# Illinois's 8th House of Representatives district

Illinois's 8th House of Representatives district is a Representative district within the Illinois House of Representatives located in Cook County, Illinois. It has been represented by Democrat La Shawn Ford since January 10, 2007. The district was previously represented by Democrat Calvin Giles from 1993 to 2007.
Located in the Chicago metropolitan area, the district includes parts of Berwyn, Broadview, Chicago, Cicero, Countryside, Forest Park, Hodgkins, La Grange, La Grange Park, North Riverside, Oak Park, Westchester, Western Springs and parts of the Chicago neighborhood of Austin.

## Prominent representatives

| Representative | Notes |
| Jesse White | Elected the 37th Illinois Secretary of State (1999 – 2023) |

## List of representatives
### 1849 – 1854

| Representative | Party | Years | General Assembly (GA) | Electoral History | Counties Represented |
| 7th Representative district established with 1848 Illinois Constitution. ||||||
| William Pickering | Whig | January 1, 1849 – January 3, 1853 | 16th 17th | Redistricted from Edwards County House District and re-elected in 1848 Re-elected in 1850 Was not re-elected in 1852. | Edwards Wabash |
| Victor B. Bell | Whig | January 3, 1853 – January 1, 1855 | 18th | Elected in 1852 Was not re-elected in 1854. | Edwards Wabash |
| 1854 Reapportionment now gives the district two Representatives to elect cumulatively. ||||||

### 1854 – 1871

| Representative | Party | Party Control | Years | General Assembly (GA) | Electoral History | Counties Represented |
| 1854 Reapportionment now gives the district two Representatives to elect cumulatively. |||||||
| Hugh Gregg | Democratic | 2 Democrats | January 1, 1855 – January 5, 1857 | 19th | Elected in 1854 Was not re-elected in 1856. | Hamilton Jefferson Marion |
| T. B. Tanner | Democratic | 2 Democrats | January 1, 1855 – January 5, 1857 | 19th | Elected in 1854 Was not re-elected in 1856. | Hamilton Jefferson Marion |
| John A. Wilson | Democratic | 2 Democrats | January 5, 1857 – January 3, 1859 | 20th | Elected back in 1856 Was not re-elected in 1858. | Hamilton Jefferson Marion |
| William B. Anderson | Democratic | 2 Democrats | January 5, 1857 – January 7, 1861 | 20th 21st | Elected in 1856 Re-elected in 1858 Was not re-elected in 1860. | Hamilton Jefferson Marion |
| John McElvaine | Democratic | 2 Democrats | January 3, 1859 – January 7, 1861 | 21st | Elected in 1858 Was not re-elected in 1860. | Hamilton Jefferson Marion |
| Cyrus W. Webster | Unknown | 2 Unknowns | January 7, 1861 – January 5, 1863 | 22nd | Elected in 1860 Was not re-elected in 1862. | Hamilton Jefferson Marion |
| Cloyd Crouch | Unknown | 2 Unknowns | January 7, 1861 – January 5, 1863 | 22nd | Elected in 1860 Was not re-elected in 1862. | Hamilton Jefferson Marion |
| Samuel Moffatt | Unknown | 2 Unknowns | January 5, 1863 – January 2, 1865 | 23rd | Elected in 1862 Was not re-elected in 1864. | Monroe Randolph Perry |
| Edmund Menard | Unknown | 2 Unknowns | January 5, 1863 – January 2, 1865 | 23rd | Elected in 1862 Was not re-elected in 1864. | Monroe Randolph Perry |
| Austin James | Democratic | 2 Democrats | January 2, 1865 – January 7, 1867 | 24th | Elected in 1864 Was not re-elected in 1866. | Monroe Randolph Perry |
| William K. Murphy | Democratic | 2 Democrats | January 2, 1865 – January 4, 1869 | 24th 25th | Elected in 1864 Re-elected in 1866 Was not re-elected in 1868. | Monroe Randolph Perry |
| John Campbell | Unknown | 1 Democrat 1 Unknown | January 7, 1867 – January 4, 1869 | 25th | Elected in 1866 Was not re-elected in 1868. | Monroe Randolph Perry |
| Thomas H. Burgess | Republican | 2 Republicans | January 4, 1869 – January 4, 1871 | 26th | Elected in 1868 Was not re-elected in 1870. | Monroe Randolph Perry |
| John M. McCutcheon | Republican | 2 Republicans | January 4, 1869 – January 4, 1871 | 26th | Elected in 1868 Was not re-elected in 1870. | Monroe Randolph Perry |
| 1870 Reapportionment now gives the district only 1 Representative. |||||||

### 1871 – 1873

| Representative | Party | Years | General Assembly (GA) | Electoral History | Counties Represented |
| 1870 Reapportionment now gives the district only 1 Representative. ||||||
| William Elder | Democratic | January 4, 1871 – January 8, 1873 | 27th | Elected back in 1870 Was not re-elected in 1872. | Saline |
| District abolished with 1872 Reapportionment as 3 Representatives were now elected cumulatively from Legislative districts. ||||||

### 1957 – 1973

| Representative | Party | Party Control | Years | General Assembly (GA) | Electoral History | Counties Represented |
| District re-established in 1957. |||||||
| Esther Saperstein | Democratic | 2 Democrats 1 Republican | January 9, 1957 – January 6, 1965 | 70th 71st 72nd 73rd | Elected in 1956 Re-elected in 1958 Re-elected in 1960 Re-elected in 1962 Redistricted to At-large district and re-elected in 1964. | Cook |
| Michael F. Zlatnik | Republican | 2 Democrats 1 Republican | January 9, 1957 – January 6, 1965 | 70th 71st 72nd 73rd | Elected in 1956 Re-elected in 1958 Re-elected in 1960 Re-elected in 1962 Did not run in At-large election and retired. | Cook |
| Paul Elward | Democratic | 2 Democrats 1 Republican | January 9, 1957 – January 6, 1965 | 70th 71st 72nd 73rd | Elected in 1956 Re-elected in 1958 Re-elected in 1960 Re-elected in 1962 Redistricted to At-large district and re-elected in 1964. | Cook |
| The district was temporarily abolished from 1965 to 1967 due to the Redistricting Commission in 1963 failing to reach an agreement. An at-large election was held electing 177 Representatives from across the state. |||||||
| Jack E. Walker | Republican | 2 Republicans 1 Democrat | January 4, 1967 – January 13, 1971 | 75th 76th | Elected back in 1966 Re-elected in 1968 Elected state Senator in the 8th Legislative District in 1970. | Cook |
| John W. Thompson | Republican | 2 Republicans 1 Democrat | January 4, 1967 – January 10, 1973 | 75th 76th 77th | Elected in 1966 Re-elected in 1968 Re-elected in 1970 Retired. | Cook |
| Anthony Scariano | Democratic | 2 Republicans 1 Democrat | January 4, 1967 – January 10, 1973 | 75th 76th 77th | Redistricted from At-large District and won re-election in 1966 Re-elected in 1968 Re-elected in 1970 Ran for state Senator in the 9th Legislative District and lost in 1972. | Cook |
| Lynn Brenne | Republican | 2 Republicans 1 Democrat | January 13, 1971 – January 10, 1973 | 77th | Elected in 1970 Redistricted to the 9th Legislative District and lost re-election in 1972. | Cook |
| District abolished with 1971 Reapportionment as Representatives were once again elected from Legislative districts. |||||||

### 1983 – Present

| Representative | Party | Years | General Assembly (GA) | Electoral History | Counties Represented |
| District re-established with representatives now elected one per district with the passage of the Cutback Amendment ||||||
| Jesse White | Democratic | January 12, 1983 – December 1, 1992 | 83rd 84th 85th 86th | Redistricted from the 13th Legislative District and re-elected in 1982 Re-elected in 1984 Re-elected in 1986 Re-elected in 1988 Re-elected in 1990 Elected Cook County Recorder of Deeds and resigned his Representative seat in 1992. | Cook |
| Jesse White | Democratic | January 12, 1983 – December 1, 1992 | 87th | Redistricted from the 13th Legislative District and re-elected in 1982 Re-elected in 1984 Re-elected in 1986 Re-elected in 1988 Re-elected in 1990 Elected Cook County Recorder of Deeds and resigned his Representative seat in 1992. | Cook |
| Vacant | Vacant | December 1, 1992 – January 13, 1993 | 87th | | Cook |
| Robert LeFlore | Democratic | January 13, 1993 – May 3, 1993 | 88th | Redistricted from the 13th Representative District and re-elected in 1992 Died in 1993. | Cook |
| Vacant | Vacant | May 3, 1993 – May 1993 | 88th | | Cook |
| Calvin Giles | Democratic | May 1993 – January 10, 2007 | 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd 94th | Appointed in 1993 Elected in 1994 Re-elected in 1996 Re-elected in 1998 Re-elected in 2000 Re-elected in 2002 Re-elected in 2004 Lost renomination in 2006. | Cook |
| La Shawn Ford | Democratic | January 10, 2007 – present | 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd | Elected in 2006 Re-elected in 2008 Re-elected in 2010 Re-elected in 2012 Re-elected in 2014 Re-elected in 2016 Re-elected in 2018 Re-elected in 2020 Re-elected in 2022 | Cook |

## Historic District Boundaries

| Years | County | Municipalities/Townships |
| 2023 – present | Cook | Berwyn, Broadview, Chicago (Austin), Cicero, Countryside, Forest Park, Hodgkins, La Grange, La Grange Park, North Riverside, Oak Park, Westchester, Western Springs |
| 2013 – 2023 | Cook | Berwyn, Brookfield, Chicago (Austin), Forest Park, La Grange, La Grange Park, North Riverside, Oak Park |
| 2003 – 2013 | Cook | |
| 1993 – 2003 | Cook | Chicago |
| 1983 – 1993 | Cook | Chicago |
| 1967 – 1973 | Cook | Bloom Township, Rich Township, parts of Thornton Township |
| 1957 – 1965 | Cook | Chicago |
| 1871 – 1873 | Saline | Bankston, Eldorado, Gallatia, Harrisburg, Hartford, Independence, Mitchellsville, Raleigh, Saline City, Somerset, South America, Whitesville |
| 1863 – 1871 | Monroe Randolph Perry | Appleton, Blair, Burksville, Chester, Cobb, Columbia, Coulterville, Denmark, Du Quoin, Eagle Cliff, Eden, Evansville, Florence, Freedom, Galum, Georgetown, Glasgow City, Grande Cole, Harrisonville, Holt Prairie, Iowa, Jones Creek, Jordan Grove, Kaskaskia, Liberty, Maysville, Mitchie, Monroe City, Morrison, Mt. Hawkins, Old Du Quoin, Pinckneyville, Pleasant Shade, Pollacks, Prairie du Rocher, Preston, Randolph, Red Bud, Renault, Ruma, St. Johns, Smith's Landing, Sparta, Steuben, Tamaroa, Waterloo |
| 1855 – 1863 | Hamilton Jefferson Marion | Bear Creek, Belle Prairie (Belle Prairie City), Blissville, Centralia, Elkton, Farina, Farrington, Fosters, Fredericktown, Griswold, Hickory Hill, Jefferson, Jefferson City, Jordans Prairie, Junction (Junction City), Kinmundy, Lanes Roads, Logansport, Lovilla, Lynchburg, McLeansboro, Middleton, Moores Prairie, Mount Vernon, Odin, Palo Alto, Patoka, Ponti, Racoon, Rome, Salem, Sandoval, Spring Garden, Walnut Hill |
| 1849 – 1855 | Edwards Wabash | Albion, Armstrong, Centreville, Grayville, McChenes Bluff, Mier, Mills Prairie, Mount Carmel, Oxford, Palmyra, Rochester Mills (Rochester) |

## Electoral history
### 2030 – 2022

2022 Illinois House of Representatives election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | La Shawn K. Ford (incumbent) | 22,187 | 75.51 | −24.49% |
| | Republican | Thomas Hurley | 7195 | 24.49 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 29,382 | 100.0 |

### 2020 – 2012

2020 Illinois House of Representatives election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | La Shawn K. Ford (incumbent) | 36,932 | 100.0 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 36,932 | 100.0 |
2018 Illinois House of Representatives election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | La Shawn K. Ford (incumbent) | 31,923 | 100.0 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 31,923 | 100.0 |
2016 Illinois House of Representatives election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | La Shawn K. Ford (incumbent) | 38,493 | 100.0 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 38,493 | 100.0 |
2014 Illinois House of Representatives election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | La Shawn K. Ford (incumbent) | 25,449 | 100.0 | +0.03% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 25,449 | 100.0 |
2012 Illinois House of Representatives election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | La Shawn K. Ford (incumbent) | 37,824 | 99.97 | −0.03% |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 10 | 0.03 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 37,834 | 100.0 |

### 2010 – 2002

2010 Illinois House of Representatives election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | La Shawn K. Ford (incumbent) | 23,179 | 100.0 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,179 | 100.0 |
2008 Illinois House of Representatives election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | La Shawn K. Ford (incumbent) | 34,666 | 100.0 | +16.40% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 34,666 | 100.0 |
2006 Illinois House of Representatives election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | La Shawn K. Ford | 21,057 | 83.60 | +4.50% |
| | Republican | Glenn L. Harris | 2,975 | 11.81 | −0.16% |
| | Green | Nathan Paul Helsabeck | 1,157 | 4.59 | −4.34% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 25,189 | 100.0 |
2006 Illinois House of Representatives Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | La Shawn K. Ford | 8,241 | 57.45 |
| | Democratic | Calvin Giles (incumbent) | 6,104 | 42.55 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,345 | 100.0 |
2004 Illinois House of Representatives election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Calvin Giles (incumbent) | 30,408 | 79.10 | +2.99% |
| | Republican | Glenn L. Harris | 4,601 | 11.97 | −2.13% |
| | Green | Julie Samuels | 3,432 | 8.93 | −0.87% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 38,441 | 100.0 |
2002 Illinois House of Representatives election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Calvin L. Giles (incumbent) | 19,264 | 76.11 | −23.89% |
| | Republican | Glenn L. Harris | 3,568 | 14.10 | N/A |
| | Green | Julie Samuels | 2,480 | 9.80 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 25,312 | 100.0 |

### 2000 – 1992

2000 Illinois House of Representatives election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Calvin L. Giles (incumbent) | 30,638 | 100.0 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 30,638 | 100.0 |
1998 Illinois House of Representatives election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Calvin L. Giles (incumbent) | 24,558 | 100.0 | +12.58% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,558 | 100.0 |
1996 Illinois House of Representatives election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Calvin L. Giles (incumbent) | 28,766 | 87.42 | +5.53% |
| | Republican | Les Golden | 4,140 | 12.58 | −5.53% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 32,906 | 100.0 |
1994 Illinois House of Representatives election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Calvin L. Giles (incumbent) | 16,982 | 81.89 | −18.11% |
| | Republican | Melvin Delk | 3,756 | 18.11 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,738 | 100.0 |
1992 Illinois House of Representatives election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Robert LeFlore, Jr. | 34,226 | 100.0 | +37.49% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 34,226 | 100.0 |

### 1990 – 1982

1990 Illinois House of Representatives election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Jesse C. White, Jr. (incumbent) | 17,929 | 62.51 | +7.69% |
| | Republican | Alan Spitz | 10,751 | 37.49 | −7.69% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 28,680 | 100.0 |
1988 Illinois House of Representatives election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Jesse C. White, Jr. (incumbent) | 24,970 | 54.82 | −6.28% |
| | Republican | Alan Spitz | 20,578 | 45.18 | +6.28% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 45,548 | 100.0 |
1986 Illinois House of Representatives election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Jesse C. White, Jr. (incumbent) | 17,456 | 61.10 | +3.00% |
| | Republican | Marshall R. Crawford | 11,114 | 38.90 | −2.99% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 28,570 | 100.0 |
1984 Illinois House of Representatives election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Jesse C. White, Jr. (incumbent) | 25,750 | 58.10 | +1.66% |
| | Republican | Marshall R. Crawford | 18,567 | 41.89 | −1.67% |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 1 | 0.00 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 44,318 | 100.0 |
1982 Illinois House of Representatives election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jesse C. White, Jr. | 19,606 | 56.44 |
| | Republican | Elroy C. Sandquist, Jr. | 15,133 | 43.56 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 1 | 0.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 34,740 | 100.0 |

### 1970 – 1962

1970 Illinois House of Representatives election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Anthony Scariano (incumbent) | 67,272 | 32.87 |
| | Republican | John W. Thompson (incumbent) | 59,253 | 28.95 |
| | Republican | Lynn G. Brenne | 47,521.5 | 23.22 |
| | Democratic | John B. Hayes | 30,632 | 14.97 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 6 | 0.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 204,684.5 | 100.0 |
1968 Illinois House of Representatives election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jack E. Walker (incumbent) | 82,335 | 31.01 |
| | Democratic | Anthony Scariano (incumbent) | 73,828.5 | 27.81 |
| | Republican | John W. Thompson (incumbent) | 66,858.5 | 25.18 |
| | Democratic | L. Michael Getty | 42,450.5 | 15.99 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 265,472.5 | 100.0 |
1966 Illinois House of Representatives election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jack E. Walker | 65,496.5 | 32.50 |
| | Republican | John W. Thompson | 57,800 | 28.68 |
| | Democratic | Anthony Scariano | 52,101 | 25.85 |
| | Democratic | Adolph S. Taborski | 26,141.5 | 12.97 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 201,539 | 100.0 |
1962 Illinois House of Representatives election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Esther Saperstein (incumbent) | 73,098.5 | 30.18 |
| | Democratic | Paul F. Elward (incumbent) | 63,003 | 26.01 |
| | Republican | Michael F. Zlatnik (incumbent) | 60,783.5 | 25.10 |
| | Republican | Edmund E. Deuss | 45,305 | 18.71 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 242,190 | 100.0 |

### 1960 – 1956

1960 Illinois House of Representatives election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Esther Saperstein (incumbent) | 89,592 | 30.49 |
| | Democratic | Paul F. Elward (incumbent) | 78,679 | 26.78 |
| | Republican | Michael F. Zlatnik (incumbent) | 69,497 | 23.65 |
| | Republican | Erwin L. Martay | 56,081.5 | 19.09 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 293,849.5 | 100.0 |
1958 Illinois House of Representatives election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Esther Saperstein (incumbent) | 73,033.5 | 35.35 |
| | Republican | Michael F. Zlatnik (incumbent) | 71,935 | 34.82 |
| | Democratic | Paul F. Elward (incumbent) | 61,604 | 29.82 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 206,572.5 | 100.0 |
1956 Illinois House of Representatives election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Esther Saperstein | 79,510 | 27.70 |
| | Republican | Michael F. Zlatnik | 70,573.5 | 24.58 |
| | Democratic | Paul F. Elward | 68,900.5 | 24.00 |
| | Republican | Erwin L. Martay | 68,101.5 | 23.72 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 287,085.5 | 100.0 |