Dan Ugaste

Dan Ugaste is a Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 65th District, which encompasses far western suburbs of Chicago including Campton Hills, Elburn, Elgin, Geneva, Lily Lake, South Elgin, St. Charles, Wayne, and West Chicago.

A lifelong Illinois resident, Ugaste has been deeply involved in his community through service as a volunteer firefighter and coach. He is married to Denise and has three adult daughters and six grandchildren.

Education

Ugaste graduated from Lake Forest High School and earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Lake Forest College in 1985. He obtained his Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law in 1988.

Political Experience

Ugaste was first elected to the Illinois House in 2018, defeating Democratic candidate Richard Johnson, the President of the Elgin Teachers Union. He succeeded retiring incumbent Steven Andersson. He has been re-elected in subsequent cycles, including narrow victories in 2020 against activist Martha Paschke and in 2022 against scientist and small business owner Linda Robertson.

As of 2025, Ugaste serves as Assistant Minority Leader in the Illinois House. He holds several committee positions, including Ranking Minority Member of the Financial Institutions and Licensing Committee, Ranking Minority Member of the Judiciary-Civil Committee, and Ranking Minority Member of the Labor and Commerce Committee. He also serves as Co-Chair of the Judiciary-Civil Subcommittee on Civil Procedure and Tort Liability and Co-Chair of the Judiciary-Civil Subcommittee on Commercial and Property.

Professionally, Ugaste is a shareholder, treasurer, and attorney at Nyhan Bambrick Kinzie & Lowry in Chicago, where he specializes in workers' compensation defense litigation. He has served as Past President of the Lake Forest College Alumni Board and held leadership positions in various bar associations.