Koehler secures Illinois' 46th Senate District

BLOOMINGTON — Incumbent state Sen. Dave Koehler has won the race for Illinois 46th Senate District against first-time Republican candidate Sally Owens by 12,816 votes.

The race was called just after 10 p.m. Tuesday. Out of 85,068 total votes, Koehler received 48,942 and Owens received 36,126. Results are considered unofficial until ratified by the Illinois State Board of Elections.

"I think we had a very good showing tonight, both in Peoria and Bloomington-Normal," Koehler told The Pantagraph Tuesday night. "I'm always very humbled and very grateful to the voters to send me back to Springfield to represent them in the Senate."

Koehler has served in the Senate since 2006, after filling in for retiring Sen. George Shadid. After the 46th District was redrawn in 2022 to cover portions of Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford and McLean counties along Interstate 74, Koehler won against Republican candidate Desi Anderson, who is now a candidate in the 91st House District against incumbent state Rep. Sharon Chung, D-Bloomington.

Since the district was redrawn, Koehler has been the primary sponsor of over 100 bills and serves on committees including Agriculture, Appropriation-Education, Labor, Higher Education and Appropriation Health & Human as well as Energy & Public Utilities, which he is the vice chair.

After recent news from the Governor's Office of Management and Budget, which projected a potential state budget shortfall of $3.2 billion for fiscal year 2026, Koehler said the state is going to have a tough budget year coming up.

"That always presents its challenges, but you know, the Constitution of the State of Illinois says we have to have a balanced budget, so there will be a balanced budget," Koehler said. "It's just that we have to make sure that we do that and do it right."

Koehler said one of his more personal actions will be continuing with the Family Farm Preservation Act, which would reform the Illinois Estate Tax and provide tax relief for farm families.

"I mean, 96% of the Illinois farms are family farms, and we want to make sure we keep it that way," Koehler said.

Owens did not respond to requests to comment on the election results as of 12 a.m. Wednesday.

According to Owens' campaign website, she is a first-time candidate who is focused on tax-relief for families, term limits for politicians, improving education, investing in economic and job growth as well as public safety.

Owens has over 25 years of experience as a small business consultant in Central Illinois and has spent the last decade working with OSF HealthCare while also being involved with organizations like Illinois Central College, Youth Farm of Children's Home and Easterseals.

Koehler said he thought it was a good election season this year, and that he looks forward to working with local legislators, including Chung, on future bills.

"I don't do negative ads. I just don't believe in them, but I think we have a good election season, and Illinois can be proud of what we do here in Central Illinois ... in terms of elections," Koehler said.

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