Illinois's 7th House of Representatives district is a Representative district within the Illinois House of Representatives located in Cook County, Illinois and DuPage County, Illinois. It has been represented by Democratic Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch since January 9, 2013. Democrat Cory Foster was the previous incumbent for a couple of months.
Located in the Chicago metropolitan area, the district covers all or parts of Bellwood, Berkeley, Broadview, Elmhurst, Forest Park, Hillside, Hinsdale, La Grange Park, Maywood, Melrose Park, Northlake, Oak Brook, River Forest, Westchester, and Western Springs.
Representative district history
Prominent representatives Representative NotesJohn Cullerton Elected President of the Illinois Senate (2009 – 2020)Emanuel Chris Welch Elected the 70th Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives (2021 – present)
List of representatives 1849 – 1873 Representative Party Years General Assembly (GA) Electoral history Counties represented7th Representative district established with 1848 Illinois Constitution. Samuel Snowden Hayes Democratic January 1, 1849 –January 6, 1851 16th Elected in 1848Was not re-elected in 1850.White Samuel H. Martin Unknown January 6, 1851 –January 3, 1853 17th Elected in 1850Was not re-elected in 1852. Daniel L. Jones Democratic January 3, 1853 –January 1, 1855 18th Elected in 1852Was not re-elected in 1854. P. E. Hosmer January 1, 1855 –January 5, 1857 19th Elected in 1854Was not re-elected in 1856.PerryWashington Hawkins S. Osborn Unknown January 5, 1857 –January 3, 1859 20th Elected in 1856Was not re-elected in 1858. John D. Wood Democratic January 3, 1859 –January 7, 1861 21st Elected in 1858Was not re-elected in 1860. Orson KelloggUnknown January 7, 1861 –January 5, 1863 22nd Elected in 1860Was not re-elected in 1862. James R. Ford January 5, 1863 –January 2, 1865 23rd Elected in 1862Was not re-elected in 1864.ClintonWashington Isaac MillerUnion January 2, 1865 –January 7, 1867 24th Elected in 1864Was not re-elected in 1866. Daniel Hay Unknown January 7, 1867 –January 4, 1869 25th Elected in 1866Was not re-elected in 1868. George GundlachRepublican January 4, 1869 –January 4, 1871 26th Elected in 1868Was not re-elected in 1870. Addison Reese, Jr.Democratic January 4, 1871 –January 8, 1873 27th Elected in 1870Was not re-elected in 1872. WilliamsonDistrict abolished with 1872 Reapportionment as 3 Representatives were now elected cumulatively from Legislative districts.
1957 – 1973 Representative Party Party Control Years General Assembly (GA) Electoral history Counties representedDistrict re-established in 1957. Frances L. DawsonRepublican2 Republicans1 Democrat January 9, 1957 –January 6, 1965 70th71st72nd73rd Elected in 1956Re-elected in 1958Re-elected in 1960Re-elected in 1962Ran in the At-large district election and won re-election in 1964.Cook Marion E. Burks January 9, 1957 –January 9, 1963 70th71st72nd Elected in 1956Re-elected in 1958Re-elected in 1960Ran for Republican nomination in Illinois's 13th congressional district in 1962 and lost. Jeanne Hurley SimonDemocratic January 9, 1957 –January 4, 1961 70th71st Elected in 1956Re-elected in 1958Retired. Robert Marks January 4, 1961 –January 6, 1965 72nd73rd Elected in 1960Re-elected in 1962Retired. Alan R. JohnstonRepublican January 9, 1963 –January 6, 1965 73rd Elected in 1962Ran in the At-large district election and won re-election in 1964.The district was temporarily abolished from 1965 to 1967 due to the Redistricting Commission in 1963 failing to reach an agreement. An at-large election was held electing 177 Representatives from across the state. Joseph G. SevcikRepublican2 Republicans1 DemocratJanuary 4, 1967 –January 10, 197375th76th77thElected in 1966Re-elected in 1968Re-elected in 1970Redistricted to the 7th Legislative District and re-elected in 1972.Cook Henry Klosak Gerald W. SheaDemocraticDistrict abolished with 1971 Reapportionment as Representatives were once again elected from Legislative districts.
1983 – Present Representative Party Years General Assembly (GA) Electoral history Counties representedDistrict re-established with representatives now elected one per district with the passage of the Cutback AmendmentJohn CullertonDemocraticJanuary 12, 1983 –January 31, 1991 83rd84th85th86thRedistricted from 12th Legislative district and re-elected in 1982Re-elected in 1984Re-elected in 1986Re-elected in 1988Re-elected in 1990Appointed to the 6th Legislative district in 1991.Cook87thVacant January 31, 1991 –1991 Ann StepanDemocratic 1991 –January 13, 1993 Appointed in 1991Retired.Eugene MooreJanuary 13, 1993 –January 1999 88th89th90thElected in 1992Re-elected in 1994Re-elected in 1996Re-elected in 1998Appointed Cook County Recorder of Deeds in January 1999.91stVacant January 1999 –January 29, 1999 Wanda SharpDemocratic January 29, 1999 –January 10, 2001 Appointed in 1999Lost renomination in 2000.Karen YarbroughJanuary 10, 2001 –December 2012 92nd93rd94th95th96thElected in 2000Re-elected in 2002Re-elected in 2004Re-elected in 2006Re-elected in 2008Re-elected in 2010Elected Cook County Recorder of Deeds in 2012 and resigned in December.97thVacant December 2012 –December 2012 Cory FosterDemocratic December 2012 –January 9, 2013 Appointed in 2012 for the remainder of Yarbrough's term.Emanuel Chris Welch January 9, 2013 –present 98th99th100th101st102nd103rd Elected in 2012Re-elected in 2014Re-elected in 2016Re-elected in 2018Re-elected in 2020Re-elected in 2022
Historic District Boundaries
Years County Municipalities/Townships Notes 2023 – presentCookDuPage Bellwood, Berkeley, Broadview, Elmhurst, Forest Park, Hillside, Hinsdale, La Grange Park, Maywood, Melrose Park, Northlake, Oak Brook, River Forest, Westchester, Western Springs 2013 – 2023 Bellwood, Berkeley, Broadview, Forest Park, Hillside, La Grange Park, Maywood, Melrose Park, Northlake, Oak Brook, River Forest, Westchester, Western Springs 2003 – 2013Cook Chicago 1993 – 2003 Chicago 1983 – 1993 Chicago 1967 – 1973 Parts of Berwyn Township, Cicero Township, parts of Lyons Township, parts of Proviso Township, Riverside Township, and parts of Stickney Township 1957 – 1965 Evanston Township, New Trier Township, and parts of Northfield Township 1871 – 1873 Williamson Attila, Bainbridge, Blainesville, Bolton, Carterville, Crab Orchard, Fredonia, Grainville, Jeffersonville, Loeust Grove, Marion, Sarahsville, Sugar Creek, Sulphur Spring, 1863 – 1871 ClintonWashington Ashley, Aviston, Breese, Carlyle, Clement, Clifton, Collins, Coloma, Covington, Elkhorn, Glass, Grants Point, Hoyleton, Jamestown, Keyesport, Looking Glass, Nashville, Okaw (Okawville), Pleasant Grove, Richview, Sassafras Hill, Trenton, Venedy, Wertenberg 1855 – 1863 PerryWashington 9 Mile Prairie, Appleton, Ashley, Centralia, Colonia, Covington, Denmark, Du Quoin, Elkhorn, Galum, Grand Cote, Grand Point, Mt. Hawkins, Nashville, Okaw (Okawville), Old Du Quoin, Pinckneyville, Prairie, Richview, St. Johns, Sassafras Hill, Tamaroa, Venedy 1849 – 1855 White Bon Pas, Burnt Prairie, Carmi, Concord, Duncanton, Emma, Enfield, Grayville, Phillipstown, Tecumseh
Electoral history 2030 – 2022
2020 – 2012
2010 – 2002
2000 – 1992
1990 – 1982
1970 – 1962
1960 – 1956
Notes
References