners of this election will serve in the 103rd General Assembly with seats apportioned among the state based on the 2020 United States census. Under the Illinois Constitution of 1970, senators are divided into three groups with each group having a two-year term at a different part of the decade between censuses, with the rest of the decade being taken up by two four-year terms. The Democratic Party has held a majority in the Senate since 2003. The inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly occurred on Wednesday, January 11, 2023.
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