| Terri Bryant | |
| State Senate: | Illinois |
| District: | 58th |
| Preceded: | Paul Schimpf |
| State House1: | Illinois |
| District1: | 115th |
| Preceded1: | Mike Bost |
| Succeeded1: | Paul Jacobs |
| Birth Date: | 20 September 1963 |
| Party: | Republican |
| Spouse: | Rick Bryant |
| Children: | 2 |
| Residence: | Murphysboro, Illinois |
| Website: | https://senatorbryant.com |
Terri Bryant (born September 20, 1963) is a Republican member of the Illinois Senate from the 58th district. Previously, she was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 115th district from 2015 until 2021.
Bryant was a public administrator with the Illinois Department of Corrections prior to her tenure as a State Representative.[1] Bryant has served as a precinct committeeperson, vice-president of the Jackson County Republican Women's Club and as second vice-chair of the Jackson County Republican Central Committee. She was also a delegate to the Illinois Republican Conventions in 2008 and again in 2012.[2] Outside of politics, Bryant has experience in the farming and service industries, including owning a successful Bluebell Restaurant in Murphysboro, Illinois.[2]
She took office two weeks earlier than the majority of the 2015 freshman class when her predecessor Mike Bost resigned early in order to take office in Congress.[3] [4] The 115th district, located in Southern Illinois, includes Jefferson, Washington, Perry, Jackson and Union counties.[5]
Bryant announced she would run for the Illinois Senate in 2020 to succeed fellow Republican Paul Schimpf.[6] She was elected to the Illinois Senate and succeeded in the House by fellow Republican Paul Jacobs.[7]
She serves on the following committees: Behavioral and Mental Health (Minority Spokesperson); Agriculture; Education; Ethics; Executive Appointments; Health; Tourism and Hospitality; Subcommittee on Children & Family; Sub. on Long-Term Care & Aging; Redistricting- Southern Illinois.[2]
After Republican incumbent Mike Bost announced his run for Illinois's 12th congressional district, Bryant defeated Democratic nominee Bill Kilquist, an incumbent member of the Logan College Board of Trustees and former Jackson County Sherriff,[8] and Green Party nominee Gary Shepherd.[9]
Bryant is running for reelection. Wesley Kash, a former Assistant State’s Attorney in Jefferson County, is challenging Bryant in the primary.[10]