Joe Berning Enters Illinois Senate District 45 Race — But All Eyes Are on the GOP Showdown
FREEPORT, IL – August 14, 2025
Petition season is officially underway for the March 17, 2026 primary, and on the Democratic side of Illinois State Senate District 45, the race is already decided. Joe Berning of Galena is running unopposed, ensuring that the district’s Democratic voters — a clear minority in this Republican stronghold — will still have a voice on the November ballot.
Berning’s roots run deep in Northwest Illinois. Born and raised on a dairy and hog farm just north of Galena, he was one of seven siblings and learned early the value of hard work and responsibility. He went on to build a 44-year career in sales, marketing, and management, working with both small businesses and large corporations, and later launched his own consulting company. A familiar face in the community, Berning has sung in his church choir for over 50 years, spending 12 of those years as its director.
Frustrated by what he sees as poor communication and inadequate representation from the current senator, Berning says he is running to “ensure every voice is heard” and to focus on issues that impact everyday lives — protecting family farms, defending Social Security and Medicare, supporting union workers, and ensuring adequate care for veterans, seniors, and the disabled. His presence in the race offers Democrats in the district a candidate they can rally behind, even in an area where the GOP has long dominated.
But while Berning builds his platform and prepares for the general election, the real political drama is unfolding in the Republican primary. Incumbent Senator Andrew Chesney faces a serious challenge from Joshua T. Atkinson of Freeport. Community leaders and grassroots supporters have increasingly described Atkinson as a “real Lincoln-style Republican” — someone who stood up to entrenched political interests and emerged as the only candidate seen as capable of taking on Chesney.
For the City of Freeport, this race carries exceptional weight. With a population of 23,973, Freeport is by far the largest city in District 45 — dwarfing Galena’s population of 3,308. Many voters believe the Senate seat should be held by someone who lives among and is present for the district’s largest population center. Atkinson resides in Freeport full-time, maintaining a visible and active presence in the community. Chesney, while owning a home in Freeport with his family, is frequently away — spending extended time at his Wisconsin campground and in Arizona — which has raised questions about his accessibility to constituents.
In a district where the GOP nominee is the overwhelming favorite in November, the Republican primary could be the real election. And while Joe Berning campaigns to connect with voters across party lines, much of his path forward will be shaped by which Republican emerges: a challenger rooted in the district’s largest city or an incumbent whose time in the district is often limited.
For now, the Democratic side is calm, but the Republican race is shaping up to be a high-stakes contest that will define not only the future of District 45, but the kind of representation Freeport — and the district as a whole — will have in Springfield for the next four years.
