Senator Michael E. Hastings

Party: Democratic

District: 19th District, Illinois State Senate

Michael E. Hastings was born and raised in Orland Hills, Illinois as one of six children. He is a practicing attorney and former U.S. Army Captain who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he earned a Bronze Star. Before his election to the state senate, Hastings worked in the private sector, including a position with Johnson & Johnson where he spearheaded a multi-million dollar turnaround of their Midwestern territory and was named the company's "Salesman of the Year."

Education

Hastings holds multiple advanced degrees:

• B.S. in Leadership and Management and Civil Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point
• MBA with Honors from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• J.D. from The John Marshall Law School

Political Experience

Hastings began his public service career in 2009 with his election to the Board of Education for High School District 230, where he was elected by his peers to serve as Vice-President and Co-Chairman of the district's finance and education committees.

In 2012, he was elected to the Illinois State Senate, becoming one of the youngest senators in state history. He currently serves as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, leading efforts on matters of justice, public safety, and constitutional rights.

His legislative work has focused on improving mental health services, expanding educational opportunities, enhancing public safety, protecting natural resources, and supporting local businesses. He has received national recognition, including publication in the Council of State Governments magazine for his work combating cyberbullying. More recently, Hastings has championed legislation to accelerate the timeline for adding forensic dental records to state and national missing persons databases.