Republican state Sen. Dan McConchie to resign: ‘I never aspired to be an elected official’

Republican state Sen. Dan McConchie of Hawthorn Woods will resign effective Sunday, Feb. 2, after almost nine years of service.

McConchie, who would’ve been up for reelection in the 26th Senate District in 2026, announced his decision Monday morning.

“While I always possessed a desire to serve my country and my community, I never aspired to be an elected official, and certainly not a politician,” McConchie said in the announcement. “It was my friends and neighbors who asked me to step up and run for office so I could bring commonsense values to Springfield. It was these citizens who convinced me to run for office to help make Illinois a better place to live, work and raise a family.”

A veteran of the Illinois Army National Guard, McConchie was appointed to the Senate in April 2016, replacing Dan Duffy. McConchie won election that November and was reelected in 2018 and 2022. McConchie served two years as the Senate’s Republican leader, from 2021 to 2023.

In Monday’s announcement, McConchie thanked his wife, Milena, and their children for allowing him to serve in the Senate.

“In many ways, they have carried the burden of service even more than me,” he said. “I will forever be grateful to them.”

During his Senate tenure, McConchie notably fought against legislative maps that were drawn up to benefit Democratic candidates after the 2020 U.S. census. He also opposed the controversial law eliminating cash bail in the state and what he saw as government overreach during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as Gov. JB Pritzker’s mask mandates for schools.

But unlike some of his Republican peers, McConchie wasn’t universally against state-ordered COVID-19 precautions. He supported a 2021 policy change that expanded then-new COVID-19 vaccinations to medically vulnerable people younger than 65. McConchie also sponsored legislation designed to shield health care providers and others from being held responsible for injuries or deaths related to COVID-19 exposure.

Lake County Republican Party Chair Keith Brin was surprised by McConchie’s announcement. Brin praised McConchie’s “unwavering dedication to public service” and his willingness to listen to and work with people on both sides of the political aisle for the betterment of Illinoisans.

“I’m proud of Sen. McConchie’s service as a veteran and as a senator, and I’m proud to call him a friend,” Brin said in an email.

The 26th District encompasses much of central and western Lake County, a portion of northwest Cook County and smaller parts of Kane and McHenry counties. It includes all or parts of the Barrington area, Wauconda, Lake Zurich, Cary, Algonquin and Libertyville, among other communities.

Like the rest of Lake County and the greater northwest suburban area, the once staunchly Republican 26th District has grown increasingly Democratic over the last decade, and McConchie’s last election was a close one. He defeated Barrington Democrat Maria Peterson by a mere 385 votes out of 88,879 cast.

Lauren Beth Gash, chair of the Lake County Democratic Party, said she’s aware of several Democrats interested in running for the seat in 2026.

“We feel very good about our prospects there,” Gash said Monday.

McConchie has used a wheelchair since a 2007 motorcycle crash and has championed legislation designed to improve access for people with disabilities.

In a separate announcement Monday, McConchie revealed that he’s created the Accessibility Policy Institute, a nonprofit advocacy group for people with disabilities. McConchie will serve as its CEO.

“Working to popularize and normalize an expanded accessibility attitude both in the corporate world as well as amongst the public at large will be key to enacting meaningful change,” McConchie said. “Through our advocacy efforts, we believe that we can play a large role in helping to expand accessibility for the disabled and, in the end, help create greater communities throughout the country.”

https://www.dailyherald.com/20250127/illinois-state-politics/republican-state-sen-dan-mcconchie-resigning/