Balkema clinches Republican nomination for 53rd Senate district race
CHANNAHON, Ill. (WCIA) — Chris Balkema, the Grundy County Board chair, has won the Republican nomination for Illinois’ 53rd Senate district.
Balkema defeated his three Republican opponents in the race – Jesse Faber from Pontiac, Susan Wynn Bence from Watseka, and Mike Kirkton from Gridley. The four candidates went head-to-head to replace State Sen. Tom Bennett, who announced he would not seek reelection.
Primary Election Results – March 19th, 2024
Balkema, who is from Channahon, spent the past thirty years working at Caterpillar.
On the campaign trail, Balkema said if elected, his priorities would be on cutting taxes and taking Grundy County’s non-sanctuary status and advocating to enact that at the state level.
Before the race was called, Balkema declared victory. Kirkton and Wynn Bence called him to concede Tuesday night.
“I want to thank my incredible volunteer team and express my immense gratitude for the faith republican voters placed in me to be our next state senator,” Balkema said in a statement. “We have a lot of work to do in Springfield and I will work as hard as I have as Grundy county board chairman in bringing about conservative results.”
Balkema will now move on to the November ballot. No Democratic candidates filed to run in the 53rd Senate race.
Since this seat is open because of a resignation, the person who holds the office will serve for two years.
Thirteen Central Illinois counties make up the 53rd Senate District, including Ford, Iroquois, McLean, and Grundy counties.
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