One candidate is tracked for Illinois Senate District 53 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Chris Balkema. Candidate information follows official Ford County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
Chris Balkema (Republican) is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; Chris Balkema is the sitting member, per the General Assembly's roster. Party nominees were chosen at the March 17 primary (plurality, no runoffs); independent and new-party candidates qualified by petition. The field is the State Board of Elections' 2026 General Election candidate list (status Active, read September 7, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.
This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Chris Balkema, is on the ballot. One name is on the ballot for this seat.
Illinois › Ford County › Illinois Senate District 53
Republican Incumbent
Per the campaign site.
Balkema spent 30 years in the private sector at Caterpillar and served 13 years on the Grundy County Board, including six years as chairman, per the campaign site.
Who is running for Illinois Senate District 53 in 2026?
One candidate is tracked for Illinois Senate District 53 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Chris Balkema. Candidate information follows official Ford County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Illinois Senate District 53 election in Illinois?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Illinois are on the Illinois election hub at theballotbrief.com.
How do I see my exact Ford County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.
Candidate roster from official Ford County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
Cross-check with the official Illinois election office, or see the full Ford County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
8 tracked races in Ford County, Illinois. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.