Final answer:
The provided information does not specify the first woman in Illinois to be elected to a major state office. However, milestones by women in politics include Elaine Noble and Barbara Mikulski's elections to state office and the Senate respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first woman in Illinois to be elected to a major state office was not explicitly mentioned in the provided information. However, we can talk about the broader context of women in politics to acknowledge the advancements and milestones achieved by various women.
For instance, Elaine Noble was the first openly LGBTQ person elected to state office, winning a seat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1974. Another significant political figure, Barbara Mikulski, became the first female Senator to win a seat not by appointment but in her own right in 1986, with support from EMILY's List, a political action committee dedicated to electing pro-choice Democratic women to office. The role of women in politics has been evolving, with organizations like EMILY's List and the National Women's Political Caucus playing pivotal roles in increasing women's political representation.