Senator Patrick J. Joyce

Patrick J. Joyce represents Illinois’ 40th Senate District, a largely rural area stretching from the south suburbs to Kankakee County. A fourth‑generation farmer, Joyce grew up in Reddick, Illinois and continues to run his family’s corn and soybean operation in Essex. He earned a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness from Illinois State University and, for 25 years, operated his own farm while serving on the Kankakee County Farm Bureau board. His deep roots in agriculture inform his legislative priorities: Joyce has championed groundwater protection, soil‑and‑water conservation programs and funding for rural broadband. In the Senate he sits on key committees including Agriculture, Energy and Public Utilities, Local Government and Environment & Conservation. Beyond agriculture, Joyce is an advocate for veterans’ services and mental‑health resources in rural communities. After losing a daughter to leukemia in 2011 he became an active fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and spearheaded legislation to improve access to cancer screening and treatment. Joyce and his wife, Rita, are parents to three children and reside in Essex, where they continue to be involved in local 4‑H and county‑fair programs.