The Ballot Brief
Mercer County, Illinois

Illinois Senate District 36

2 candidates are tracked for Illinois Senate District 36 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Michael W. Halpin and Brad Beekman. Candidate information follows official Mercer County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Michael W. Halpin (Democratic), Brad Beekman (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot; Michael W. Halpin 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.

What this office does

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, Michael W. Halpin, is on the ballot.

Illinois › Mercer County › Illinois Senate District 36

Michael W. Halpin

Michael W. Halpin

Democratic Incumbent

Top priorities
  • Bring supply chain jobs back to the United States and support sustainable economic development
  • Provide property tax refund assistance to middle class homeowners
  • End the practice of passing political offices to family members as an ethics reform

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Halpin worked as a scheduler and aide to Congressman Lane Evans, clerked for Illinois Supreme Court Justice Rita B. Garman, and practiced law at McCarthy, Callas & Feeney, per the campaign site. Halpin holds a B.A. in political science from Roger Williams University and a J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law, and serves as Rock Island County Public Guardian, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Brad Beekman

Republican

Top priorities
  • Supports law enforcement
  • Wants to lower the cost of living for Illinois residents

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Brad Beekman is a retired Illinois State Police officer, per his campaign site. He retired as a Master Sergeant after 28 years in law enforcement and graduated from Western Illinois University with a bachelor's degree in Law Enforcement Administration, per WQAD. Beekman is the Republican nominee for Illinois Senate District 36 on the November 3, 2026 ballot.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
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Voting info and more

Voting info and more
Questions about this race

Who is running for Illinois Senate District 36 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Illinois Senate District 36 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Michael W. Halpin and Brad Beekman. Candidate information follows official Mercer County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Illinois Senate District 36 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 Mercer 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.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Mercer 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 Mercer County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Mercer County ballot

6 tracked races in Mercer County, Illinois. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Illinois House District 71Illinois House District 94Regional Superintendent of Schools (Regional Office of Education #33)See all 6 Mercer County races
Candidate profiles
Michael W. Halpin, full profileBrad Beekman, full profileOfficial Illinois election office