PEORIA (25News Now) – State Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) has won another term in the Illinois Senate, defeating Republican challenger Sally Owens in the 46th District that includes parts of Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, and McLean Counties.

Koehler is a former Peoria City Council Member and county board member. He’s served in the Senate since 2006, becoming Assistant Majority Leader in 2019. Owens is a political newcomer who works as a small business consultant and argues that state government spends too much money.

During the campaign, Koehler called for more state money to fund education to make it less reliant on property taxes. He also wants to address climate and said he did not favor term limits.

Owens supports term limits and believes state lawmakers should not have given themselves pay raises.

“My biggest priorities are going to be responsible spending. We’ve just simply gotten out of hand. Our legislators are giving themselves enormous raises, year after year,” Owens said.

Just last week, Owens sent out a news release stating her opposition to Peoria’s proposed 7.87% increase in the city’s tax levy, which is the amount the city plans to collect in property taxes next year. City leaders contend there will be little if any change on homeowners’ tax bills because of a projected increase in property values.

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