2 candidates are tracked for Illinois Senate District 45 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Joseph H. "Joe" Berning and Andrew S. Chesney. Candidate information follows official Winnebago County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
Joseph H. "Joe" Berning (Democratic), Andrew S. Chesney (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot; Andrew S. Chesney 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, Andrew S. Chesney, is on the ballot.
Illinois › Winnebago County › Illinois Senate District 45
Joseph "Joe" Berning is a retired agricultural consultant who operated JB Consulting, advising farmers in northwestern Illinois and southwestern Wisconsin, per his campaign site. Born and raised on a dairy and hog farm north of Galena, he spent a 44-year career in sales, marketing and management, including as a district sales manager for a Fortune 500 agricultural feed company.
Andrew S. Chesney has represented the 45th Senate District since 2023 after serving as state representative for the 89th District from 2018 to 2023, per his ilga.gov profile. A small business owner from Carroll County, he graduated cum laude from Arizona State University and previously served on Freeport's city council. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Who is running for Illinois Senate District 45 in 2026?
2 candidates are tracked for Illinois Senate District 45 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Joseph H. "Joe" Berning and Andrew S. Chesney. Candidate information follows official Winnebago County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Illinois Senate District 45 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 Winnebago 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 Winnebago County and state election office filings, last verified September 29, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
Cross-check with the official Illinois election office, or see the full Winnebago County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
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