Kate McGrath, a Republican from Deerfield, is running for the Illinois State Senate District 29 seat in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. The other candidate in the race is Julie A. Morrison, a Democrat.
McGrath has been certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady election data. She has received an endorsement from the Senate Republican Victory Fund, according to that organization, and from the Lake County GOP, according to BallotReady.
Her campaign website describes her as a lifelong Chicagoland resident who grew up in Evanston and Glencoe. She said she was born at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn and adopted through Catholic Charities.
Candidate information
- Party: Republican
- Office sought: Illinois State Senate, District 29
- Residence: Deerfield, Illinois
- Education: Bachelor's degree in business administration, John Carroll University (1997)
- High school: New Trier High School
- Family: Mother of two children. Her daughter, Mia, is a senior at Clemson University studying sports communication and playing volleyball, and her son, Jack, is a sophomore at Eastern Kentucky University playing football, according to McGrath's campaign website. Both are graduates of Loyola Academy, according to the Northfield GOP.
Experience and public service
McGrath lives in Deerfield. She is a district sales coordinator at Aflac, a position she has held since 2025, according to BallotReady profile data. She previously served as an associate at Aflac from 2021 to 2025.
Before that, she held two roles at WorldPoint ECC Inc. She served as executive vice president from 2018 to 2021 and as vice president of sales and marketing from 2011 to 2018, according to BallotReady.
McGrath also worked as a distribution manager at the American Heart Association, according to the Senate Republican Victory Fund. She played volleyball at John Carroll University and volunteered as a volleyball coach for girls and boys programs at Loyola Academy.
On the issues
McGrath outlined these positions on her campaign website and through BallotReady. They reflect the candidate's own statements.
Education: McGrath said she supports expanding school choice and parental decision-making in education. She said she would "fight to expand school choice, support parents' voices in education, and make sure every child has the chance to succeed in Illinois."
Taxes and budget: McGrath said Illinois families face high taxes and rising costs on everyday essentials. She said she would work to cut taxes and stop wasteful spending. She pointed to delivery taxes on items like diapers and pizza as examples of what she said politicians keep adding.
Economy: McGrath said she works with small-business owners and sees the challenges they face. She said she would fight for what she called common-sense policies to help businesses stay open, create good jobs and keep opportunity in Illinois.
Candidate responses were collected through BallotReady and the candidate's campaign website. The Lake Forest Journal did not conduct an independent interview with this candidate. Voters can learn more at kateforstatesenate.com.
