{ "id": "epv8nex30v", "slug": "patrick-windhorst", "title": "Patrick Windhorst", "updated": "2026-10-15", "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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governors and state officials", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators", "label": "State legislators", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.midwestern-state-legislators", "label": "Midwestern state legislators", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.midwestern-state-legislators" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Patrick Windhorst is an American Republican politician, a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 117th district since 2019 and the House Republican Floor Leader.", "snippet": "Patrick Windhorst is an American Republican politician, a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 117th district since 2019 and the House Republican Floor Leader.", "node": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.midwestern-state-legislators.alpha-u-to-y", "markdown": "# Patrick Windhorst\n\nPatrick Windhorst is an American politician. A Republican, he is a member of the [Illinois House of Representatives](https://www.edgepedia.org/illinois-house-of-representatives) from the 117th district.[1](https://ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=101&MemberID=2760) He has served in the House since 2019 and is the House Republican Floor Leader.[2](https://www.votewindhorst.com/about-4) Before entering the legislature, he served as State's Attorney of Massac County from 2004 to 2018.[2](https://www.votewindhorst.com/about-4)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Party | Republican[1](https://ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=101&MemberID=2760) |\n| Current office | Member of the Illinois House of Representatives, 117th district[1](https://ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=101&MemberID=2760) |\n| Previous offices | State's Attorney, Massac County (2004–2018)[2](https://www.votewindhorst.com/about-4) |\n| Education | Shawnee Community College (1995); University of Illinois (1997); Southern Illinois University Carbondale law school (2000)[3](https://www.ilga.gov/House/Members/Details/3364) |\n\n## Party affiliation\n\nWindhorst is a Republican.[1](https://ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=101&MemberID=2760) His legislative profile lists his party affiliation as Republican.[3](https://www.ilga.gov/House/Members/Details/3364)\n\n## Early life and education\n\nWindhorst is a southern Illinois native and lives in [Metropolis](https://www.edgepedia.org/metropolis) with his wife Holly and their daughter and son.[3](https://www.ilga.gov/House/Members/Details/3364) After graduating from Massac County High School, he graduated from Shawnee Community College in 1995, earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois in 1997, and graduated from law school at [Southern Illinois University Carbondale](https://www.edgepedia.org/southern-illinois-university-carbondale) in 2000.[3](https://www.ilga.gov/House/Members/Details/3364) He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Metropolis Rotary Club, the Shawnee College Foundation Board, the Metropolis Chamber of Commerce, and the Massac County Drug Awareness Coalition.[3](https://www.ilga.gov/House/Members/Details/3364)\n\n## Career\n\nWindhorst was elected State's Attorney for Massac County in 2004 and served in that office until 2018.[3](https://www.ilga.gov/House/Members/Details/3364) As State's Attorney, he worked to reduce violent crime and to address drug addiction in his community.[3](https://www.ilga.gov/House/Members/Details/3364)\n\nHe was elected State Representative in November 2018 and took office representing the 117th district in 2019.[3](https://www.ilga.gov/House/Members/Details/3364) • [2](https://www.votewindhorst.com/about-4) His legislative page states that he was sworn in as 117th district State Representative on January 11, 2023.[3](https://www.ilga.gov/House/Members/Details/3364) He has served as House Republican Floor Leader, a leadership role in which his campaign page says he leads debate.[3](https://www.ilga.gov/House/Members/Details/3364) • [2](https://www.votewindhorst.com/about-4) His campaign page states that his committee assignments include serving as the House Republican ranking member and spokesman on the Ethics & Elections, Restorative Justice, and Judiciary Criminal Law Committees.[2](https://www.votewindhorst.com/about-4)\n\n## Electoral history\n\nIn 2004, Windhorst was elected State's Attorney for Massac County.[3](https://www.ilga.gov/House/Members/Details/3364) In November 2018, he was elected State Representative from the 117th district.[3](https://www.ilga.gov/House/Members/Details/3364) His campaign site states that he is a candidate for re-election as 117th district State Representative.[2](https://www.votewindhorst.com/about-4)\n\n## Positions and legislative record\n\n### Fiscal policy\n\nWindhorst has advocated for policies to reduce what he calls Illinois' excessive taxes, burdensome regulations, and high cost of living.[2](https://www.votewindhorst.com/about-4)\n\n### Abortion\n\nWindhorst's campaign site describes his record on abortion as 100% pro-life.[2](https://www.votewindhorst.com/about-4) In a statement on that site, he said he opposes \"all measures that expand taxpayer-funded abortion services.\"\n\n### Gun policy\n\nWindhorst's campaign site describes his record on gun policy as 100% pro-2nd Amendment.[2](https://www.votewindhorst.com/about-4) In a statement on that site, he said he opposes \"legislation that restricts 2nd Amendment Rights.\"\n\n### Criminal justice and policing\n\nIn a statement on his campaign site, Windhorst said he opposes \"dangerous legislation that ends cash bail and punishes police officers.\"[2](https://www.votewindhorst.com/about-4) As State's Attorney, he worked to reduce violent crime.[3](https://www.ilga.gov/House/Members/Details/3364)\n\n### Immigration\n\nOn his campaign site, Windhorst said, \"I've fought to end Illinois' Sanctuary State law that has cost taxpayers billions.\"[2](https://www.votewindhorst.com/about-4)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Representative Patrick Windhorst, Illinois General Assembly](https://ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=101&MemberID=2760)\n2. [About Patrick Windhorst, votewindhorst.com](https://www.votewindhorst.com/about-4)\n3. [Patrick Windhorst (R) - 104th General Assembly, Illinois General Assembly](https://www.ilga.gov/House/Members/Details/3364)\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 U to Y*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 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/patrick-windhorst", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/patrick-windhorst.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": "\"Patrick Windhorst\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/patrick-windhorst. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Patrick Windhorst](https://www.edgepedia.org/patrick-windhorst)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/patrick-windhorst](https://www.edgepedia.org/patrick-windhorst). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Patrick Windhorst\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/patrick-windhorst. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Patrick Windhorst is an American Republican politician, a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 117th district since 2019 and the House Republican Floor Leader." }