Paul Schimpf

Paul Schimpf (born 1971) is a Republican member of the Illinois Senate from the 58th district. The 58th district includes all or parts of Jefferson, Perry, Randolph, St. Clair, Monroe, Jackson, Union, and Washington counties.

Among his activities prior to his tenure as State Senator, Schimpf served in the U.S. Marine Corps, participated in the trial of Saddam Hussein, and ran for Illinois Attorney General in 2014.

Early life and education
Schimpf, the son of two school teachers, was born in 1971 at Scott Air Force Base and raised in Waterloo, Illinois. He was the valedictorian of his high school senior class and was a National Merit Scholar. Schimpf attended the United States Naval Academy—passing an engineering scholarship offer at the University of Illinois —and Southern Illinois University School of Law.

Career
Schimpf served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1993 and retired in May 2013.

In 2005, Schimpf was deployed to Iraq to serve as the chief American advisor to prosecutors in the trial of Saddam Hussein.

Schimpf served as a member of the legislative staff of U.S. Representative John Kline of Minnesota.

2014 Illinois Attorney General campaign
Schimpf was the Republican nominee for Illinois Attorney General in 2014. Incumbent Democrat Lisa Madigan defeated him in the general election.

Illinois Senate
Schimpf ran successfully for the Illinois Senate in 2016, defeating former Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon in the general election. He was sworn in on January 11, 2017. Schimpf has announced he will not run for reelection to the Illinois Senate in 2020.

Personal life
Schimpf is married to his wife Lori while attending Southern Illinois University School of Law. They live in Waterloo, Illinois and have two sons together.