Aurora's Sen. Linda Holmes to Retire After 20 Years in Illinois Senate, Citing Multiple Sclerosis

A 20-Year Tenure Ends in the 42nd District

State Sen. Linda Holmes, the Aurora Democrat who has represented Illinois' 42nd District for two decades, announced Monday that she will retire at the end of her current term. Holmes said the progression of Multiple Sclerosis, a condition she has lived with for 37 years, has made it impossible for her to continue.

Holmes will withdraw her name from the November 3, 2026 ballot. She plans to serve through the fall veto session and step down on December 31, 2026, according to the Chicago Tribune.

"Living with Multiple Sclerosis for the past 37 years has shaped my perspective and strengthened my commitment to public service. While I have been fortunate to manage this disease for many years with few symptoms, it is now time for me to slow down and focus on my health," Holmes said in a statement posted on her website.

Health Issues Forced the Decision

Holmes had planned to run for reelection and serve another term before retiring just before turning 70. The grueling pace of the May legislative session in Springfield changed that plan.

She told Capitol News Illinois that her doctors instructed her to moderate stress and sleepless nights, two constants of the legislative calendar in Springfield.

"It was literally my doctors sitting down and saying, after this many years, at your age, the amount of damage that the disease has done is something you can't just continue to push through," Holmes said.

Holmes made it through the final month of session, including an all-night legislative slog that ended at about 4:30 a.m. on June 1. After that, she said she made the decision to step away.

"When I made the decision, my overwhelming feeling was relief, because I'm like, physically, I don't think I can do this anymore," she told Capitol News Illinois.

A Leadership Vacancy Opens

Holmes served as Assistant Senate Majority Leader, making her the Senate's fifth-most senior Democrat. Her departure marks the second member of Senate President Don Harmon's 14-person leadership team to plan an exit in recent months. Senate President Pro Tempore Bill Cunningham is also stepping down at the end of his term in January.

The 42nd District spans four counties. Democratic County chairs will select Holmes' replacement through a weighted vote:

• Kane County: approximately 41% of the vote
• Kendall County: approximately 29%
• DuPage County: approximately 19%
• Will County: approximately 11%

Holmes declined to name who she is backing for the nomination, though she told Capitol News Illinois she has a preferred candidate. Whoever earns the Democratic nomination would face Aurora Republican Edgardo "Eddie" Perez in November.

"We want to give people the opportunity to run," Holmes said.

Mark Guethle, Kane County Democratic Party chair, said Holmes' opinion on her successor will carry significant weight in the selection process.

"She worked hard for this many years, and she's entitled to what she thinks would be the best fit," Guethle said.

A Legacy in Legislation

Holmes was first elected to the Illinois Senate in 2006, defeating Will County Board member Terri Ann Wintermute for a seat long held by Republican Ed Petka. Before her Senate career, she served on the Kane County Board.

She described herself as a moderate who valued compromise. She said the political climate has grown more combative during her tenure.

"I don't like that we have the power to necessarily push things through just as Democrats. I think my famous line in the Senate is always, 'Just because we can doesn't mean we should.' I just would like to see much more working together, much more building consensus," Holmes told Capitol News Illinois.

Senate President Don Harmon acknowledged Holmes' role in his leadership team.

"Linda Holmes and I have been through a lot in the past 20 years. An impeachment, a budget impasse and a global pandemic to name just a few. And through it all, she has been an unwavering champion for the people who sent her to Springfield," Harmon said in a statement.

Holmes listed several accomplishments she is proud of:

• Medical Aid in Dying legislation, which she said was her proudest legislative achievement. The law allows terminally ill individuals with a prognosis of six months or less to end their lives with dignity. It takes effect in September 2026.
• Animal welfare measures, including legislation banning the use of elephants and other wild species in traveling exhibitions.
• Pet possession rights for unmarried parents who separate.
• Protections for health insurance coverage.
• Unemployment insurance reforms passed during the pandemic.

State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, praised Holmes' career in a statement.

"(Holmes) has always been willing to listen, find common ground and work collaboratively to solve problems. She understood that public service is about helping people, and she never lost sight of that responsibility," Kifowit said.

Holmes said she intends to meet with as many constituents and local elected officials as possible before her term ends.

"I cherish the opportunity to meet with as many constituents as possible and express my heartfelt gratitude for their trust in me and allowing me this opportunity of a lifetime," she said.