Illinois State Senator, 59th Legislative District
November 3, 2026 · State Senate District 59; 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 · 51 out of 100
This district is mid-sized for its type, so each vote carries average weight. About 214,713 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(221,017 ÷ 214,713) ÷ ln(221,017 ÷ 209,032) = 51.9, 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
Paul Jacobs
Republican · Incumbent · declared
Paul Jacobs is the Republican Illinois state senator for District 59, appointed in June 2026 after serving in the Illinois House from January 2021 through June 2026. He is a U.S. Navy veteran, longtime Southern Illinois optometrist, and former vineyard owner whose legislative agenda emphasizes fiscal restraint, ethics reform, public safety, gun rights, abortion restrictions, and regional economic development.
Records: Anti-Corruption 1 for, Civil Rights 1 for, Election Integrity 1 for, Environment and Public Health 1 for, 1 against, Government Efficiency 4 for, Government Spending Reduction 1 for, Gun Control 1 against, Healthcare Affordability 1 for, Housing Affordability 2 for, Public Education Quality 1 for, Public Infrastructure 3 for, Public Safety and Crime Control 2 for, Reduce Wealth Gap 1 for, Social Programs and Welfare 2 for, Women's Reproductive Rights 4 against
Tamiko T.C. Mueller
Democratic · declared
Tamiko 'T.C.' Mueller is a Democratic nominee for Illinois Senate District 59 and a Jackson County Board member. She is a U.S. Army Reserve lieutenant colonel with more than 25 years of military service, a real-estate broker and business owner, and a nonprofit founder focused on community support, disabled homeless veterans, and returning citizens.
Records: Environment and Public Health 1 for, Healthcare Affordability 1 for, Housing Affordability 1 for, Public Education Quality 2 for, Reduce Wealth Gap 3 for, Social Programs and Welfare 1 for
William Lo
Independent · declared
William Lo is an independent candidate for Illinois Senate District 59 and the executive director of the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce. A longtime restaurant manager, he also serves as general manager of New Kahala and is co-founder and president of Southern Illinois Collaborative Kitchen, a nonprofit addressing food insecurity.
Records: Environment and Public Health 2 for, Healthcare Affordability 1 for, Housing Affordability 1 for, Public Education Quality 2 for, Reduce Wealth Gap 3 for, Social Programs and Welfare 3 for
Election sources
Source: elections.il.gov
Source: elections.il.gov
Source: ballotready.org