Karina Villa
Member of the Illinois Senate
from the 25th district
Assumed office
January 13, 2021 (2021-January-13)
Preceded byJim Oberweis
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the 49th district
In office
January 9, 2019 (2019-January-09) – January 13, 2021 (2021-January-13)
Preceded byMike Fortner
Succeeded byMaura Hirschauer
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceWest Chicago, Illinois
Alma materAurora University (M.S.W.)
ProfessionSchool Social Worker

Karina Villa is a Democratic Illinois state senator for the 25th District. The 25th district, located in the Chicago metropolitan area, includes all or parts of Aurora, North Aurora, Batavia, West Chicago, South Elgin, Wayne, and Bartlett.[1] Villa is the Chair of the Senate Public Health Committee and was previously a member of the Illinois House of Representatives.

Prior to her election to the Illinois House of Representatives, she was a member of the West Chicago District 33 Board of Education.

Illinois House of Representatives

Villa defeated DuPage County Board member Tonia Khouri in the 2018 general election to succeed retiring incumbent Republican Mike Fortner in the Illinois House of Representatives for District 49.[2]

Committee assignments

In the 101st General Assembly, Villa sat on the House Committees on Appropriations - Elementary and Secondary Education; Elementary and Secondary Education School Curriculum Policies; Healthcare Availability and Access; Mental Health; Veterans' Affairs; and Labor and Commerce.

Illinois Senate

In 2020, incumbent State Senator Jim Oberweis announced that he was vacating his seat to run for the Republican nomination to challenge Lauren Underwood in the 2020 election for Illinois's 14th congressional district.[3] Villa chose to run for the open seat and defeated Republican candidate Jeanette Ward.[4] Villa was succeeded by fellow Democrat Maura Hirschauer.[5]

In 2022, Villa was reelected to the Senate[6] in a redrawn 25th district that included far more of central Aurora and left out St. Charles, Oswego, and Yorkville. She defeated Republican Heather Brown.[7] During the campaign, Villa maintained her support for the SAFE-T Act, which Brown opposed, and campaigned alongside Governor J. B. Pritzker, U.S. Representative-elect Delia Ramirez, and state Representative Maura Hirschauer.[8]

Committee assignments

In the 102nd General Assembly, Villa was the vice-chairperson of the Senate Behavioral and Mental Health Committee. She also served on the Committees on Agriculture; Education; and Pensions.[9]

In the 103rd General Assembly, Villa is the Chairperson of the Public Health Committee. She also sits on the Committees on Agriculture; Appropriations; Behavioral and Mental Health; Health and Human Services; Human Rights; and the Special Committee on Pensions.[10]

Votes and legislation

Workers' rights

Voting rights

Education

Police and prison policy

LGBTQ+ rights

Cannabis

Racial justice

Immigration

Climate and energy

Health care and abortion

Personal life

Villa earned her master of social work at Aurora University and worked as a school social worker in Villa Park District 45.[12]

Villa resides in West Chicago.[13]

Electoral history

Illinois 49th State House District General Election, 2018[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Karina Villa 22,133 53.81
Republican Tonia Jane Khouri 18,997 46.19
Total votes 41,130 100.0
Illinois 25th State Senate District General Election, 2020[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Karina Villa 60,238 51.0
Republican Jeanette Ward 57,976 49.0
Total votes 118,214 100.0

References

  1. ^ "PA 97-0006 Legislative District 25" (PDF). May 18, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  2. ^ Krishnamurthy, Madhu (November 6, 2018). "Villa wins handily in 49th House race". Daily Herald.
  3. ^ Pearson, Rick (18 February 2019). "Dairy magnate Jim Oberweis launching GOP challenge to first-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  4. ^ Miller, Rich (November 13, 2020). "You missed an Oberweis loss, Rick". Capitol Fax. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  5. ^ Barlow, Sarah E. (ed.). "Biographies of New House and Senate Members" (PDF). First Reading. Illinois General Assembly Legislative Research Unit. 34 (1). Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  6. ^ "Election results - Chicago Tribune". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  7. ^ "Illinois State Senate District 25". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  8. ^ "Karina Villa on Instagram: "THIS SUNDAY! Join us for a great time and meet Governor Pritzker and LT. Governor Stratton! 🤍💙 #westchicago"". Instagram. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  9. ^ "Karina Villa". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  10. ^ "Illinois General Assembly - Senator Committees". www.ilga.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  12. ^ Villa, Karina (October 20, 2018). "Illinois House 49th District Democratic nominee: Karina Villa" (Interview). Interviewed by Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board. Chicago, Illinois: Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  13. ^ "Candidate Detail CD". www.elections.il.gov. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  14. ^ "Election Results 2018 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  15. ^ "Election Results 2018 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 11, 2019.

External links

Members of the Illinois Senate
Categories