Illinois State Senator, 56th Legislative District
November 3, 2026 · State Senate District 56; Illinois · State senate district · general
How do we calculate vote impact?
Vote impact = representation (how much weight one vote carries here, the smaller the district's population, the higher the representation) + decisiveness (how likely this race is to be close, based on past results and number of candidates).
Representation: Average · 49 out of 100
This district is mid-sized for its type, so each vote carries average weight. About 214,990 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(221,017 ÷ 214,990) ÷ ln(221,017 ÷ 209,032) = 49.59, comparing state senate districts in IL (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: Unknown
No past results for this contest yet.
Average representation + unknown decisiveness → Average vote impact.
Some data is missing, so this rating is based on partial information and capped at "High".
State Senator is responsible for:
- Voting on state laws and the state budget
- Representing their district in the state senate
- Confirming certain governor appointments in many states
- Helping district residents deal with state agencies
Affected Areas: Environment and Public Health, Reduce Wealth Gap, Anti-Corruption, Government Efficiency, Healthcare Affordability, Government Spending Reduction, Public Safety and Crime Control, Housing Affordability, Social Programs and Welfare, Public Education Quality, Gun Control, Women's Reproductive Rights, Election Integrity, Personal Income Tax Reduction, Data Privacy, Civil Rights, Corporate Accountability, Public Infrastructure
Candidates
Erica Harriss
Republican · Incumbent · declared
Erica Harriss is the Republican Illinois state senator for District 56 and the Senate Local Government Committee's minority spokesperson. Before entering the Senate in 2023, she served six years on the Madison County Board. She is a small-business owner with a communications background and is active in local charitable and church service.
Records: Civil Rights 2 for, Corporate Accountability 3 for, Election Integrity 1 for, Environment and Public Health 3 for, Government Efficiency 3 for, Government Spending Reduction 3 for, Healthcare Affordability 5 for, Housing Affordability 1 for, Personal Income Tax Reduction 2 for, Public Education Quality 3 for, Public Infrastructure 3 for, Public Safety and Crime Control 5 for, Reduce Wealth Gap 1 for, Social Programs and Welfare 3 for, Women's Reproductive Rights 1 for
Marsia Geldert-Murphey
Democratic · declared
Marsia ‘Marsie’ Geldert-Murphey is the Democratic nominee for Illinois Senate District 56. A licensed civil engineer and engineering executive with more than three decades of transportation, infrastructure, utility, rail, and development experience, she served as the American Society of Civil Engineers' 2024 president and has founded and led engineering businesses.
Records: Corporate Accountability 1 for, Government Efficiency 1 for, Healthcare Affordability 2 for, Housing Affordability 1 for, Public Education Quality 2 for, Public Infrastructure 4 for, Social Programs and Welfare 1 for
Election sources
Source: elections.il.gov
Source: elections.il.gov
Source: multistate.us