This district spans the northwestern and west-central lands of Illinois, encompassing portions of Rock Island, Peoria, Knox, Whiteside, Henry, Mercer, Warren, Fulton, and Winnebago Counties. Within its borders lie the cities of Rock Island, Moline, East Moline, Galesburg, Peoria, and Sterling.

The Seventeenth is a realm shaped by rivers and industry. Through many great redrawings of the map, its boundaries have shifted, yet it has remained anchored in the working heart of Illinois. Long governed by moderate champions, the district was once represented by Lane Evans, who held the seat from 1983 until 2007. After his retirement, Democrat Phil Hare briefly carried the banner until 2011, when Republican Bobby Schilling seized the district during the upheaval of the 2010 midterms. In 2012, Democrat Cheri Bustos reclaimed the seat, guiding the district through an era of economic transition. Her focus centered on agriculture, infrastructure, economic development, and support for veterans.

The Seventeenth bears a Cook Partisan Voting Index of D+2, marking it as a closely balanced and competitive realm. Its people are predominantly White, with smaller Black, Hispanic, and Asian communities concentrated in urban centers such as Peoria and Rock Island. Across the district, the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers carve paths through farmland, manufacturing hubs, and historic river towns, shaping both trade and daily life.

The district’s median household income sits below the national average, reflecting the shared challenges of rural and industrial communities alike. Yet despite these trials, the Seventeenth remains a resilient frontier where agriculture and industry meet along the river’s edge.