Nikki Budzinski

In the 2024 House race for IL-13, Nikki Budzinski (D) won with 58.1% of the vote, defeating Joshua Loyd (R) who received 41.9%. A third candidate also appeared on the ballot. Nikki Budzinski's 16.2-point advantage over the runner-up confirmed a comfortable win.

As the incumbent, Nikki Budzinski benefited from name recognition, established constituent services, and the roughly 2-3 point advantage that sitting members typically enjoy. The 2024 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket.

In the 2022 House race for IL-13, Nikki Budzinski (D) won with 56.6% of the vote, defeating Regan Deering (R) who received 43.4%. A third candidate also appeared on the ballot. Nikki Budzinski's 13.2-point lead over the runner-up showed solid but not overwhelming support.

This race flipped the seat from Republican to Democrat. Rodney Davis (R) held the seat previously but either retired or lost in a primary. Party flips at the seat level are relatively rare and often signal shifting district dynamics. As a Democrat, Nikki Budzinski won despite the historical midterm penalty against the president's party (Democrat Biden was in office).