Eric Sorensen

Eric Sorensen (Democratic Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing Illinois' 17th Congressional District. He assumed office on January 3, 2023. His current term ends on January 3, 2025.

Sorensen (Democratic Party) is running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent Illinois' 17th Congressional District. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024. He advanced from the Democratic primary on March 19, 2024.

Biography

Eric Sorensen was born in Rockford, Illinois, and lives in Moline, Illinois. Sorensen earned a bachelor's degree from Northern Illinois University in 1998. His career experience includes working as a meteorologist. Sorensen has served on the boards of Clock, Inc. and the Project of the Quad Cities.^[1]^[2]

2024 battleground election

See also: Illinois' 17th Congressional District election, 2024

Ballotpedia identified the November 5 general election as a battleground race. The summary below is from our coverage of this election, found here.

Incumbent Eric Sorensen (D) and Joseph G. McGraw (R) are running in the general election in Illinois' 17th Congressional District on November 5, 2024.

Sorensen was first elected in 2022, defeating Esther Joy King (R) 52.0%–48.0%. In 2020, Joe Biden (D) defeated Donald Trump (R) in the district 52.7%–44.9%. As of October 2, 2024, two major election forecasters rated the general election Lean Democratic and two rated it Likely Democratic. Both the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) are targeting the district.

Sorensen is a former meteorologist. Sorensen says he is running to continue his work "protecting our neighbors and our communities, values I learned from my family at an early age."^[3]

McGraw is a retired judge who served on the felony division of the Illinois Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court. McGraw says he is running "to take on corruption in Washington and return our district to a safe, free, and economically prosperous community."^[4]

Based on Q2 2024 reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, Sorensen raised $3.5 million and spent $1.0 million and McGraw raised $0.8 million and spent $0.3 million. To review all the campaign finance figures in full detail, click here.

All 435 U.S. House seats are up for election in 2024. Republicans have a 220 to 212 majority with three vacancies.^[5] As of June 2024, 45 members of the U.S. House had announced they were not running for re-election. To read more about the U.S. House elections taking place this year, click here.

In the 2022 election in this district, Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. ^[6]

Illinois' 17th Congressional District is one of 37 congressional districts with a Democratic incumbent or an open seat that the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is targeting in 2024. To read about NRCC targeting initiatives, click here. For a complete list of NRCC targeted districts, click here.

Committee assignments

U.S. House

2023-2024

Sorensen was assigned to the following committees:^[Source]

Committee on Agriculture
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
Space and Aeronautics, Ranking Member

Key votes

See also: Key votes

Ballotpedia monitors legislation that receives a vote and highlights the ones that we consider to be key to understanding where elected officials stand on the issues. To read more about how we identify key votes, click here.

Key votes: 118th Congress, 2023

The 118th United States Congress began on January 3, 2023, at which point Republicans held the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives (222-212), and Democrats held the majority in the U.S. Senate (51-49). Joe Biden (D) was the president and Kamala Harris (D) was the vice president. We identified the key votes below using Congress' top-viewed bills list and through marquee coverage of certain votes on Ballotpedia.

Key votes: 118th Congress, 2023

Vote

Bill and description

Status

Yea

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (H.R. 2670) was a bill passed by the 118th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on December 22, 2023, authorizing Department of Defense activities and programs for fiscal year 2024. The bill required a two-thirds majority vote in the House to pass the bill as amended by a Senate and House conference report.^[7]

Passed (310-118)

Nay

To terminate the requirement imposed by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for proof of COVID-19 vaccination for foreign travelers, and for other purposes.

H.R. 185 (To terminate the requirement imposed by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for proof of COVID-19 vaccination for foreign travelers, and for other purposes.) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that sought to nullify a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) order restricting the entry of foreign citizens to the United States unless the individual was vaccinated against the coronavirus or attested they would take public health measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[8]

Passed (227-201)

Nay

Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023

The Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 (H.R. 2811) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that sought to raise the federal debt limit before a June 5, 2023, deadline. The bill also sought to repeal certain green energy tax credits, increase domestic natural gas and oil production, expand work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program, and nullify President Joe Biden's (D) proposed student loan debt cancellation program. This bill was not taken up in the Senate, and the debt limit was instead raised through the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[9]

Passed (217-215)

Yea

Denouncing the horrors of socialism.

H.Con.Res. 9 (Denouncing the horrors of socialism.) was a resolution approved by the House of Representatives denouncing socialism and opposing the implementation of socialist policies in the United States. The resolution required a simple majority vote in the House.^[10]

Passed (328-86)

Nay

Lower Energy Costs Act

The Lower Energy Costs Act (H.R. 1) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that sought to increase domestic energy production and exports by increasing the production of oil, natural gas, and coal, reducing permitting restrictions for pipelines, refineries, and other energy projects, and increase the production of minerals used in electronics, among other energy production-related policies. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[11]

Passed (225-204)

Nay

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to "Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights".

H.J.Res. 30 (Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to "Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights".) was a joint resolution of disapproval under the terms of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) passed by the 118th Congress and vetoed by President Joe Biden (D) on March 20, 2023. This was Biden's first veto of his presidency. The resolution sought to nullify a Department of Labor rule that amended the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to allow retirement plans to consider certain environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) factors in investment-related decisions. The resolution required a simple majority vote in the House.^[12] Click here to read more.

Passed (219-200)

Nay

Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020.

H.J.Res. 7 (Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020.) was a joint resolution of disapproval under the terms of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) passed by the 118th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on April 10, 2023. The resolution ended the national coronavirus state of emergency, which began on March 13, 2020. The resolution required a simple majority vote in the House.^[13] Click here to read more.

Passed (229-197)

Yea

Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023

The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (H.R. 3746) was a bill passed by the 118th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on June 3, 2023. The bill raised the federal debt limit until January 2025. The bill also capped non-defense spending in fiscal year 2024, rescinded unspent coronavirus relief funding, rescinded some Internal Revenue Service (IRS) funding, enhanced work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program (TANF), simplified environmental reviews for energy projects, and ended the student loan debt repayment pause in August 2023. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[14] Click here to read more.

Passed (314-117)

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.)

Speaker of the House election (January 2023) - 15th vote

In January 2023, the House of Representatives held its regular election for Speaker of the House at the start of the 118th Congress. Voting began on January 3, and ended on January 7. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was elected speaker of the House in a 216-212 vote during the 15th round of voting. In order to elect a Speaker of the House, a majority of votes cast for a person by name was required.^[15] Click here to read more.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) (216-212)

Yea

Declaring the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives to be vacant.

H.Res. 757 (Declaring the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives to be vacant.) was a resolution passed by the House of Representatives that removed Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from his position as Speaker of the House. The resolution required a simple majority vote in the House.^[16] Click here to read more.

Passed (216-210)

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.)

Speaker of the House election (October 2023) - 4th vote

In October 2023, following Rep. Kevin McCarthy's (R-Calif.) removal as Speaker of the House, the House of Representatives held another election for the position. Voting began on October 17 and ended on October 25. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) was elected Speaker of the House in a 220-209 vote in the fourth round of voting. In order to elect a Speaker of the House, a majority of votes cast for a person by name was required.^[17] Click here to read more.

Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) (220-209)

Nay

Directing certain committees to continue their ongoing investigations as part of the existing House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its Constitutional power to impeach Joseph Biden, President of the United States of America, and for other purposes.

H.Res. 918 (Directing certain committees to continue their ongoing investigations as part of the existing House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its Constitutional power to impeach Joseph Biden, President of the United States of America, and for other purposes.) was a resolution passed by the House of Representatives that formally authorized an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden (D). The inquiry focused on allegations that Biden used his influence as vice president from 2009 to 2017 to improperly profit from his son Hunter Biden's business dealings. The resolution required a simple majority vote in the House.^[18] Click here to read more.

Passed (221-212)

Yea

Providing for the expulsion of Representative George Santos from the United States House of Representatives.

H.Res. 878 (Providing for the expulsion of Representative George Santos from the United States House of Representatives.) was a resolution passed by the House of Representatives that removed Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) from office following a House Ethics Committee investigation that determined there was substantial evidence that Santos violated the law during his 2020 and 2022 campaigns. The resolution required a simple majority vote in the House.^[19]

Passed (311-114)

Elections

2024

Illinois' 17th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 19 Republican primary)

Illinois' 17th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 19 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Illinois District 17

Incumbent Eric Sorensen and Joseph G. McGraw are running in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 17 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate
		Eric Sorensen (D)
		Joseph G. McGraw (R)

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 17

Incumbent Eric Sorensen advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 17 on March 19, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Eric Sorensen	100.0	28,533

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 28,533
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 17

Joseph G. McGraw defeated Scott Crowl in the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 17 on March 19, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Joseph G. McGraw	67.6	20,223
	Scott Crowl	32.4	9,696

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 29,919
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Ray Estrada (R)

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

We provide results for polls that are included in polling aggregation from FiveThirtyEight and RealClearPolitics, when available. We will regularly check for polling aggregation for this race from those sites and add polls here once available. To notify us of polls available on either outlet for this race, please email us.

Election campaign finance

Name

Party

Receipts*

Disbursements**

Cash on hand

Date

Eric Sorensen

Democratic Party

$3,555,306

$1,005,448

$2,590,786

As of June 30, 2024

Joseph G. McGraw

Republican Party

$849,257

$373,813

$475,444

As of June 30, 2024

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2024. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.

Satellite spending

See also: Satellite spending

Satellite spending describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.^[20]^[21]

If available, satellite spending reports by the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and OpenSecrets.org are linked below. FEC links include totals from monthly, quarterly, and semi-annual reports. OpenSecrets.org compiles data from those reports as well as 24- and 48-hour reports from the FEC.^[22]

Details about satellite spending of significant amounts and/or reported by media are included below those links. The amounts listed may not represent the total satellite spending in the election. To notify us of additional satellite spending, email us.

By candidate	By election
Eric Sorensen Joe McGraw	OpenSecrets Federal Election Commission

Race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.^[23]
Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.^[24]^[25]^[26]

Race ratings: Illinois' 17th Congressional District election, 2024
Race tracker	Race ratings
	October 8, 2024	October 1, 2024	September 24, 2024	September 17, 2024
The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter	Likely Democratic	Lean Democratic	Lean Democratic	Lean Democratic
Decision Desk HQ and The Hill	Likely Democratic	Likely Democratic	Likely Democratic	Likely Democratic
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales	Likely Democratic	Likely Democratic	Lean Democratic	Lean Democratic
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball	Lean Democratic	Lean Democratic	Lean Democratic	Lean Democratic
Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.