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The 17th congressional district of Illinois is represented by Democrat Cheri Bustos. It includes most of the northwestern portion of the state, with most of its population living on the Illinois side of the Quad Cities, as well as parts of Peoria and Rockford.

Illinois's 17th congressional district
From 2013 to 2023 From 2023 to 2033 Interactive map of district boundaries. Points indicate major cities in the district.
Representative	Cheri Bustos D–Moline
Area	6,933 sq mi (17,960 km2)
Distribution	73.3% urban 26.7% rural
Population (2021)	665,076
Median household income	$50,712[1]
Ethnicity	76.1% White 11.5% Black 8.7% Hispanic 2.0% Two or more races 1.4% Asian 0.3% other
Cook PVI	R+2[2][3]

The 17th congressional district has shifted northward after redistricting in 2012. It subsequently lost Quincy and Decatur, as well as its share of Springfield. It was generally thought that the redrawn map would allow the district to revert to the Democrats, who held it without interruption from 1983 to 2011.[4] As expected, incumbent Representative Bobby Schilling was defeated, after serving only one term, by Democratic opponent Cheri Bustos in the 2012 election cycle, who has served since that election.[5]

It is one of the few Democratic-leaning districts that voted for Barack Obama and Donald Trump twice each. It is also one of seven districts that voted for Trump in the 2020 presidential election while being held by a Democrat.

The district includes Tampico, the birthplace of former president Ronald Reagan.

Geographic boundaries

2011 redistricting

The district covers parts of Peoria, Tazewell and Winnebago counties, and all of Carroll, Fulton, Henderson, Henry, Jo Daviess, Knox, Mercer, Rock Island, Stephenson, Warren and Whiteside counties, as of the 2011 redistricting which followed the 2010 census. All or parts of Canton, East Moline, Freeport, Galesburg, Kewanee, Moline, Peoria, Rock Island, Rockford, Pekin and Sterling are included.[6] The representatives for these districts were elected in the 2012 primary and general elections, and the boundaries became effective on January 5, 2013.

2021 redistricting

Composition

#	County	Seat	Population
15	Carroll	Mount Carroll	15,698
57	Fulton	Lewistown	33,197
73	Henry	Cambridge	48,907
95	Knox	Galesburg	49,268
131	Mercer	Aledo	15,582
113	McLean	Bloomington	170,889
143	Peoria	Peoria	179,432
161	Rock Island	Rock Island	142,909
177	Stephenson	Freeport	44,021
179	Tazewell	Pekin	130,413
187	Warren	Monmouth	16,531
195	Whiteside	Morrison	55,305
201	Winnebago	Rockford	283,119

As of the 2020 redistricting, this district will retain the Illinois side of the Quad Cities area where much of its population previously resided, while its southern borders will now extend further into Central Illinois. The district will take in parts of Henry, Warren, and McDonough Counties; half of Mercer, Stephenson, Tazewell, McLean, Fulton, and Peoria Counties; and all of Carroll, Rock Island, Whiteside, and Knox Counties.

Henry County is split between this district and the 16th district. They are partitioned on the northwest side by Shaffer Creek, Oakwood Cir, Oakmont Dr, Oakwood Country Club, Glenwood Rd, US Highway 6, E 450th St, Illinois Highway 280, Green River Rd, and Kings Dr. They are partitioned on the southeast side by E 1770th St, N 650th Ave/N 570th Ave, Timber Rd, E 2400th St, and N 1200 St. The 17th district takes in the municipalities of Colona, Kewanee, and Galva.

Warren County is split between this district and the 15th district. They are partitioned by 60th St and 180th Ave. The 17th district takes in the municipalities of Alexis and Monmouth.

McDonough County is split between this district and the 15th district. They are partitioned by US Highway 136, US Highway 67, N 1150th Rd, Grant St, Deer Rd, N 1200th St, S Quail Walk Rd, Jamestown Rd, Arlington Rd, La Moine River, Emory Rd, N 1400th Rd, Krohe Dr, E 1200th St, N 1800th Rd, and E 1900th St, N 1700th St, E 2000th St. The 17th district takes in the municipalities of Macomb and Bardolph.

Mercer County is split between this district and the 15th district. They are partitioned by 220th St. The 17th district takes in the municipalities of Burgess, Matherville, and Viola.

Stephenson County is split between this district and the 16th district. They are partitioned by Daws Rd, Howardsville Rd, Cedarville Rd, N Fawver Rd, and Maize Rd. The 17th district takes in the municipalities of Freeport, Pearl City, and Bolton.

Tazewell County is split between this district and the 16th district. They are partitioned by Illinois River, S 3rd St, Prince St, Elm St, Maple St, Mechanic St, Koch St, 5th St, Illinois Central Railroad, Townline Rd, Highway I-55, Illinois Highway 122, Indian Creek, Southwest Lincoln St, Southeast Main St, Hopedale Rd, Springtown Rd, Mackinaw Rd, and Lagoon Rd. The 17th district takes in the municipalities of Delavan and South Pekin.

McLean County is split between this district and the 16th district. They are partitioned by E 1000 North Rd, N 250 East Rd, E 1200 North Rd, Middle Fork Sugar Creek, E 1250 North Rd, N 750 East Rd, E 1300 North Rd, E 1280 North Rd, N 900 East Rd, E 1350 North Rd, E 1400 North Rd, N 1100 East Rd, N Rivian Motorway, King Mill Creek, Illinois Highway 74, Hovey Ave, S Cottage Ave, Gregory St, N Adelaide St, W Raab Rd, N Towanda Ave, E Shelbourne Dr, Old Route 66, Hershey Rd, E College Ave, Illinois Highway 55, Sugar Creek, General Electric Rd, Rainbow Ave, Mill Creek Rd, Clearwater Ave, Newcastle Dr, Illinois Highway 9, S Towanda Barnes Rd, Central Illinois Airport, Winchester Dr, S Hershey Rd, E Oakland Ave, S Veterans Parkway, S Mercer Ave, Norfolk and Southern Railroad, Rhodes Ln, E Hamilton Rd, S Morris Ave, Six Points Rd, W Oakland Ave, Fox Creek Rd, Crooked Creek Rd, Carrington Ln, and N 1200 East Rd. The 17th district takes in the municipalities of McLean and Bloomington; and southern Normal.

Fulton County is split between this district and the 15th district. They are partitioned by East Oscar Linn Highway. The 17th district takes in the municipalities of Canton, Cuba, and Farmington.

Peoria County is split between this district and the 16th district. They are partitioned by W Gerber Rd/W Rosenbohm Rd, W Southport Rd, BN & SF Railroad, W Southport Rd, N Townhouse Rd, W Cottonwood Rd, N McAllister Rd, W Greengold Rd, W Farmington Rd, N Kickapoo Creek Rd, Saint Mary's Cemetery, N Swords Ave, N Northcrest Dr, C & NW Railroad, Weaverridge Golf Club, W Charter Oak Rd, Illinois Highway 6, W War Memorial Dr, N Allen Rd, W Northmoor Rd, Big Hollow Creek, West Imperial Dr, West Willow Knolls Dr, North University St, Manning Park, West Teton Dr, Illinois Highway 40, North Prospect Rd, East Prospect Ln, North Montclair Ave, East Euclid Ave, North Grandview Dr, Forest Park Nature Center, Forest Park Apartments, North Galena Rd, Illinois Highway 29, and Forest Park Riverfront-Longshore. The 17th district takes in the municipalities of Hanna City, Glasford, and Elmwood; and most of Peoria.

History

From 2003 to 2013 the district was known as "the rabbit on a skateboard" for its unusual shape devised as the outcome of gerrymandering.[7][8] The boundaries were drawn in a bipartisan deal to protect both Democratic incumbent Lane Evans and neighboring Republican incumbents. The lines of the district were drawn to move Republican voters into neighboring districts and to include Democratic neighborhoods in Springfield and Decatur.[9] Evans retired in 2006 as a result of declining health, and the seat was won by his longtime aide Phil Hare. Although the district had been designed to elect a Democrat, Hare lost in 2010 to Republican pizzeria owner Bobby Schilling. In 2012, Democrat Cheri Bustos won the district election and is the district's current representative.

In early 2021, Cheri Bustos announced her intention to retire at the end of the 117th congress.[10] Former WREX and WQAD meteorologist Eric Sorenson has announced his candidacy for this seat.[11]

Election results from recent presidential races

Year	Results
1996	Clinton 58 - 34%
2000	Gore 53 – 43%
2004	Kerry 51 – 48%
2008	Obama 60 – 39%[3]
2012	Obama 57 – 41%[3]
2016	Trump 47.4 – 46.7%[12]
2020	Trump 49.7 – 48.1%[13]

List of members representing the district

Representative	Party	Years	Cong ress	Electoral history
District created March 4, 1873
William R. Morrison	Democratic	March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1883	43rd 44th 45th 46th 47th	Elected in 1872. Re-elected in 1874. Re-elected in 1876. Re-elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. Redistricted to the 18th district.
Samuel W. Moulton	Democratic	March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1885	48th	Redistricted from the 15th district and re-elected in 1882. Retired.
John R. Eden	Democratic	March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1887	49th	Elected in 1884. Lost re-election.
Edward Lane	Democratic	March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1895	50th 51st 52nd 53rd	Elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. Re-elected in 1890. Re-elected in 1892. Redistricted to the 18th district and lost re-election there.
James A. Connolly	Republican	March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1899	54th 55th	Elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Retired.
Ben F. Caldwell	Democratic	March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1903	56th 57th	Elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Redistricted to the 21st district.
John A. Sterling	Republican	March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1913	58th 59th 60th 61st 62nd	Elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Lost re-election.
Louis FitzHenry	Democratic	March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1915	63rd	Elected in 1912. Lost re-election.
John A. Sterling	Republican	March 4, 1915 – October 17, 1918	64th 65th	Elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Died.
Vacant		October 17, 1918 – March 3, 1919	65th
Frank L. Smith	Republican	March 4, 1919 – March 3, 1921	66th	Elected in 1918. Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
Frank H. Funk	Republican	March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1927	67th 68th 69th	Elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Lost renomination.
Homer W. Hall	Republican	March 4, 1927 – March 3, 1933	70th 71st 72nd	Elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Lost re-election.
Frank Gillespie	Democratic	March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935	73rd	Elected in 1932. Lost re-election.
Leslie C. Arends	Republican	January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1973	74th 75th 76th 77th 78th 79th 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd	Elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Redistricted to the 15th district.
George M. O'Brien	Republican	January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1983	93rd 94th 95th 96th 97th	Elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Redistricted to the 4th district.
Lane Evans	Democratic	January 3, 1983 – January 3, 2007	98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th	Elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Retired.
Phil Hare	Democratic	January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2011	110th 111th	Elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Lost re-election.
Bobby Schilling	Republican	January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013	112th	Elected in 2010. Lost re-election.
Cheri Bustos	Democratic	January 3, 2013 – present	113th 114th 115th 116th 117th	Elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Retired.
Eric Sorensen	Democratic	January 3, 2023 –		Elected in 2022.

Election results

2012

Illinois's 17th congressional district election results, 2012[14]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Cheri Bustos	153,519	53.3
	Republican	Bobby Schilling (incumbent)	134,623	46.7
	Independent	Eric Reyes (write-in)	10	0.0
	Independent	Joe Faber (write-in)	9	0.0
Total votes			288,161	100.0
	Democratic gain from Republican

2014

Illinois's 17th congressional district, 2014[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Cheri Bustos (incumbent)	110,560	55.5
	Republican	Bobby Schilling	88,785	44.5
	Independent	Bill Fawell (write-in)	16	0.0
Total votes			199,361	100.0
	Democratic hold

2016

Illinois's 17th congressional district, 2016[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Cheri Bustos (incumbent)	173,125	60.3
	Republican	Patrick Harlan	113,943	39.7
Total votes			287,068	100.0
	Democratic hold

2018

Illinois's 17th congressional district, 2018[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Cheri Bustos (incumbent)	142,659	62.1
	Republican	Bill Fawell	87,090	37.9
Total votes			229,749	100.0
	Democratic hold

2020

Illinois's 17th congressional district, 2020[17][18]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Cheri Bustos (incumbent)	156,011	52.02	-10.07%
	Republican	Esther Joy King	143,863	47.97	+10.06%
	Write-in		21	0.01	N/A
Total votes			299,895	100.0
	Democratic hold

See also

• Illinois's congressional districts
• List of United States congressional districts
• Gerrymandering

Notes

References

• Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
• Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
• Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present

External links

• Washington Post page on the 17th District of Illinois
• U.S. Census Bureau - 17th District Fact Sheet
• "U.S. Census Bureau - 17th District map" (PDF). (6.29 MiB)

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