John M. Sullivan
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Mark 'John' Sullivan (born January 9, 1959) is a Democratic
member of the Illinois Senate
, representing the 47th District since 2002. The district is anchored by Quincy
and Macomb
.
Born in Macomb, Sullivan was elected in 2002, defeating 22-year incumbent Republican
Laura Kent Donahue in one of the closest and most expensive senate races that election cycle. Senator Sullivan currently serves a Majority Whip. He also is the chairperson of the Agriculture and Conservation Committee, Vice-Chairperson of Appropriations III Committee; and is a member of the Higher Education and Transportation Committees.
Since he represented a historically Republican district, Sullivan was targeted for defeat by the Republicans in the 2004 election (Illinois state senators serve one two-year term and two four-year terms each decade). However, he defeated Republican Tom Ernst with 61 percent of the vote. In March 2006 17th District Congressman Lane Evans
announced he would be retiring at the end of his 12th term. This was shortly after he'd won the Democratic nomination for a 13th term. Sullivan, whose state senate district is largely coextensive with the west-central portion of the congressional district, entered the special nominating election soon afterward. He lost to longtime Evans aide Phil Hare
. Sullivan was unopposed for reelection in 2008.
Sullivan's associated Representatives are Jil Tracy
and Norine Hammond, both Republicans.
Sullivan and his wife Joan live on the family farm outside Rushville
and have four children. He received his BA from Quincy College
. He is the nephew of actor John Mahoney
.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Illinois Senate
Illinois Senate
The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the state of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. The Illinois Senate is made up of 59 senators elected from...
, representing the 47th District since 2002. The district is anchored by Quincy
Quincy, Illinois
Quincy, known as Illinois' "Gem City," is a river city along the Mississippi River and the county seat of Adams County. As of the 2010 census the city held a population of 40,633. The city anchors its own micropolitan area and is the economic and regional hub of West-central Illinois, catering a...
and Macomb
Macomb, Illinois
Macomb is a city in and the county seat of McDonough County, Illinois, United States. It is situated in western Illinois southwest of Galesburg. The population was 18,588 at the 2000 census. Macomb is the home of Western Illinois University.- Geography :...
.
Born in Macomb, Sullivan was elected in 2002, defeating 22-year incumbent Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Laura Kent Donahue in one of the closest and most expensive senate races that election cycle. Senator Sullivan currently serves a Majority Whip. He also is the chairperson of the Agriculture and Conservation Committee, Vice-Chairperson of Appropriations III Committee; and is a member of the Higher Education and Transportation Committees.
Since he represented a historically Republican district, Sullivan was targeted for defeat by the Republicans in the 2004 election (Illinois state senators serve one two-year term and two four-year terms each decade). However, he defeated Republican Tom Ernst with 61 percent of the vote. In March 2006 17th District Congressman Lane Evans
Lane Evans
Lane Allen Evans is a former Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from 1983 until 2007, representing the 17th District of Illinois...
announced he would be retiring at the end of his 12th term. This was shortly after he'd won the Democratic nomination for a 13th term. Sullivan, whose state senate district is largely coextensive with the west-central portion of the congressional district, entered the special nominating election soon afterward. He lost to longtime Evans aide Phil Hare
Phil Hare
Philip G. "Phil" Hare is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2007 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
. Sullivan was unopposed for reelection in 2008.
Sullivan's associated Representatives are Jil Tracy
Jil Tracy
Jil Tracy is a Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 93rd district since her appointment in July 2006.Tracy's current committee assignments are Consumer Protection, Local Government, Aging, Rural Economic Development, Higher Education, Juvenile Justice Reform,...
and Norine Hammond, both Republicans.
Sullivan and his wife Joan live on the family farm outside Rushville
Rushville, Illinois
Rushville is a city in Schuyler County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,212 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Schuyler County.-Demographics:...
and have four children. He received his BA from Quincy College
Quincy University
Quincy University a private liberal arts Catholic university in the Franciscan tradition. It is located in Quincy, Illinois and currently enrolls around 1,300 students.-History:...
. He is the nephew of actor John Mahoney
John Mahoney
John Mahoney is a British born American actor, known for playing Martin "Marty" Crane, the retired police officer, father of Kelsey Grammer's Dr...
.
Election history
- Precinct Committeepersons Nomination for U.S. House (IL 17th), 2006
- Phil HarePhil HarePhilip G. "Phil" Hare is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2007 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
17,011 64% - John M. Sullivan 7,530 28%
- Mark SchwiebertMark SchwiebertMark William Schwiebert was Mayor of the City of Rock Island, Illinois from May 1989 until May 2009. Prior to his election as Rock Island Mayor, Schwiebert served the people of his City as an attorney and City Councilman since the mid-1970s...
1,370 5% - Michael Boland 612 2%
- Rob Mellon 98 0%
- Phil Hare
- State Senate Election, 2004
- John M. Sullivan (D) 61.8%
- Tom Ernst (R) 38.2%
- State Senate Election, 2002
- John M. Sullivan (D) 51.5%
- Laura Kent Donahue (R) 48.5%
External links
- Illinois General Assembly - Senator John M. Sullivan (D) 47th District official IL Senate website
- Project Vote Smart - Senator John M. Sullivan (IL) profile
- Follow the Money - John M. Sullivan
- Illinois State Senate Democrats - Senator John M. Sullivan profile