Patrick Hanley, a Democrat, is running for Illinois State Senate in District 9. The seat represents Evanston in Springfield.

Hanley, 36 according to a Chicago Tribune editorial published in February, faces Republican Tom Lally in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election, according to BallotReady.

Hanley is certified for the ballot.

Candidate information

  • Party: Democratic
  • Age: 36
  • Education: MBA, University of Chicago; master's in public policy, University of Chicago; bachelor's in international affairs, George Washington University
  • Endorsements (claimed by endorsers): Jan Schakowsky; Chicago Tribune Editorial Board; AFL-CIO; Illinois Federation of Teachers; Illinois Planned Parenthood Action; Illinois Sierra Club; IUOE Local 150; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134; International Union of Operating Engineers Local 399; Chicago Federation of Labour; Personal PAC; Gun Violence Protection PAC Illinois; Abundant Housing Illinois; Better Streets Chicago; Citizen Action Illinois

Experience

According to BallotReady profile data, Hanley worked as managing director at Mason Rocque from 2021 to 2025. Before that, he was an associate at McKinsey & Company from 2019 to 2021. He also served as an investor at Sustainable Local Food Investment Group (2021–2025) and senior advisor at Piglet in Bed (2022–2025).

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from Hanley's responses to BallotReady questionnaires and from his campaign website. They reflect the candidate's own stated views.

Housing

Hanley said he supports expanding accessory dwelling units statewide, noting that most Illinois cities ban them. He said he wants to reduce minimum lot size requirements and zoning restrictions to unlock what he calls "missing middle housing," such as duplexes and townhomes. He also said he supports transit-oriented development to increase housing density near job centers, inclusionary zoning requirements and community land trusts to preserve long-term affordability, and landlord-tenant mediation programs. Hanley said he wants to defend anti-discrimination protections and extend them to cover source-of-income discrimination.

Environment and energy

Hanley said he supports keeping Illinois on track toward its goals of 40% renewable energy by 2030 and 100% clean energy by 2050. He said he wants to expand community solar programs so renters and low-income households can access clean energy. He also said he supports investments in flood protection, cooling centers and early warning systems to address climate resilience. Hanley said he backs regulating greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning away from coal with support for affected workers and communities.

Taxes and budget

Hanley said he supports a graduated income tax. He said he advocates for property tax assessment fairness and transparency, stating that homeowners deserve to understand how their taxes are calculated. He said he opposes new state-level real estate tax burdens, including transfer taxes. On pensions, Hanley said the state should handle unfunded liabilities through systematic reform rather than shifting costs to local property owners.

Healthcare

Hanley said he supports defending Illinois' Medicaid expansion and ensuring coverage includes mental and behavioral health. He said he backs state-level medical debt relief programs and healthcare pricing transparency so families can make informed decisions.

Education

Hanley said he supports expanding pre-kindergarten programs statewide, calling early childhood education one of the highest-return public investments. He said he wants competitive pay for educators and support staff and funding for teacher training and mentorship programs.

Endorsements

Patrick Hanley’s campaign lists endorsements from U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky and Illinois state senators Adriane Johnson, Laura Murphy, Julie Morrison, Rachel Ventura and Mark Walker. Former state senators Melinda Bush, Heather Steans and Carol Ronen also appear on the list, alongside local officials from Evanston, Skokie, Wilmette, Northbrook and nearby communities.

His organizational supporters include the Illinois AFL-CIO, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois Education Association, Illinois Nurses Association, SEIU State Council and several firefighter unions. The campaign also lists Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, Personal PAC, the Sierra Club, gun violence prevention group G-PAC, Abundant Housing Illinois and Better Streets Chicago. Political endorsements include Run for Something and the New Trier, Northfield and Maine township Democratic organizations.

Candidate responses were collected through BallotReady questionnaires and the candidate's campaign website. Evanston Wire presents these positions to help voters understand where candidates stand. This profile does not constitute an endorsement.