Senator Mike Halpin

Michael Halpin is a Democratic member of the Illinois State Senate representing the 36th district. The 36th district contains portions of Rock Island County, Henry County, Mercer County, Knox County, McDonough County, and Warren County. Cities and villages of the 36th district include; Moline, Rock Island, Galesburg, East Moline, Macomb, Monmouth, Silvis, Milan, Colona, Coal Valley, Knoxville, Bushnell, Carbon Cliff, Hampton, Orion, Roseville, Alexis, East Galesburg, Sherrard, Alpha, New Windsor, North Henderson, Rio, and Good Hope.

He first took office in January 2017, when he was elected as State Representative of the 72nd district in Illinois. Before his political career, Congressman Lane Evans hired Halpin in early 2002 as his district scheduler and personal aide. Halpin traveled with Lane throughout the district, working with local elected officials and constituents to arrange town hall meetings and other events. Halpin also served as Lane’s liaison with the National Personnel Records Center, helping local veterans receive the military honors they had earned during their service.

It was during his time in Lane’s office that Mike met his wife, MaryAnn, at an East Moline Democrat Club meeting. The two married in 2005. Shortly after their wedding, they both enrolled in the University of Illinois, MaryAnn earning her Master’s degree and Mike following in Lane’s footsteps and earning a law degree, graduating cum laude.

Upon graduation, he clerked for former Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, Rita B. Garman, in Danville, Illinois. Halpin is an attorney by trade, practicing law at the Rock Island firm of McCarthy, Callas, & Feeney, P.C. In 2013, after only three years at the firm, he became a partner. His primary areas of practice are Labor Law and Municipal Law, as well as representing working people in their estate planning, traffic, and real estate matters.

Halpin also serves on the Board of Directors for Bridging the Gap: Stand Down for Homeless Veterans, and provides free consultations, and some pro bono representation, for veterans in need. As of June 29, 2023, Senator Halpin is a member of the following Illinois Senate committees: Appropriations- Education (Chairman of), Higher Education, Judiciary, State Government, Veterans Affairs. Halpin was a legislative member of the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission while a member of the House.