Sen. Elgie Sims Jr., 56, has represented this district, stretching from South Side neighborhoods like Chatham through south suburban parts of Cook, Will and Kankakee counties, since 2018. He faces a general-election challenge (other than write-ins) for the first time since taking office from Republican Frederick Walls, 55, a carpenter who’s run unsuccessfully in the past for the Illinois House.
Sims is a leader in the Senate, chairing the Appropriations Committee and serving as the chamber’s lead budgeteer, including for the current-year budget. He also was the driving force in the Senate for the SAFE-T Act, which eliminated cash bail and has been controversial since its adoption in 2021.
Sims is well to our left on many issues, and while we have argued the elimination of cash bail was justified on the grounds of economic fairness, we urge the senator to be more open to amending the landmark law than he has been to date in order to enhance public safety.
That said, while we appreciate that Walls is giving voters a choice, Sims is a force in Springfield who has received our endorsement in the past. Voters in this district have good reasons to support him.
Elgie Sims is endorsed.
Read all of the Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsements for the 2026 Illinois general election here.
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