Illinois's 15th congressional district
The 15th congressional district of Illinois is located in eastern and southeastern Illinois. It is currently represented by Republican John Shimkus. On August 30, 2019, Shimkus announced that he would not seek re-election in 2020.
Illinois's 15th congressional district | |||
---|---|---|---|
![]() Illinois's 15th congressional district - since January 3, 2013. | |||
Representative |
| ||
Area | 14,696 sq mi (38,060 km2) | ||
Distribution |
| ||
Population (2011 est.) | 715,066 | ||
Median income | $52,527[1] | ||
Ethnicity |
| ||
Cook PVI | R+21[2][3] |
The district has a Cook PVI rating of R+21, making it the most Republican district in Illinois and one of the most Republican in the Midwest. 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 his 2016 presidential bid.
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, 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
Republican John Shimkus, previously representing the 19th district,[5] was on the 2012 ballot for the 15th congressional district.[6] Angela Michael, a retired nurse and pro-life activist,[7] ran on a single-issue pro-life Democratic ticket.[8]
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 Tea Party backing and funding from the Club for Growth.[9][10]
2018 election
Shimkus continues to loom large in the 15th, but finally faces credible (if not well-funded) Democratic opposition from a local teacher and former Obama campaign worker.[11]
History of district boundaries
1873–2003
[data unknown/missing]
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 representatives
District created March 4, 1873
Representative | Party | Years | Cong ress |
Electoral history |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Democratic | March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1879 |
43rd 44th 45th |
[data unknown/missing] |
![]() |
Greenback | March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881 |
46th | [data unknown/missing] |
![]() |
Democratic | March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1883 |
47th | Redistricted to the 17th district |
![]() |
Republican | March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1891 |
48th 49th 50th 51st |
Redistricted from the 14th district |
![]() |
Democratic | March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893 |
52nd | Lost re-election |
![]() |
Republican | March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895 |
53rd | Redistricted to the 12th district |
![]() |
Republican | March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1901 |
54th 55th 56th |
Redistricted from the 11th district |
![]() |
Democratic | March 4, 1901 – March 3, 1903 |
57th | [data unknown/missing] |
![]() |
Republican | March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1913 |
58th 59th 60th 61st 62nd |
Redistricted from the 10th district |
![]() |
Democratic | March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1915 |
63rd | [data unknown/missing] |
![]() |
Republican | March 4, 1915 – February 17, 1929 |
64th 65th 66th 67th 68th 69th 70th |
Died |
Vacant | February 17, 1929 – November 4, 1930 | |||
![]() |
Republican | November 4, 1930 – March 3, 1933 |
71st 72nd |
[data unknown/missing] |
![]() |
Democratic | March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1937 |
73rd 74th |
[data unknown/missing] |
![]() |
Democratic | January 3, 1937 – January 3, 1939 |
75th | Lost re-election |
![]() |
Republican | January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1949 |
76th 77th 78th 79th 80th |
Redistricted to the 19th district |
![]() |
Republican | January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1963 |
81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th |
Redistricted from the 12th district |
![]() |
Republican | January 3, 1963 – October 7, 1971 |
88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd |
Resigned to become member of the Federal Communications Commission |
Vacant | October 7, 1971 – April 4, 1972 | |||
![]() |
Republican | April 4, 1972 – January 3, 1973 |
92nd | Elected in 1972 Retired |
![]() |
Republican | January 3, 1973 – December 31, 1974 |
93rd | Redistricted from the 17th district Resigned |
![]() |
Democratic | January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1977 |
94th | Elected in 1974 Lost re-election |
![]() |
Republican | January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1983 |
95th 96th 97th |
Redistricted to the 14th district |
![]() |
Republican | January 3, 1983 – March 8, 1991 |
98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd |
Redistricted from the 21st district Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of Agriculture |
Vacant | March 8, 1991 – July 2, 1991 | |||
![]() |
Republican | July 2, 1991 – January 3, 2001 |
102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th |
Elected to finish Madigan's term. Retired. |
![]() |
Republican | January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2013 |
107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th |
First elected in 2000 Re-elected in 2002 Re-elected in 2004 Re-elected in 2006 Re-elected in 2008 Re-elected in 2010 Retired |
![]() |
Republican | January 3, 2013 – Present |
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 |
Election results
1872–2010
[data unknown/missing]
Historical district boundaries

References
- https://www.census.gov/mycd/?st=17&cd=15
- "Partisan Voting Index – Districts of the 115th Congress" (PDF). The Cook Political Report. April 7, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
- 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 6 November 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.
- 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.
- http://www.dailyregister.com/news/20180320/democrats-nominate-gaither-to-face-shimkus-in-15th-congressional-district
- 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