# Andrew Chesney

Andrew S. Chesney is an American politician who is an elected Republican member of the Illinois Senate for the 45th district. The 45th district is located in the northwest corner of the state and includes all of Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Carroll counties as well as part of, Ogle, Winnebago, Boone, and DeKalb counties.
He was previously the State Representative for the 89th District from 2018 to 2023.
After winning the 2018 general election, Chesney was appointed to succeed Brian W. Stewart for the remainder of the 100th General Assembly. Chesney was sworn into office December 5, 2018.
Chesney is a member of the Illinois Freedom Caucus and was the first State Senator to join the Caucus.
He is also the Chairman of the Stephenson County Republican Central Committee. Prior to his election to the Illinois House of Representatives he was an Alderman-at-large in the City of Freeport, a member of the Stephenson County Convention and Visitors Bureau and a member of the Illinois WorkNet Center for Stephenson, Jo Daviess, and Winnebago counties.

## Illinois Senate
### Positions

Chesney is anti-abortion, with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother. He received a 100% rating from Illinois Right to Life Action.
Chesney is pro-Second Amendment, receiving a 92% rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA).

### Votes

Source:

#### Police and prison policy

* Voted against abolishing cash bail (HB3653)
* Sponsored legislation to reinstate the death penalty for first-degree murder (SB2145)

#### Firearms

* Voted against a statewide assault weapons ban (HB5471)
* Voted against Red Flag Laws (HB1092)
* Sponsored legislation to repeal the Firearms Owner's Identification Card (SB2136)

#### Immigration

* Sponsored legislation urging the U.S. Congress to impeach DHS Secretary Mayorkas (SR746)
* Voted against allowing DACA recipients to become police officers (HB3751)

#### Election Integrity and Government

* Voted for term limits for leadership positions in the General Assembly (HB642)
* Voted against extending ballot drop boxes and curbside voting (HB1871)

### Committee Assignments

As of January, 2023, Senator Chesney is a member of the following Illinois Senate committees:
* Agriculture
* Approp- Pub Safety & Infrastructure
* Environment and Conservation
* Financial Institutions
* Labor
* Public Health

## Electoral history

Freeport, Illinois At-Large Alderman General Election, 2015 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | PEO | Andrew Chesney | 2,914 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,914 | 100.0 |
Illinois 89th State House District Republican Primary, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Andrew S. Chesney | 7,327 | 53.54 |
| | Republican | Steven R. Fricke | 6,357 | 46.46 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,684 | 100.0 |
Illinois 89th State House District General Election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Andrew S. Chesney | 25,485 | 61.84 |
| | Democratic | Nicholas P. Hyde | 15,725 | 38.16 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 41,210 | 100.0 |
Illinois 89th State House District General Election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Andrew S. Chesney | 38,341 | 73.4 |
| | Independent | John Cook | 13,864 | 26.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 52,205 | 100.0 |
2022 Illinois State Senate District 45 General Election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Andrew S. Chesney | 55,738 | 66.6 |
| | Democratic | Gerald Podraza | 27,891 | 33.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 83,629 | 100.0 |