Sangamon County, Illinois

Illinois Senate District 48

2 candidates are tracked for Illinois Senate District 48 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Doris Turner and Frank Lesko. Candidate information follows official Sangamon County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Doris Turner (Democratic), Frank Lesko (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot; Doris Turner 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, Doris Turner, is on the ballot.

Illinois › Sangamon County › Illinois Senate District 48

Doris Turner

Democratic Incumbent

Top priorities

Ensure high quality, affordable healthcare access for everyone
Work directly with farmers and agriculture industry stakeholders
Invest in education as a foundation for community

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Turner spent more than 20 years with the Illinois Department of Public Health, working to expand affordable healthcare access for rural and low income communities, per the campaign site. Turner chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Frank Lesko

Republican

Top priorities

Wants to make Illinois more affordable for working families
Supports improving government efficiency and accountability

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Frank Lesko has served as Springfield Alderman, Springfield City Clerk, and currently as Sangamon County Recorder, per his campaign site. Lesko is the Republican nominee for Illinois Senate District 48 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the same source.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Illinois Senate District 48 in 2026?

When is the Illinois Senate District 48 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 Sangamon 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 Sangamon 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 Sangamon County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Sangamon County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

Illinois House District 87 Illinois House District 95 Illinois House District 96 See all 8 Sangamon County races

Candidate profiles

Doris Turner, full profile Frank Lesko, full profile Official Illinois election office