Brad Beekman, a recently retired Illinois State Police master sergeant from Bushnell, officially launched his Republican campaign for the 36th State Senate District on Wednesday, bringing over 20 years of law enforcement experience and a focus on family and economic concerns.
Democratic incumbent Mike Halpin is seeking another term in the Illinois Senate 36th District.
Beekman said he wants to bring “real accountability back to Springfield.”
Beekman said his decision to run for office was significantly influenced by his time serving on Gov. Bruce Rauner’s security detail for four years, a period that overlapped with Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s detail. The role provided him with proximity to Illinois politics, including access to the Governor’s mansion and the Capitol building, offering a unique perspective on political events and the impact of decisions on the state.
While his security detail was non-political, he observed the differences in talking points and issues between Republican and Democratic circles. “I was in the Republican circle and then I was in the Democratic circle,” Beekman noted, emphasizing how the experiences “really triggered a lot of thoughts and ideas on our government.”
Married with two children, Beekman is originally from Astoria in Fulton County. Retired from the Illinois State Police for two years, he now works at a local bank, helps with trucking and farming part-time, and served on the Bushnell-Prairie City School Board.
Beekman said his primary motivations for running for the 36th Senate seat stem from a growing concern over the rising cost of living in Illinois, including increasing taxes, power bills, and interest rates. He believes that current economic practices are unsustainable and deeply impact families, forcing sacrifices.
Drawing heavily on his 20-plus years as a master sergeant with the Illinois State Police, Beekman expressed strong opposition to certain aspects of the Safety Act, particularly concerning “no-cash bond procedures” and “catch and release” policies, which he believes disproportionately affect law-abiding citizens. He emphasized that while law enforcement adapts, the burden on innocent people is significant.
Beekman said he believes his law enforcement background offers a unique and needed perspective in the Illinois General Assembly. He notes that there are fewer than three or four individuals with law enforcement backgrounds in the Illinois House, and to his knowledge, none in the Senate. His training in leadership, communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving through the State Police are skills he views as directly transferable to representing the general population.
Having grown up with a small farming background and recently purchasing a farm himself, Beekman said he understands the challenges faced by the agricultural sector.
Beekman’s core message to voters in the 36th district is that he is a family man deeply concerned about the future for his children, viewing current economic practices as unsustainable. He aims to portray himself as an “average Joe” who brings a “common sense approach” informed by his extensive experience and skills gained from state police work.
