Keith P. Sommer (born September 6, 1946) is a
Republican member of the
Illinois House of Representatives since 1999. Sommer currently represents the 88th district which includes the cities of Morton, Washington, and Bloomington.
On July 31, 2017, Sommer was appointed a member of the Trade Policy Task Force for a term ending December 31, 2018.[3] The Trade Policy Task Force's function is to analyze important issues relative to the growth of international trade and make recommendations to
Congress, the
United States Trade Representative, and the
White House National Trade Council regarding trade policy. The Task Force also promotes Illinois as a market for exporting and importing.[4] Sommer did not seek reelection in the 2022 general election and resigned from the Illinois House of Representatives after the election.[5] Representative-elect
Bill Hauter was named to finish Sommer’s term in the 88th district.[6]
As of July 3, 2022, Representative Sommers was a member of the following Illinois House committees:[7]
Adoption & Child Welfare Committee (HACW)
Economic Opportunity & Equity Committee (HECO)
Insurance Committee (HINS)
International Trade & Commerce Committee (HITC)
Voting record
2003 - Voted for allowing the children of immigrants to pay the same college tuition rates as their high school graduation class peers.[8]
2005 - Voted against a law that would limit the practice of
pension spiking.[9]
2007 - Voted to prohibit the State Board of Education or local school boards from giving taxpayer support toward virtual/online education.[10]
On March 20, 2012, Sommer won the Republican primary against opponent Steve Perry with 72% of the votes. Sommer was uncontested in the general election, and was re-elected on November 6, 2012.[23]
2018 Illinois House campaign
In the
2018 Illinois legislative election, Sommer faced an opponent in a general election for the first time since 2008. Sommer won the election against
Democrat Jill Blair with 58.7% of votes. He ran unopposed in the Republican primary election.[24]
2020 Illinois House campaign
Sommer won re-election in the
2020 Illinois legislative election against
Libertarian Ken Allison and
Democrat Karla Bailey-Smith, earning 60.1% of votes. Allison and Bailey-Smith earned 4.4% and 35.4% of votes, respectively. He ran unopposed in the Republican primary election.[25]
^Wolff, Jonathan P., ed. (October 31, 2018).
"Trade Policy Task Force"(PDF). Expiration and Vacancy Report for the Governor of Illinois. Illinois Legislative Research Unit. p. 376. Retrieved December 17, 2018.