ILLINOIS

Your complete directory of Illinois candidates for Governor, United State Senator and Congress in the current election cycle ... state political parties ... the official state election office ... and state news sources.

"Politics1 is one of the premiere non-partisan political web sites out there. Besides offering comprehensive coverage of state and federal elections, this site is a kick in the pants!"
- Chicago Tribune

ELECTION CALENDAR: Filing Filing Deadline (Major Parties): December 2025 Filing Deadline (Third Parties & Independents): June 2026 Filing Deadline (Write-In Candidates): September 2026 Primary: March 2026

CANDIDATE DIRECTORY LEGEND: Bold = Active Candidate Italics = Potential Candidate * = Incumbent = Winner (Incumbent Party Listed First)

This page was last updated on May 19, 2025

STATE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS:

GOVERNOR:
J.B. Pritzker (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Rahm Emanuel (D) - US Ambassador, Ex-Chicago Mayor, Ex-Congressman & Ex-White House Chief of Staff
Mike Frerichs (D) - State Treasurer, Ex-State Sen. & Ex-Champaign County Auditor
Susana Mendoza (D) - State Comptroller, Ex-Chicago City Clerk & Ex-State Rep.
Kwame Raoul (D) - Attorney General & Ex-State Sen.
Darren Bailey (R) - Ex-State Sen., Ex-State Rep., Farmer, '22 Nominee & '24 US Rep Candidate
Aaron Del Mar (R) - Businessman, GOP Activist & '20 Lt Gov Candidate
Richard Irvin (R) - Aurora Mayor, Ex-City Councilman, Attorney, Gulf War Veteran & '22 Candidate
Darin LaHood (R) - Congressman, Ex-State Sen. & Attorney
James Mendrick (R) - DuPage County Sheriff
Richard Porter (R) - RNC Member & Retired Attorney

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)

SECRETARY OF STATE:
Alexi Giannoulias (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Dave Nayak (D) - Physician & '24 St Sen Candidate

STATE COMPTROLLER:
Susana Mendoza (D)* - (Campaign Site)

STATE TREASURER:
Mike Frerichs (D)* - (Campaign Site)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY:

State House - ( Democratic Caucus - Republican Caucus )

State Senate - ( Democratic Caucus - Republican Caucus )

U.S. SENATOR:

[ Dick Durbin (D)* - Retiring in 2026. ]
Rod Blagojevich (D) - Ex-Governor, Ex-Congressman & Pardoned Felon
Nikki Budzinski (D) - Congresswoman, Ex-US OMB Official & Ex-Gubernatorial Aide
Robin Kelly (D) - Congresswoman, Ex-State Democratic Chair & Ex-State Rep.
Raja Krishnamoorthi (D) - Congressman & Attorney
Stan Leavell (D) - Auctioneer
Susana Mendoza (D) - State Comptroller, Ex-Chicago City Clerk & Ex-State Rep.
Juliana Stratton (D) - Lt Governor, Ex-State Rep. & Attorney
Christopher Swann (D) - Nonprofit Program Manager & Community Activist
Doug Bennett (R) - Technology Consulant, '18 US Rep Nominee & '12 County Board Candidate
R. Cary Capparelli (R) - College Professor & Ex-Illinois International Port District Board Member
Casey Chlebek (R) - Businessman, Polish-American Community Activist & '20/'22 Candidate
John Goodman (R) -Ex-Police Officer & USAF Veteran
Richard Irvin (R) - Aurora Mayor, Ex-City Councilman, Attorney, Gulf War Veteran & '22 Gov Candidate
Austin Mink (I) - Filmmaker, Progressive Activist & '24 US Rep Candidate
Joe Schilling (I) - Pizza Restaurant Owner
Anthony Smith (I)

Tammy Duckworth (D)* - (Campaign Site) - Next Election in 2028.

U.S. CONGRESS:

District 1:
Jonathan Jackson (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Brian Kovaka (R)
Marcus Lewis (R) - Postal Worker & Frequent Candidate
Christian Maxwell (R) - Businesswoman

District 2:
[ Robin Kelly (D)* - Candidate for US Senate in 2026. ]
Yumeka Brown (D) - Matteson Village Clerk & MWRD Commissioner
Sheilas Chalmers-Currin (D) - Matteson Mayor
Napoleon Harris (D) - State Sen. & Retired NFL Football Player
Donna Miller (D) - Cook County Commissioner & Healthcare Consultant
Robert Peters (D) - State Sen. & Progressive Community Organizer
Adal Regis (D) - Clean Energy Nonprofit Executive & Ex-Congressional Aide
Ashley Ramos (R) - eCommerce Specialist, Pro-Police Activist & '22/'24 Candidate
Calvin Coleman (I) - RFK Jr Campaign Activist

District 3:
Delia Ramirez (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Kip Knutson (D) - Business Development Rep., Ex-Restaurant Manager & '24 Candidate

District 4:
Jesus "Chuy" Garcia (D)* - (Campaign Site)

District 5:
Mike Quigley (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Tommy Hanson (R) - Real Estate Broker & Frequent Candidate
Steve Schwartzberg (I) - Church Business Manager, Ex-College Professor, Historian & '18 Candidate

District 6:
Sean Casten (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Niki Conforti (R) - Energy Consultant, Community Activist & '22/'24 Candidate

District 7:
Danny K. Davis (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Kina Collins (D) - Political Organizer, Gun Control Activist & Frequent Candidate 
Melissa Conyears-Ervin (D) - Chicago City Treasurer, Ex-State Rep. & '24 Candidate
LaShawn Ford (D) - State Rep., Insurance Agent & Ex-Teacher
Jason Friedman (D) - Businessman & Ex-Congressional Aide
Rory Hoskins (D) - Forest Park Mayor & Attorney
Tumia Romero (D) - Congressman Davis' Chie of Staff
Kari Steele (D) - MWRD Commissioner & Chemist
Chad Koppie (R) - Kane County School Board President, Retired Pilot & Frequent Candidate
Jerico Brown (I) - Pastor & Businessman

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
Terrell Barnes (D) - Bloomingdale Democratic Chair & Library District Trustee
Cristina Castro (D) - State Sen. & Ex-Kane County Board Member
Sanjyot Dunung (D) - Businesswoman
Christ Kallas (D) - Homemaker & Ex-Marketing Brand Manager
Neil Khot (D) - Outsourcing Solutions Consultant
Kevin Morrison (D) - Cook County Commissioner
Dan Tully (D) - Attorney & Army Reserve Officer
Joseph Wentzel (D)
Mark Rice (R) - Businessman, Investor & '24 Nominee

District 9:
[ Jan Schakowsky (D)* - Retiring in 2026. ]
David Abrevaya (D) - Aerospace Engineer
Kat Abughazaleh (D) - Political Rapid Response Researcher
Bushra Amiwala (D) - Skokie School Board Member & Community Activist
Daniel Biss (D) - Evanston Mayor, Ex-State Sen., Ex-State Rep. & Mathematician
Kelly Cassidy (D) - State Rep., Ex-Legislative Aide & Women's Rights Activist
Cam Davis (D) - MWRD Commissioner, Attorney & Environmental Activist
Laura Fine (D) - State Sen., Ex-State Rep. & Ex-Journalist
Justin Ford (D) - Environmental Engineer
Bridget Gainer (D) - Cook County Commissioner, Ex--Budget Analyst & Ex-Community Organizer
Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D) - State Rep. & Attorney
Maria Hadden (D) - Chicago Alderwoman & Nonprofit Foudner
Hoan Huynh (D) - State Rep.
Miracle Jenkins (D)
Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (D) - Chicago Alderwoman, Store Owner & Physical Therapist
Josina Morita (D) - Cook County Commissioner, Ex-MWRD Commissioner & Urban Planner
Kevin Olickal (D) - State Rep., Ex-Legislative Aide & Law Student
Mike Simmons (D) - State Sen.
Andre Vasquez (D) - Chicago Alderman & Ex-Community Organizer
Ram Villivalam (D) - State Sen., Ex-Congressional Aide & Ex-Labor Union Legislative Director
Rocio Cleveland (R) - GOP Activist

District 10:
Brad Schneider (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Morgan Coghill (D) - Plywood Importer

District 11:
Bill Foster (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Tedora Brown (R) - Home Building Contractor
Jerry Evans (R) - Music School Founder, Music Teacher & '22/'24 Candidate
Susan Hathaway-Altman (R) - Businesswoman & '22/'24 Candidate
Charlie Kim (R) - Businessman & '24 Candidate

District 12:
Mike Bost (R)* - (Campaign Site)

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)
Roman Valenciano (D) - Marketing Manager
Krystal Dorey (R) - Model, Actress & '24 Candidate
Jim Marter (R) - Management Consultant & Frequent Candidate 

District 15:
Mary Miller (R)* - (Campaign Site)
Jennifer Todd (D) - Registered Nurse & Nurse Paralegal

District 16:
Darin LaHood (R)* - (Campaign Site)
John Kitover (R) - Consultant, Realtor, Army Veteran & GOP Activist
Joe Albright (D) - Project Management Consultant, Firearms Instructor & Ex-Police Officer
Dave Nayak (D) - Physician & '24 St Sen Candidate
Paul Nolley (D) - Nonprofit Executive

District 17:
Eric Sorensen (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Dillan Vancil (R) - Businessman, Coffee Shop Owner & Ex-Labor Union Activist

STATE POLITICAL PARTIES:

Constitution Party of Illinois (C)
Democratic Party of Illinois (D)
Illinois Green Party (G)
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 Board of Elections

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
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
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