Regan Deering | |
|---|---|
| 👁 Image Deering in 2022 | |
| Member of the Illinois Legislature from the 88th district | |
| Assumed office January 9, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Dan Caulkins |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1974 or 1975 (age 50–51)[1] |
| Party | Republican |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Duke University (B.S.) DePaul University (M.A.) |
Regan Deering is an American politician. A member of the Republican Party, she was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 88th district in 2024.
Early life
[edit]Deering grew up in Decatur, Illinois.[2] She graduated with a bachelor of science in biology from Duke University and a master of arts in education from DePaul University.[3] After graduating from college, Deering worked at the Shedd Aquarium and as a biology teacher at a private school in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago.[4] She then ran a Huntington Learning Center franchise in Decatur.[4][5] Deering became politically active during the COVID-19 pandemic,[6] joining a lawsuit against the state's mask mandate in public schools.[2][7]
Political career
[edit]Deering filed to run for Illinois's 13th congressional district in January 2022.[8] She won the Republican Party primary,[9][10] but lost to Democratic Party candidate Nikki Budzinski in the general election with 43.4% of the vote.[11][12] She was elected to the Mount Zion School Board in April 2023.[7]
She ran for the 88th district of the Illinois House of Representatives in 2024.[13][14] She won the Republican Party primary in March 2024 with 68.6% of the vote.[15][16] She ran unopposed in the general election.[5] Shortly after taking office, she proposed a bill banning transgender girls from participating in girls sports, which failed to pass.[5][17] She filed for re-election in June 2025.[17]
Personal life
[edit]Deering's grandfather was Dwayne Andreas, former CEO and chairman of Archer Daniels Midland.[18][19] She has three children.[20] As of 2022, she lived in Decatur.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ Deering, Regan (October 14, 2022). "Candidates running for 13th U.S. Congressional District" (Interview). Interviewed by Belleville News-Democrat – via NewsBank.
- ^ a b Malkin, Harrison (2022-11-09). "Democrat and first-time candidate Nikki Budzinski prevails in IL-13 race". IPM Newsroom. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ Barlow, Sarah E., ed. (November 15, 2024). "Biographies of New House Members" (PDF). First Reading. Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability. p. 3. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
- ^ a b c Reeder, Scott (2022-05-19). "A conservative community activist". Illinois Times. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ a b c Toscano, Cesar; Stock, Eric (2025-01-23). "State Rep. Regan Deering pushes transgender sports ban days after being sworn in". WGLT. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ Hebel, Alli (2022-11-08). "Updated election results: Illinois race results". KSDK. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ a b Vidmar, Taylor (2023-04-04). "Deering, 3 incumbents elected to Mount Zion school board". Herald-Review. Archived from the original on 2023-04-05. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ Moore, Brenden (2022-01-26). "Regan Deering becomes second Republican to enter 13th Congressional race". Herald-Review. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ Meisel, Hannah (2022-06-29). "Budzinski, Deering to face off for 13th District Congressional seat in November". NPR Illinois. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ Cortes, Lexi (2022-09-10). "What action would candidates for Illinois 13th Congressional District take on abortion?". STLPR. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ Kang, Hanna; Xing, Jessica (Nov 9, 2022). "Democrat Nikki Budzinski defeats Republican Regan Deering in Illinois' 13th Congressional District election". Business Insider. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ "Democrat Nikki Budzinski elected to 13th Congressional District". WICS. 2022-11-09. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ Crawford, Sean (2023-06-14). "Regan Deering launches campaign for Illinois legislature". NPR Illinois. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ Stock, Eric (2024-02-16). "Deering, Erickson push conservative credentials in 88th Illinois House race". WGLT. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ Packowitz, Howard (2024-03-20). "UPDATE: Deering beats Erickson for GOP nod in 88th Illinois House district". 25newsnow. The Associated Press. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ Stock, Eric (2024-03-20). "Regan Deering defeats Chuck Erickson in 88th Illinois House GOP primary". WGLT. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ a b Stock, Eric (2025-06-30). "State Rep. Regan Deering announces re-election bid". WGLT. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ Kapos, Shia (2022-10-08). "Illinois Democrats carved up their state — and may still lose a seat". Politico. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ Kacich, Tom (2022-08-01). "With 100 days to election, Deering has ground to make up in 13th District race". The News-Gazette. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ Reeder, Scott (2022-10-20). "Regan Deering takes on Nikki Budzinski". Illinois Times. Retrieved 2026-01-06.