* The 2025 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Senate Republican Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager is a tie. Tara Horn…

Sen. Sue Rezin’s LA is one of the most competent, responsive, organized and friendly LA in the capital. She greets everyone who comes in kindly even when she is insanely busy managing all of Sen. Rezin’s meetings. She also helps with other members given she has 20 years of knowledge. Definitely should be this year’s winner!

And Tracy Weiters…

Tracy Weiters in Senator DeWitte’s office is an institution in the Capitol, going back to her time with House Republican Leadership. She has retained the institutional knowledge necessary to be helpful to both lobbyists and staff in many more ways than just managing her member’s office and calendar in Springfield. Not to mention, it’s been a big year for transportation and revenue, both issues Senator DeWitte serves as MS for, and she stayed on top of it all. She’s very deserving of this year’s Golden Horseshoe.

* The 2025 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Senate Democratic Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager goes to Trisha Ray…

She’s truly great. She’s incredibly organized and keeps her Senator on track. But she’s also kind and always willing to help. Sen Peters takes on a lot of big issues, and often controversial ones, and she’s able to handle the steady stream of in-person visits and calls (which are often vitriolic) with incredible grace.

Honorable mention goes to Emily Ozier.

Congratulations!

* OK, let’s move on to today’s categories…

Best House Republican Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager

Best House Democratic Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager

Remember to explain your nominations or they won’t count. This is about intensity, not numbers. Also, do your very best to nominate in both categories. Breeann Steinacher and Caitlin Anderson won last year and are not eligible this year.

* After you’ve made your nominations, please click here and help us buy Christmas presents for more than 2,500 foster kids in the care of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. They count on us every year, and we just cannot let them down. Thanks!