Illinois
Federal and statewide candidates, elections, state political parties, news sites, and other resources — no frills, just what you need — curated by Politics1 publisher Ron Gunzburger.
This state page last updated: January 14, 2026
Governor
(Governor & Lt. Governor candidates run together on tickets.)
J.B. Pritzker (D)* - (Campaign Site)
& Christian Mitchell (D) - Ex-State Rep., Gubernatorial Aide & Air National Guard Officer
Darren Bailey (R) - Ex-State Sen., Ex-State Rep., Farmer, '22 Nominee & '24 US Rep Candidate
& Aaron Del Mar (R) - Businessman, GOP Activist & '22 Lt Gov Candidate
Ted Dabrowski (R) - Nonprofit Media Company Onwer, Ex-Banker & Conservative Activist
& Carrie Mendoza (R) - Emergency Medicine Physician
Rick Heidner (R) - Real Estate Developer & Video Gaming Company CEO
& Christina Neitzke-Troike (R) - Homer Glen Mayor
James Mendrick (R) - DuPage County Sheriff
& Robert Renteria (R) - Businessman & Army Veteran
Joe Severino (R/WI) - Businessman & '22/'24 US Rep Candidate
& Rantch Isquith (R/WI) - Audit Consultant & Ex-Bank Examiner
Griselda Romero (G) - Mental Health Counselor
& Eyde Arndell (G) - Artist & Green Party Activist
Next State Constitutional Officer Elections in 2026.
Lieutenant Governor
[ Juliana Stratton (D)* - Candidate for US Senate in 2026. ]
Attorney General
Kwame Raoul (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Bob Fioretti (R) - Ex-Chicago Alderman, Attorney, Ex-Democrat & Frequent Candidate
Andy Williams Jr. (R/WI) - Paralegal & Church Deacon
Secretary of State
Alexi Giannoulias (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Walter Adamczyk (R) - Airport Worker, GOP Activist & '23 City Council Candidate
Diane Harris (R) - Joliet Junior College Trustee, Retired Shop Owner & GOP Activist
State Comptroller
[ Susana Mendoza (D)* - Not running in 2026 / Candidate for Chicago Mayor in 2027. ]
Margaret Croke (D) - State Rep. & Ex-Political Organizer
Stephanie Kifowit (D) - State Rep., Ex-Aurora Alderwoman, FInancial Advisor & USMC Veteran
Holly Kim (D) - Lake County Treasurer & Ex-Business Manager
Karina Villa (D) - State Sen., Ex-State Rep. & Ex-West Chicago School Board Member
Bryan Drew (R) - Attorney
State Treasurer
Mike Frerichs (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Max Solomon (R/WI) - Attorney, Pastor & '22 Gov Candidate
Richard Giovanoni (G) - Marxist-Leninist Activist & Frequent Candidate
General Assembly
State House - ( Democratic Caucus - Republican Caucus )
State Senate - ( Democratic Caucus - Republican Caucus )
U.S. Senator
SENATE ELECTION 2026:
[ Dick
Durbin (D)* - Retiring in 2026. ]
Steve Botsford (D) - Real Estate Developer & '23 Chicago Alderman Candidate
Sean Brown (D) - Attorney
Awisi Bustos (D) - State Boys & Girls Clubs CEO & Ex-Congressional Aide
Jonathan Dean (D) - Solar Energy Executive & Attorney
Robin Kelly (D) - Congresswoman, Ex-State Democratic Chair & Ex-State Rep.
Raja Krishnamoorthi (D) - Congressman & Attorney
Bryan Maxwell (D) - Agricultural Engineer & Political Organizer
Kevin Ryan (D) - Teacher & USMC Veteran
Juliana Stratton (D) - Lt Governor, Ex-State Rep. & Attorney
Christopher Swann (D) - Nonprofit Program Manager & Community Activist
R. Cary Capparelli (R) - College Professor & Ex-Illinois International Port District Board Member
Casey Chlebek (R) - Businessman, Polish-American Community Activist & '20/'22 Candidate
Jeannie Evans (R) - Attorney
Pamela Denise Long (R) - Occupational Therapist
Jimmy Lee Tillman II (R) - Political Consultant, Author & Frequent Candidate
Don Tracy (R) - Ex-State GOP Chair, Attorney & '10 Lt Gov Candidate
Joe Harrington (G)
Tyrone Muhammad (IP) - Nonprofit Founder/CEO, Felon & Restorative Justice Activist
Whitfield Harrington (I) - Pastor & Businessman
Austin Mink (I) - Filmmaker, Progressive Activist & '24 US Rep Candidate
Joe Schilling (I) - Pizza Restaurant Owner
Tony Smith (I) - Veteran
SENATE ELECTION 2028:
Tammy Duckworth (D)* - (Campaign
Site)
Zach McClanahan (R) - Businessman & Ex-Oilfield Worker
U.S. House (Districts)
District 1
Jonathan Jackson (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Marcus Lewis (R) - Postal Worker & Frequent Candidate
Christian Maxwell (R) - Businesswoman
District 2
[ Robin Kelly (D)* - Candidate for US Senate in 2026. ]
Toni Brown (D) - General Contractor
Yumeka Brown (D) - Matteson Village Clerk & MWRD Commissioner
Eric France (D) - Businessman
Jesse Jackson Jr. (D) - Ex-Congressman, Felon & Brother of US Rep Jonathan Jackson
Patrick Keating (D) - Attorney
Donna Miller (D) - Cook County Commissioner & Healthcare Consultant
Sidney Moore (D) - Nonprofit Founder, Social Worker & '22 Sec of State Candidate
Robert Peters (D) - State Sen. & Progressive Community Organizer
Willie Preston (D) - State Sen., Carpenter & Ex-Community Organizer
Adal Regis (D) - Clean Energy Nonprofit Executive & Ex-Congressional Aide
Mike Noack (R)
District 3
Delia Ramirez (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Angel Oakley (R) - Cannabis Business Consultant & '24 Candidate
Spomenka "Barbie" Vajic (R/WI) - Beauty Salon Owner
District 4
[ Jesus "Chuy" Garcia (D)* - Retiring in 2026. ]
Patty Garcia (D) - Congressman Garcia's Chief of Staff
Lupe Castillo (R) - Pharmacy Technician, GOP Activist & '24 Nominee
Ed Hershey (WCP) - Teacher, Militant Labor Activist & Frequent Candidate
Mayra Macías (I) - Nonprofit Executive & Democratic Political Organizer
Byron Sigcho-Lopez (I) - Chicago Alderman, Teacher & Democratic Socialist Activist
DISTRICT 5
Mike Quigley (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Matt Conroy (D) - Learning/Development Specialist
Ellen Corley (D) - Marketing Consultant & Ex-Teacher
Anthony Tamez (D) - Police District Council Member & Community Organizer
Tommy Hanson (R) - Real Estate Broker & Frequent Candidate
Kimball Ladien (R) - Psychiatrist & '22 Candidate
Barry Wicker (R) - Commodities Broker & Navy Veteran
Steve Schwartzberg (I) - Church Business Manager, Ex-College Professor, Historian & '18 Candidate
District 6
Sean Casten (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Joey Ruzevich (D) - Software Engineer & Progressive Activist
Niki Conforti (R) - Energy Consultant, Community Activist & '22/'24 Candidate
Syklar Duensing (R) - Freelance Journalist & Conservative Activist
District 7
[ Danny K. Davis (D)* - Retiring in 2026. ]
Richard Boykin (D) - Ex-Cook County Commissioner, '20 Clerk Candidate & '22 Bd Pres Candidate
Kina Collins (D) - Political Organizer, Gun Control Activist & Frequent Candidate
Melissa Conyears-Ervin (D) - Chicago City Treasurer, Ex-State Rep. & '24 Candidate
Anthony Driver Jr. (D) - State SEIU Labor Union Official & '19 Chicago City Council Candidate
Dave Ehrlich (D) - College Instructor, Ex-GAO Analyst & Ex-Congressional Aide
Thomas Fisher (D) - Physician & Ex-White House Fellow
LaShawn Ford (D) - State Rep., Insurance Agent & Ex-Teacher
Jason Friedman (D) - Businessman & Ex-Congressional Aide
Rory Hoskins (D) - Forest Park Mayor & Attorney
Kamaria Kali (D) - Administrative Assistant
Anabel Mendoza (D) - Nonprofit Employee & Progressive Activist
Jazmin Robinson (D) - HR Professional
Reed Showalter (D) - Attorney
Felix Tello (D) - Business Manager
P-Rae Easley (R) - Conservative Political Organizer
Chad Koppie (R) - Kane County School Board President, Retired Pilot & Frequent Candidate
Anita Rao (I) - Psychiatrist & Physician
District 8
[ Raja Krishnamoorthi (D)* - Candidate for US Senate in 2026. ]
Junaid Ahmed (D) - Businessman & '22 Candidate
Yasmeen Bankole (D) - Hanover Park Village Trustee & Ex-Congressional Aide
Melissa Bean (D) - Ex-Congresswoman & Businesswoman
Sanjyot Dunung (D) - Businesswoman
Neil Khot (D) - Outsourcing Solutions Consultant
Kevin Morrison (D) - Cook County Commissioner
Dan Tully (D) - Attorney, Army Reserve Officer & Iraq War Veteran
Ryan Vetticad (D) - Presidential Management Fellow Ex-Teacher
Kevin Ake (R) - Accountant & '22 Cook Co Commission Candidate
Jennifer Davis (R) - Businesswoman
Herb Hebein (R) - Retired Police Officer & '24 St Rep Candidate
Mark Rice (R) - Businessman, Investor & '24 Nominee
District 9
[ Jan Schakowsky (D)* - Retiring in 2026. ]
Kat Abughazaleh (D) - Political Rapid Response Researcher
Bushra Amiwala (D) - Skokie School Board Member & Community Activist
Phil Andrew (D) - Retired FBI Agent & Gun Violence Survivor
Natalie Angelo (D)
Daniel Biss (D) - Evanston Mayor, Ex-State Sen., Ex-State Rep. & Mathematician
Patricia Brown (D)
Jeff Cohen (D) - Economist
Laura Fine (D) - State Sen., Ex-State Rep. & Ex-Journalist
Justin Ford (D) - Environmental Engineer
Mark Fredrickson (D) - Network Engineer, Environmental Activist & '02/'09 Candidate
Hoan Huynh (D) - State Rep.
Bethany Johnson (D) - Data Manager & Trans Rights Activist
Sam Polan (D) - Intelligence Analyst & Army Veteran
Nick Pyati (D) - Attorney & Ex-Microsoft Tech Strategist
Howard Rosenblum (D) - Attorney & National Association of the Deaf CEO
Mike Simmons (D) - State Sen., Ex-Chicago City Council Aide & Ex-Congressional Aide
Rocio Cleveland (R) - Spanish Interpreter & GOP Activist
John Elleson (R) - Pastor & '22 Candidate
Paul Friedman (R) - Software Engineer
Mark Su (R) - Chinese-American Community News Website Publisher
Delila Barrera (I) - Behavioral Technician & Democratic Socialist Activist
District 10
Brad Schneider (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Morgan Coghill (D) - Plywood Importer
Carl Lambrecht (R) - Retired Optical Engineer & '24 St Rep Nominee
Alexandria Keating-Sofiakis (G) - Writer & Game Designer
District 11
Bill Foster (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Tedora Brown (R/WI) - Real Estate Developer & Nonprofit Founder
Charlie Kim (R) - Businessman & '24 Candidate
Mike Pierce (R) - Retired Army Lt Colonel & Defense Contractor
Jeff Walter (R) - Elburn Village President, Business Manager & Retired Navy NCO
District 12
Mike Bost (R)* - (Campaign Site)
Julie Fortier (D) - Research Microbiologist & USAF Veteran
District 13
Nikki Budzinski (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Dylan Blaha (D) - Medical Research Scientist, National Guard Officer & Afghan War Veteran
Joshua Loyd (R) - Army Veteran, GOP Activist & '24 Nominee
Jeff Wilson (R) - Champaign County Board Member, Nuclear Engineer & Navy Veteran
District 14
Lauren Underwood (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Krystal Dorey (R/WI) - Model, Actress & '24 Candidate
Jim Marter (R) - Management Consultant & Frequent Candidate
Gary Vician (R) - Ex-Naperville Township Supervisor, Realtor & Retired Teacher
District 15
Mary Miller (R)* - (Campaign Site)
Judy Bowlby (R) - Insurance Lobbyist
Ryan Tebrugge (R) - IT Professional & Ex-Correctins Officer
Paul Davis (D) - Veterinarian
Kyle Nudo (D) - Theater Producer & Actor
Randy Raley (D) - Retired Radio Show Host & Media Sales Manager
Jennifer Todd (D) - Registered Nurse & Nurse Paralegal
District 16
District 17
Eric Sorensen (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Julie Bickelhaupt (R) - Carroll County Board Chair & Farmer
Dillan Vancil (R) - Businessman, Coffee Shop Owner & Ex-Labor Union Activist
Political Parties
Constitution Party
of Illinois (C)
Democratic Party
of Illinois (D)
Illinois Green Party (G)
Illinois Independence Party (IP)
Libertarian Party of Illinois (L)
Illinois Pirate Party (PP)
Republican Party of Illinois (R)
Working Class Party (WCP)
Independent (I)
Write-In (WI)
State Election Office
State News Sources
Alton
Telegraph
Arlington Heights Daily
Herald
Belleville News-Democrat
Benton News
Block Club Chicago
Bloomington Pantagraph
Canton Daily Ledger
CapitolFax.com (Politics)
Capitol News Illinois
Carbondale Southern
Illinoisan
Champaign News-Gazette
Axios Chicago
Chalkbeat: Chicago
Chicago Defender
(African-American)
Chicago Inside
Chicago Reader (Alternative)
Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Tribune
Chicago Windy City Times
(LGBT)
El Dia News Chicago (Spanish)
La Raza Chicago (Spanish)
La Voz Chicago (Spanish)
Polish News Chicago
Danville Commercial-News
Decatur Herald & Review
Edwardsville Intelligencer
Elgin
Courier
Galesburg Register-Mail
Harrisburg Register
Illinois Times
The IlliNoize (Politics)
Joliet
Herald News
Kane Couny Chronicle
Kankakee Daily Journal
Kewanee Star Courier
Lawndale News
Lincoln Courier
Mattoon Journal Gazette & Times-Courier
McDonough County Voice
Monmouth Review-Atlas
Mount Carmel Register
Oak Park Wednesday Journal
Pekin Daily Times
Peoria Journal Star
Pontiac Daily Leader
Quincy Herald-Whig
Randolph County Journal
Rockford Register Star
Sauk Valley News
Springfield State Journal-Register
Illinois Public Media (PBS)
WBBM TV-2 (CBS - Chicago)
WMAQ TV-5 (NBC - Chicago)
WLS TV-7 (ABC - Chicago)
WGN TV-9 (Chicago)
WFLD TV-32 (FOX - Chicago)
WSNC TV-44 (Telemundo - Chicago)
WEEK TV-25 (NBC - Peoria)
WRSP TV-55 (FOX - Springfield)
WILL TV-12 Illinois Public Media (PBS - Urbana)
NPR Illinois Public Radio
WBEZ 91.5 FM - Chicago Public Radio