Joe Berning
Joe Berning Joe Berning attended the University of Wisconsin, Platteville. His career experience includes working as a district sales manager for a Fortune 500 company, for Prudential Insurance Company, and as the owner and operator of JB Consulting.
Campaign site
“That I intend to represent all the voters in the district, regardless of party affiliation. NW Illinois has many good, hard-working residents and their voices deserve to be heard.”
(Ballotpedia Candidate Connection (2026)) “I am passionate about protecting and conserving our Social Services, such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and SNAP benefits. I believe that healthcare benefits must be made affordable to everyone, and that we must do a better job of taking care of our veterans, our disabled, and our elderly.”
(Ballotpedia Candidate Connection (2026))Andrew Chesney
Andrew Chesney is the incumbent Republican member of the Illinois State Senate representing District 45, having assumed office in January 11, 2023, and is running for re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election. Andrew Chesney earned a B.A. in communication from Arizona State University.
· Official legislative page
Campaign site
“The most important message I have as a Republican and conservative in Illinois is simple: our state must do better. Decades of one party Democrat control in the legislature have created a government that taxes too much, spends too much, and delivers too little.”
(Ballotpedia Candidate Connection (2026)) “There is nothing more important to me than protecting your Constitutional Rights. I am a firm believer that the 2nd Amendment protects the 1st, and all others for that matter.”
(Ballotpedia Candidate Connection (2026))