Illinois Candidate & Election Guide
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.
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
Griselda Romero (G) - Mental Health Counselor
& Eyde Arndell (G) - Artist & Green Party Activist
Gary Pierce (IP) - Minister & Counselor
& Runningmate Not Yet Named (IP)
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
Secretary of State
Alexi Giannoulias (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Diane Harris (R) - Joliet Junior College Trustee, Retired Shop Owner & GOP Activist
Jeff Schiefelbein (G)
State Comptroller
[ Susana Mendoza (D)* - Not running in 2026 / Candidate for Chicago Mayor in 2027. ]
Margaret Croke (D) - State Rep. & Ex-Political Organizer
Bryan Drew (R) - Attorney
Anna Schiefelbein (G) - Attorney, '24 US Rep Candidate & '20 St Rep Candidate
State Treasurer
Mike Frerichs (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Max Solomon (R/WI) - Attorney, Pastor & '22 Gov Candidate
Timi Papas (G) - State Green Party Co-Chair & Retired Minister
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. ]
Juliana Stratton (D) - Lt Governor, Ex-State Rep. & Attorney
Don Tracy (R) - Ex-State GOP Chair, Attorney & '10 Lt Gov Candidate
Joe Harrington (G) - Reitred Corporate Writer, Adult Ed Teacher & Veteran
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
Steve Schwartzberg (I) - Church Business Manager, Ex-College Professor & '18 US Rep Candidate
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
District 2
[ Robin Kelly (D)* - Lost Primary for US Senate in 2026. ]
Donna Miller (D) - Cook County Commissioner & Healthcare Consultant
Mike Noack (R) - Truck Driver
District 3
Delia Ramirez (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Angel Oakley (R) - Cannabis Business Consultant & '24 Candidate
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
Lindsay Church (I) - Nonprofit Founder & Navy Veteran
Chris Getty (I) - Lyons Mayor & Insurance Agent
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)
Tommy Hanson (R) - Real Estate Broker & Frequent Candidate
District 6
Sean Casten (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Niki Conforti (R) - Energy Consultant, Community Activist & '22/'24 Candidate
District 7
[ Danny K. Davis (D)* - Retiring in 2026. ]
LaShawn Ford (D) - State Rep., Insurance Agent & Ex-Teacher
Chad Koppie (R) - Kane County School Board President, Retired Pilot & Frequent Candidate
Jerico Brown (I) - Pastor & Tax Preparer
Anita Rao (I) - Psychiatrist & Physician
Jabari Taylor (I) - Public Health Program Manager
District 8
[ Raja Krishnamoorthi (D)* - Lost Primary for US Senate in 2026. ]
Melissa Bean (D) - Ex-Congresswoman & Businesswoman
Jennifer Davis (R) - Businesswoman
District 9
[ Jan Schakowsky (D)* - Retiring in 2026. ]
Daniel Biss (D) - Evanston Mayor, Ex-State Sen., Ex-State Rep. & Mathematician
John Elleson (R) - Pastor & '22 Candidate
Delila Barrera (I) - Behavioral Technician & Democratic Socialist Activist
District 10
Brad Schneider (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Carl Lambrecht (R) - Retired Optical Engineer & '24 St Rep Nominee
Alexandria Keating-Sofiakis (G) - Writer & Game Designer
District 11
Bill Foster (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Jeff Walter (R) - Elburn Village President, Business Manager & Retired Navy NCO
Matthew Durr (I) - Nonprofit Founder & Army Veteran
Stacy McCaskill (I) - Hemp Farmer
District 12
Mike Bost (R)* - (Campaign Site)
Julie Fortier (D) - Research Microbiologist & USAF Veteran
District 13
Nikki Budzinski (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Jeff Wilson (R) - Champaign County Board Member, Nuclear Engineer & Navy Veteran
District 14
Lauren Underwood (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Jim Marter (R) - Management Consultant & Frequent Candidate
District 15
Mary Miller (R)* - (Campaign Site)
Jennifer Todd (D) - Registered Nurse & Nurse Paralegal
District 16
District 17
Eric Sorensen (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Dillan Vancil (R) - Businessman, Coffee Shop Owner & Ex-Labor Union Activist
Randy Flowers (I) - Progressive Activist, Navy Veteran & Ex-Democrat
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