The 21st congressional district of Illinois was a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in Illinois. It was eliminated as a result of the 1990 census. It was last represented by Jerry Costello who was redistricted into the 12th district.

List of members representing the district

Member	Party	Years	Cong ress	Electoral history
District created March 4, 1895
Everett J. Murphy (East St. Louis)	Republican	March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1897	54th	Elected in 1894. Lost re-election.
Jehu Baker (Belleville)	Democratic	March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1899	55th	Elected in 1896. Retired.
William A. Rodenberg (East St. Louis)	Republican	March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1901	56th	Elected in 1898. Lost re-election.
Fred J. Kern (Belleville)	Democratic	March 4, 1901 – March 3, 1903	57th	Elected in 1900. Redistricted to the 22nd district and lost re-election there.
Ben F. Caldwell (Chatham)	Democratic	March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1905	58th	Redistricted from the 17th district and re-elected in 1902. Lost re-election.
Zeno J. Rives (Litchfield)	Republican	March 4, 1905 – March 3, 1907	59th	Elected in 1904. Lost re-election.
Ben F. Caldwell (Chatham)	Democratic	March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1909	60th	Elected again in 1906. Retired.
James M. Graham (Springfield)	Democratic	March 4, 1909 – March 3, 1915	61st 62nd 63rd	Elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Lost re-election.
Loren E. Wheeler (Springfield)	Republican	March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1923	64th 65th 66th 67th	Elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Lost re-election.
J. Earl Major (Hillsboro)	Democratic	March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1925	68th	Elected in 1922. Lost re-election.
Loren E. Wheeler (Springfield)	Republican	March 4, 1925 – March 3, 1927	69th	Elected again in 1924. Lost re-election.
J. Earl Major (Hillsboro)	Democratic	March 4, 1927 – March 3, 1929	70th	Elected again in 1926. Lost re-election.
Frank M. Ramey (Hillsboro)	Republican	March 4, 1929 – March 3, 1931	71st	Elected in 1928. Retired.
J. Earl Major (Hillsboro)	Democratic	March 4, 1931 – October 6, 1933	72nd 73rd	Elected again in 1930. Re-elected in 1932. Resigned after becoming judge of the US District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.
Vacant		October 6, 1933 – January 3, 1935	73rd
Harry H. Mason (Pawnee)	Democratic	January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1937	74th	Elected in 1934. Retired.
Frank W. Fries (Carlinville)	Democratic	January 3, 1937 – January 3, 1941	75th 76th	Elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Lost re-election.
George E. Howell (Springfield)	Republican	January 3, 1941 – October 5, 1947	77th 78th 79th 80th	Elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Resigned after becoming judge of the US Court of Claims.
Vacant		October 5, 1947 – January 3, 1949	80th
Peter F. Mack Jr. (Carlinville)	Democratic	January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1963	81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th	Elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Redistricted to the 20th district and lost re-election there.
Kenneth J. Gray (West Frankfort)	Democratic	January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1973	88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd	Redistricted from the 25th district and re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Redistricted to the 24th district.
Edward R. Madigan (Lincoln)	Republican	January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1983	93rd 94th 95th 96th 97th	Elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974 Re-elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Redistricted to the 15th district.
Melvin Price (East St. Louis)	Democratic	January 3, 1983 – April 22, 1988	98th 99th 100th	Redistricted from the 23rd district and re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Died.
Vacant		April 22, 1988 – August 9, 1988	100th
Jerry Costello (Belleville)	Democratic	August 9, 1988 – January 3, 1993	100th 101st 102nd	Elected to finish Price's term. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Redistricted to the 12th district.
District eliminated January 3, 1993

References

• Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
• Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
• Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present