Don't know who's on your ballot? Ballotpedia can help and monthly donors make it possible. Join the Ballotpedia Society today!

Laura Fine

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Laura Fine
Democratic Party
Illinois State Senate District 9
Tenure
2019 - Present
Term ends
2027
Years in position
7
Predecessor: Daniel K. Biss (D)
Prior offices:
Illinois House of Representatives District 17
Years in office: 2013 - 2019
Compensation
Base salary
$93,712/year
Per diem
$178/day
Elections and appointments
Last election
March 17, 2026
Education
High school
Glenbrook South High School, 1985
Bachelor's
Indiana University, 1989
Graduate
Northeastern Illinois University, 1999
Personal
Profession
Clerk of Northfield Township
Contact
Official website
Official Facebook
Official X
Official Instagram
Campaign website
Campaign Facebook
Campaign X
Campaign Instagram
Campaign YouTube
Personal website
Personal Facebook

Laura Fine (Democratic Party) is a member of the Illinois State Senate, representing District 9. She assumed office on January 9, 2019. Her current term ends on January 13, 2027.

Fine (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Illinois' 9th Congressional District. She lost in the Democratic primary on March 17, 2026.

Biography

Laura Fine received her B.A. in telecommunications from Indiana University, and she went on to receive her M.A. in political science from Northeastern Illinois University. She is also a graduate of the Illinois Women's Institute for Leadership and the Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development. Her professional experience includes being an instructor at Northeastern Illinois University and the Northfield Township Clerk. As of November 2019, Fine is an Edgar Fellow, Henry Toll Fellow, a member of the Emerging Adult Justice Learning Community, the Kiwanis Club of Glenview-Northbrook, the Rotary Club of Glenview Sunrise, and the Glenview League of Women Voters.[1]

Committee assignments

2025-2026

Fine was assigned to the following committees:

2023-2024

Fine was assigned to the following committees:

2021-2022

Fine was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Fine was assigned to the following committees:

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Illinois committee assignments, 2017
• Appropriations-Higher Education
• Environment
• Human Services
• Insurance: Health & Life, Chair
• Insurance: Property & Casualty
• Mental Health, Vice chair

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Fine served on the following committees:

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Fine served on the following committees:

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.

Elections

2026

See also: Illinois' 9th Congressional District election, 2026

Illinois' 9th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 17 Democratic primary)

Illinois' 9th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 17 Republican primary)

General election

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

General election for U.S. House Illinois District 9

Daniel K. Biss, John Elleson, and Delila Barrera are running in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 9 on November 3, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Daniel K. Biss
Daniel K. Biss (D)
Image of John Elleson
John Elleson (R) Candidate Connection
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Delila Barrera (Independent)

There are no incumbents in this race.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9 on March 17, 2026.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Daniel K. Biss
Daniel K. Biss
 
29.4
 
38,804
Image of Kat Abughazaleh
Kat Abughazaleh Candidate Connection
 
26.3
 
34,707
Image of Laura Fine
Laura Fine
 
20.0
 
26,384
Image of Mike Simmons
Mike Simmons
 
7.1
 
9,419
Image of Phil Andrew
Phil Andrew Candidate Connection
 
6.1
 
7,997
Image of Bushra Amiwala
Bushra Amiwala Candidate Connection
 
5.1
 
6,692
Image of Hoan Huynh
Hoan Huynh
 
1.8
 
2,343
Image of Patricia Brown
Patricia Brown
 
1.3
 
1,675
Image of Jeff Cohen
Jeff Cohen Candidate Connection
 
0.8
 
1,078
Image of Justin Ford
Justin Ford Candidate Connection
 
0.6
 
793
Image of Bethany Johnson
Bethany Johnson Candidate Connection
 
0.5
 
635
Image of Sam Polan
Sam Polan Candidate Connection
 
0.4
 
528
Image of Howard Rosenblum
Howard Rosenblum Candidate Connection
 
0.2
 
312
Image of Nick Pyati
Nick Pyati Candidate Connection
 
0.2
 
241
Image of Mark Fredrickson
Mark Fredrickson Candidate Connection
 
0.2
 
232

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 131,840
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9

John Elleson defeated Paul Friedman, Rocio Cleveland, and Mark Su in the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 9 on March 17, 2026.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of John Elleson
John Elleson Candidate Connection
 
48.5
 
5,825
Image of Paul Friedman
Paul Friedman Candidate Connection
 
33.5
 
4,023
Image of Rocio Cleveland
Rocio Cleveland
 
9.2
 
1,110
Image of Mark Su
Mark Su Candidate Connection
 
8.7
 
1,046

There were no incumbents in this race. Source 1 Source 2

Total votes: 12,004
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Fine received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.

  • Glenview Voter Guide (Sway voting group by Andrew Duffy)

2022

See also: Illinois State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for Illinois State Senate District 9

Incumbent Laura Fine defeated Paul Kelly in the general election for Illinois State Senate District 9 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Laura Fine
Laura Fine (D)
 
76.4
 
62,103
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Paul Kelly (R)
 
23.6
 
19,143

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 81,246
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 9

Incumbent Laura Fine advanced from the Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 9 on June 28, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Laura Fine
Laura Fine
 
100.0
 
25,126

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 25,126
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2018

See also: Illinois State Senate elections, 2018

General election

General election for Illinois State Senate District 9

Laura Fine defeated Joan McCarthy Lasonde in the general election for Illinois State Senate District 9 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Laura Fine
Laura Fine (D)
 
71.8
 
73,710
Image of Joan McCarthy Lasonde
Joan McCarthy Lasonde (R)
 
28.2
 
28,889

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 102,599
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 9

Laura Fine advanced from the Democratic primary for Illinois State Senate District 9 on March 20, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Laura Fine
Laura Fine
 
100.0
 
38,378

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 38,378
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Illinois State Senate District 9

Joan McCarthy Lasonde advanced from the Republican primary for Illinois State Senate District 9 on March 20, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Joan McCarthy Lasonde
Joan McCarthy Lasonde
 
100.0
 
8,643

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 8,643
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2016

See also: Illinois House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the Illinois House of Representatives were held in 2016. The primary election was held on March 15, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was November 30, 2015.[2]

Incumbent Laura Fine ran unopposed in the Illinois House of Representatives District 17 general election.[3][4]

Illinois House of Representatives, District 17 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Laura Fine Incumbent (unopposed)
Source: Illinois State Board of Elections

Incumbent Laura Fine ran unopposed in the Illinois House of Representatives District 17 Democratic primary.[5][6]

Illinois House of Representatives, District 17 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Laura Fine Incumbent (unopposed)


2014

See also: Illinois House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for the Illinois House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on March 18, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was December 2, 2013. Incumbent Laura Fine ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Kathleen Myalls ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Fine then defeated Myalls in the general election.[7][8][9][10]

Illinois House of Representatives District 17, General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngLaura Fine Incumbent 58.4% 21,809
     Republican Kathleen Myalls 41.6% 15,534
Total Votes 37,343

2012

See also: Illinois House of Representatives elections, 2012

Fine won election in the 2012 election for Illinois House of Representatives District 17. Fine was unopposed in the March 20 Democratic primary and defeated Kyle Frank (R) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[11][12][13]

Illinois House of Representatives, District 17, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngLaura Fine Incumbent 65.8% 32,876
     Republican Kyle Frank 34.2% 17,088
Total Votes 49,964

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Laura Fine campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2026* U.S. House Illinois District 9Lost primary$2,762,487 $2,761,137
2022Illinois State Senate District 9Won general$452,450 $359,588
2018Illinois State Senate District 9Won general$426,473 N/A**
2016Illinois House of Representatives, District 17Won $200,034 N/A**
2014Illinois House of Representatives, District 17Won $217,828 N/A**
2012Illinois State House, District 17Won $238,834 N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Laura Fine did not complete Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Fine's campaign website stated the following:

Lowering costs for working families

Laura passed laws to cut hidden healthcare costs, expand mental health coverage, and fight junk insurance plans because working families deserve real savings, not surprise bills.

Standing up to special interests

After taking on the insurance industry for her own family, Laura has passed some of Illinois’ toughest consumer protection laws and fought to lower prescription drug costs — putting patients ahead of profits.

Defending women's reproductive rights

Laura helped pass the Reproductive Health Act, which solidified a women's right to choose in Illinois, and fought to expand access to infertility treatments because every woman deserves control over their own body and future.

Protecting Social Security and Medicare

Laura is committed to ensuring seniors can retire with dignity and in Congress, she'll fight back against any attempt to cut the benefits seniors have earned through a lifetime of hard work.

Passing common sense gun safety laws

Laura fought for an assault weapons ban in Illinois and also closed dangerous loopholes that keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.

Preserving our environment

Laura led the charge to ban harmful products like Styrofoam and crack down on plastic waste, fighting to protect clean air, safe water, and a livable planet for generations to come.

Building Economic Security

Laura will fight for homeownership, small-business growth, strong consumer protections, and encourage responsible investment through traditional and blockchain-based assets

Fighting for Housing People Can Afford

Everyone deserves a safe, stable place to call home. Laura has fought to expand affordable housing, protect renter rights, prevent homelessness, and give Cook County new tools to build homes that working families can afford.

— Laura Fine's campaign website (December 19, 2025)

Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

2022

Laura Fine did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2014

Fine's campaign website highlighted the following issues:[14]

Fighting for Jobs and Economic Development

  • Excerpt: "Laura Fine will work to promote our region as a great place to do business and raise a family. She supports the development of renewable energy like solar and wind to help lessen our dependence on foreign oil, reduce asthma-causing air pollution and jumpstart the Illinois economy with new, green jobs."

Making Legislators Take a Pay Cut

  • Excerpt: "Helping to get Illinois back on the right track requires doing the right thing. At a time of economic challenges, Laura Fine will not only make state legislators take a pay cut, she’ll make it harder for them to raise their pay in the future."

Demanding Budget Accountability

  • Excerpt: "To rein in state spending and make government pay its bills, Laura Fine will work to reform the way Illinois’ budget is crafted and help cut waste and inefficiencies, forcing government to protect vital services and spend taxpayer dollars with clear benchmarks and accountability."

Preventing Unfair Property Tax Increases

  • Excerpt: "Laura Fine knows that homeowners shouldn’t pay higher property taxes when home values are falling. That’s why she will work to provide relief by pushing for a new law to freeze property taxes when home values decline."

2012

Fine's campaign website listed the following issues:[15]

  • Fighting for Jobs and Economic Development
Excerpt: "Putting people back to work means creating an environment that fosters job creation for Illinois residents."
  • Protecting our Children
Excerpt: "As a mother and teacher, Fine knows we must protect our children from dangerous sexual predators."
  • Demanding Budget Accountability
Excerpt: "State budgets full of inefficient spending shortchange taxpayers and the children, seniors and vulnerable citizens who depend on state services."

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards, State legislative scorecards in Illinois

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Illinois General Assembly in 2025.

  • Illinois Environmental Council — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
  • The Freedom Index — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Illinois General Assembly in 2024.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Illinois General Assembly in 2023.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Illinois General Assembly in 2022.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Illinois General Assembly in 2021.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Illinois General Assembly in 2020.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Illinois General Assembly in 2019.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Illinois General Assembly in 2018.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Illinois General Assembly in 2017.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Illinois General Assembly in 2016.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Illinois General Assembly in 2015.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Illinois General Assembly in 2014.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Illinois General Assembly in 2013.

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Fine and her husband, Michael, have two sons.[16]

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Laura Fine Illinois State Legislature. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Laura Fine - Google News

See also

2026 Elections

Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge.png
What's on the ballot?
U.S. Congress
U.S. Congress special elections
State executives
State legislatures
State courts
Ballot measures
Municipal government
School boards
Election analysis hub

Government

Seal of Illinois.png
Who represents me?
U.S. Congress
State executives
State legislators
State courts
Ballot measures
Municipal government
List of school districts in Illinois

Newsletters

Ballotpedia RSS.jpg
The Daily Brew
The Weekly Brew
The Ballot Bulletin
Checks and Balances
Economy and Society
Hall Pass
Number of the Day
Robe & Gavel


External links

Candidate

U.S. House Illinois District 9
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
    		•

    Officeholder

    Illinois State Senate District 9
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Instagram
    		•

    Personal

  • Website
  • Facebook
    		•

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Illinois General Assembly, "Senator Laura Fine (D)," accessed November 10, 2019
    2. ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Election and Campaign Finance Calendar," accessed November 30, 2015
    3. ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Candidate list: General Election - 11/8/2016," accessed August 8, 2016
    4. ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Election results, General election 2016," accessed December 15, 2016
    5. ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Candidate Filing Search," accessed January 3, 2016
    6. ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Election Results: GENERAL PRIMARY - 3/15/2016," accessed August 8, 2016
    7. ↑ Illinois Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed March 18, 2014
    8. ↑ Illinois Board of Elections, "General Primary Election Official Canvass," April 18, 2014
    9. ↑ Illinois Secretary of State, "Official general election candidate list," accessed March 18, 2014
    10. ↑ The Chicago Tribune, "Results List (Unofficial)," accessed November 5, 2014
    11. ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Candidate List," accessed December 5, 2011
    12. ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Official 2012 Primary Results," accessed May 14, 2014
    13. ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, “Official Vote - November 6, 2012 General Election,” accessed January 18, 2013
    14. ↑ Official campaign website, "Issues," accessed February 21, 2014
    15. ↑ Campaign website, Issues
    16. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named bio

    Political offices
    Preceded by
    Daniel K. Biss (D)     		Illinois State Senate District 9
    2019-Present    		 Succeeded by
    -
    Preceded by
    -     		Illinois House of Representatives District 17
    2013-2019    		 Succeeded by
    Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D)


    Illinois' current delegation to the United States Congress
    Senators
    Tammy Duckworth (D)
    Dick Durbin (D)
    Representatives
    District 1
    District 2
    District 3
    District 4
    District 5
    District 6
    District 7
    District 8
    District 9
    District 10
    District 11
    District 12
    Mike Bost (R)
    District 13
    District 14
    District 15
    District 16
    District 17
    Democratic Party (16)
    Republican Party (3)


    Flag of Illinois
    v • e
    State of Illinois
    Springfield (capital)
    Elections

    What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2026 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures

    Government

    Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy


    {senelec|2018}}



    Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Laura_Fine&oldid=11155075"