Meg Loughran Cappel is a Democratic State Senator representing the 49th District in Illinois, which she has served since December 2020. A lifelong educator, small business owner, and Joliet native, she previously worked as a special education teacher, union representative for AFT-IFT Local 604, and member of the Joliet Township High School Board, where she focused on school safety and technical programs. She chairs the Senate Education Committee and serves on the Senate Agriculture, Behavioral and Mental Health, Labor, State Government, and Appropriations Education Committees. Loughran Cappel owns a small business in Shorewood with her husband Jason, a public school teacher; they have three children and reside there with their dog Max. Notable achievements include her advocacy for equity in education from birth through higher education, involvement in parent-teacher organizations, and service as an Illinois Association of School Board delegate and Joliet Township High School Discipline Committee member.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Special education teacher for many years; specific degrees not detailed in available records.
• Political Experience:
  • Elected to Illinois State Senate, 49th District , 2020–present.
  • Joliet Township High School Board member, 2017 .
  • Union representative, AFT-IFT Local 604, 2015–2017.
  • Joliet Township High School Foundation Board member; Discipline Committee member.
  • Illinois Association of School Board delegate.
  • Volunteer: Sator Sanchez Elementary School cheer coach for 7 years; various parent-teacher organizations.