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Illinois, State House, District 61

Illinois House of Representatives District 61
Current incumbentJoyce Mason Democratic Party

Illinois' sixty-first state house district is represented by Democratic Representative Joyce Mason.

Illinois state representatives represent an average of 108,734 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 105,248 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Illinois House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Illinois legislators assume office the second Wednesday in January.

Qualifications

Article IV of the Illinois Constitution states: "To be eligible to serve as a member of the General Assembly, a person must be a United States citizen, at least 21 years old, and for the two years preceding his election or appointment a resident of the district which he is to represent."

Salaries

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$67,836/year$111/session day.

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the house, the state constitution mandates that the seat must be filled by appointment when allowed by law. The appointment must be made within 30 days after the vacancy. All vacancies must be filled by a member of the same political party that last held the seat.

The vacancy must be filled by the respective party organizations covering the legislative district. This must be voted on by the respective committeemen and committeewomen representing the legislative district.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Illinois House of Representatives will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for March 17, 2020. The filing deadline was December 2, 2019.

2018

General election
General election for Illinois House of Representatives District 61

Joyce Mason (D) defeated incumbent Sheri Jesiel (R) in the general election for Illinois House of Representatives District 61 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Joyce Mason (D)
51.6
20,015

Sheri Jesiel (R)
48.4
18,789

Total votes: 38,804
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 61

Joyce Mason advanced from the Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 61 on March 20, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Joyce Mason (D)
100
6,233

Total votes: 6,233
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 61

Incumbent Sheri Jesiel advanced from the Republican primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 61 on March 20, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Sheri Jesiel (R)
100
5,392

Total votes: 5,392

2016

Elections for the Illinois House of Representatives were held in 2016. The primary election was held on March 15, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was November 30, 2015.

Incumbent Sheri Jesiel defeated Nick Ciko in the Illinois House of Representatives District 61 general election.

Illinois House of Representatives, District 61 General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Sheri Jesiel Incumbent 57.23% 26,692
Democratic Nick Ciko 42.77% 19,947
Total Votes 46,639
Source: Illinois State Board of Elections

Nick Ciko ran unopposed in the Illinois House of Representatives District 61 Democratic primary.

Illinois House of Representatives, District 61 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Nick Ciko (unopposed)
Incumbent Sheri Jesiel ran unopposed in the Illinois House of Representatives District 61 Republican primary.

Illinois House of Representatives, District 61 Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Sheri Jesiel Incumbent (unopposed)


2014

Elections for the Illinois House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on March 18, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was December 2, 2013. Loren Karner was set to face Al Rogers in the Democratic primary, but Rogers withdrew from the race on December 19, 2013, leaving Karner unopposed. Incumbent Sheri Jesiel ran unopposed in the Republican primary and was appointed to fill the seat of JoAnn D. Osmond (R) on July 3. Jesiel then defeated Karner in the general election.

Illinois House of Representatives District 61, General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngSheri Jesiel Incumbent 58% 17,706
Democratic Loren Karner 42% 12,811
Total Votes 30,517

2012

Elections for the office of Illinois House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on March 20, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was December 5, 2011. Incumbent JoAnn D. Osmond (R) defeated Ed Erwin (D) in the general election. Neither candidate faced opposition in their primary.

Illinois House of Representatives, District 61, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngJoAnn D. Osmond Incumbent 56.4% 24,734
Democratic Ed Erwin 43.6% 19,115
Total Votes 43,849

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Illinois House of Representatives District 61 raised a total of $2,945,099. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $173,241 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Illinois House of Representatives District 61

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $754,820 2 $377,410
2014 $1,088,225 2 $544,113
2012 $179,261 2 $89,631
2010 $180,588 2 $90,294
2008 $217,021 2 $108,511
2006 $129,045 1 $129,045
2004 $133,953 2 $66,977
2002 $170,863 2 $85,432
2000 $91,323 2 $45,662
Total $2,945,099 17 $173,241