{ "id": "ep0jer0j60", "slug": "chris-balkema", "title": "Chris Balkema", "updated": "2026-10-25", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.politics", "label": "Politics and government", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions", "label": "Government and public administration", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders", "label": "Politicians and government officeholders (biographies)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials", "label": "US governors and state officials", "api_url": 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"society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.midwestern-state-legislators.alpha-a-to-cr", "markdown": "# Chris Balkema\n\nChris Balkema is an American politician and a Republican member of the [Illinois Senate](https://www.edgepedia.org/illinois-senate) from the 53rd district. He was sworn into office in January 2025 as part of the 104th General Assembly.[1](https://www.ilga.gov/Senate/Members/Details/3413) Before joining the Senate, he served on the Grundy County Board, chairing the body from 2016 to 2025.[2](https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/biography/)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n| --- | --- |\n| Party | Republican[1](https://www.ilga.gov/Senate/Members/Details/3413) |\n| Current office | Member of the Illinois Senate, 53rd district[1](https://www.ilga.gov/Senate/Members/Details/3413) |\n| Previous offices | Grundy County Board member (elected 2010); Chairman, Grundy County Board (from 2016)[3](https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/2025/01/08/chris-balkema-sworn-in-as-illinois-senator-for-the-53rd-district/) • [2](https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/biography/) |\n| Education | B.S. in Business Systems, Taylor University; MBA, Bradley University[2](https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/biography/) |\n\n## Party affiliation\n\nBalkema is a Republican.[1](https://www.ilga.gov/Senate/Members/Details/3413) He was sworn in as a Republican senator for the 53rd district in January 2025.[3](https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/2025/01/08/chris-balkema-sworn-in-as-illinois-senator-for-the-53rd-district/)\n\n## Early life and education\n\nBalkema earned a [Bachelor of Science](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-science) in Business Systems from [Taylor University](https://www.edgepedia.org/taylor-university) and an MBA from [Bradley University](https://www.edgepedia.org/bradley-university).[2](https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/biography/) He spent 31 years at Caterpillar, where he held leadership roles in Human Resources, Operations, Logistics, and Purchasing.[1](https://www.ilga.gov/Senate/Members/Details/3413) He has served on the Grundy County Economic Development Council and advised Taylor University's Business Advisory Council.[2](https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/biography/) He and his wife of 26 years live in Channahon and have two sons in college.[1](https://www.ilga.gov/Senate/Members/Details/3413)\n\n## Career\n\nBalkema was first elected to the Grundy County Board in 2010 and served as the board's chairman from 2016 until he joined the Senate in January 2025.[3](https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/2025/01/08/chris-balkema-sworn-in-as-illinois-senator-for-the-53rd-district/) Alongside his public service, he spent 31 years at [Caterpillar](https://www.edgepedia.org/caterpillar) in leadership roles in Human Resources, Operations, Logistics, and [Purchasing](https://www.edgepedia.org/purchasing).[3](https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/2025/01/08/chris-balkema-sworn-in-as-illinois-senator-for-the-53rd-district/)\n\nHe was sworn in as senator for the 53rd district on January 8, 2025, as part of the 104th General Assembly.[3](https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/2025/01/08/chris-balkema-sworn-in-as-illinois-senator-for-the-53rd-district/) At the time, he said, \"I am honored to represent the 53rd District in the Illinois Senate and humbled by the trust placed in me to serve our communities.\"[3](https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/2025/01/08/chris-balkema-sworn-in-as-illinois-senator-for-the-53rd-district/) After his election, he focused on meeting the 108 mayors in the district, which spans 13 counties, to better understand local needs and priorities.[3](https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/2025/01/08/chris-balkema-sworn-in-as-illinois-senator-for-the-53rd-district/)\n\n## Electoral history\n\nBalkema won the Republican nomination for the 53rd District Senate seat in the March 2024 primary, as reported by his office, and ran unopposed in the November 2024 general election.[3](https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/2025/01/08/chris-balkema-sworn-in-as-illinois-senator-for-the-53rd-district/) He succeeded Senator Bennett, whose decade of service he congratulated upon taking office.[3](https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/2025/01/08/chris-balkema-sworn-in-as-illinois-senator-for-the-53rd-district/)\n\n## Positions and legislative record\n\n### Second Amendment and firearms\n\nIn June 2026, Balkema wrote that \"the fight to protect the Second Amendment is far from over\" and said that \"this year, gun owners made their voices heard.\"[4](https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/2026/06/26/standing-up-for-our-2a-rights/) SB0109, a bill to display the FOID card expiration date more clearly, was introduced by Senator Steve McClure on January 17, 2025, and Balkema introduced SB3097 in 2026 to reform the FOID card renewal process by establishing reasonable renewal limits; according to his office, these measures were not given the opportunity to become law that year.[4](https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/2026/06/26/standing-up-for-our-2a-rights/) His office also stated that several gun proposals it described as anti-gun were stopped before becoming law in the 2026 session.[4](https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/2026/06/26/standing-up-for-our-2a-rights/)\n\n### Education\n\nIn July 2026, Balkema continued to push for Illinois to opt into the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit Program; according to his newsletter, no action was taken on the program during the regular spring legislative session, and Senate Republicans renewed calls for Governor JB Pritzker to opt Illinois in.[5](https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/2026/07/06/balkemas-weekly-breakdown-new-laws-policy-updates-and-district-highlights/)\n\n### Economy and taxes\n\nIn June 2026, Balkema wrote about the Illinois Flash Index, a measure of the state's economic health, stating, \"While any number above 100 represents growth, our state could thrive if we reduced taxes and made Illinois a welcoming place for large and small businesses.\"[6](https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/2026/06/08/balkemas-weekly-breakdown-spring-session-economic-stability-senior-services-and-education/) He wrote that he had \"multiple pieces of legislation to accomplish this goal\" and would \"push hard to make it happen.\"[6](https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/2026/06/08/balkemas-weekly-breakdown-spring-session-economic-stability-senior-services-and-education/) In the same newsletter, he wrote that he was still working on legislation \"to make Illinois more transparent, affordable, and a great place to live.\"[6](https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/2026/06/08/balkemas-weekly-breakdown-spring-session-economic-stability-senior-services-and-education/)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Senator Chris Balkema - Illinois General Assembly](https://www.ilga.gov/Senate/Members/Details/3413)\n2. [Biography - Senator Chris Balkema](https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/biography/)\n3. [Chris Balkema Sworn in as Illinois Senator for the 53rd District](https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/2025/01/08/chris-balkema-sworn-in-as-illinois-senator-for-the-53rd-district/)\n4. [Standing Up for Our 2A Rights - Chris Balkema](https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/2026/06/26/standing-up-for-our-2a-rights/)\n5. [Balkema's Weekly Breakdown: New Laws, Policy Updates, and District Highlights](https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/2026/07/06/balkemas-weekly-breakdown-new-laws-policy-updates-and-district-highlights/)\n6. [Balkema's Weekly Breakdown: Spring Session, Economic Stability, Senior Services, and Education](https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/2026/06/08/balkemas-weekly-breakdown-spring-session-economic-stability-senior-services-and-education/)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Politics and government › Government and public administration › Politicians and government officeholders (biographies) › US governors and state officials › State legislators › Midwestern state legislators › Surnames A to Cr*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 28, 2026; Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Sep 28, 2026; Sep 29, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-balkema", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-balkema.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Chris Balkema\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-balkema. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Chris Balkema](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-balkema)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-balkema](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-balkema). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Chris Balkema\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-balkema. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Chris Balkema is an American Republican member of the Illinois Senate for the 53rd district, sworn in in January 2025 after chairing the Grundy County Board." }