Elections
Key Races: What to know
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Republican Darren Bailey and independent candidate Collin Corbett are on the ballot in the race for governor in the Nov. 3 general election.
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who has served alongside Gov. JB Pritzker since 2018, faces Don Tracy, the former chair of the Illinois Republican Party. Whitfield Harrington Jr. is the independent candidate.
Democrat Patty García faces independent candidate Chris Getty, Working Class Party candidate Ed Hershey and Republican Lupe Castillo in the 4th Congressional District race.
The Trump administration’s moves against Illinois has elevated incumbent Kwame Raoul’s role to defender of the state’s federal funds, meaning former two-term 2nd Ward Ald. Bob Fioretti has a challenge on his hands.
The incumbent Giannoulias is also a frontrunner for the 2027 Chicago mayor’s race, while Republican challenger Diane M. Harris faces long odds in a statewide office.
The last Republican comptroller ceded office a decade ago, when outgoing Democratic incumbent Susana Mendoza was first elected.
This far southwest suburban district provides one of the few competitive races on Illinois’ heavily gerrymandered political map, and it’s at the center of the latest sexual harassment scandal to rattle Springfield.
After the March primaries, many candidates are running unopposed. Some suburban battles are heating up.
From voter registration guidance to early voting sites, here’s everything you need to know to cast your ballot in Illinois.
Elected School Board
This fall, Chicago voters are choosing members for the city’s first fully elected school board. There are 20 board seats up for grabs, plus voters citywide will pick a board president.
Three people are running in Chicago’s first race for school board president. The president helps set the board’s agenda and will help establish a vision for Chicago Public Schools along with other board members over the next four years.
The Oct. 14 forum hosted by WBEZ, the Sun-Times and Chalkbeat featured questions from CPS students.
For this fall’s Chicago School Board election, the city is broken into 20 voting districts plus all voters can cast a ballot for board president. Read more about the dynamics and what’s at stake in each race by journalists from WBEZ, the Chicago Sun-Times, Chalkbeat, and Block Club Chicago.
Several education-related groups have endorsed or are providing significant financial support in Chicago’s first election for members of its entire school board. Election Day is Nov. 3.
Billionaire-backed groups aligned against the Chicago Teachers Union are aiming their dollars toward attacking the CTU’s pick for school board president. But two weeks out, with its large membership, CTU could still make its mark.
Even with new political considerations, forgoing that tax revenue won’t be an easy decision. Coming into this school year, CPS faced a $730 million deficit.
The candidate backed by the Chicago Teachers Union opposes school closures. Two are open to closing schools, but only after hearing from communities. And one pointed to how consolidations can benefit students.
In all, 16 candidates have filed to run for mayor, but campaign managers and veteran political operatives said they expect that crowded field to shrink as candidates closely scrutinize each other’s nominating petitions to make certain they have the required 12,500 valid signatures to remain on the ballot.
Some Chicagoans have pushed for large-scale festivals to leave city parks for good. Now, a nonbinding ballot measure takes the temperature of residents citywide.
Pritzker is taking out $40 million from his vast personal wealth to boost candidates in contentious races — and building coalitions with Democrats across the country, including in 2028 early primary states. “It’s a terrific strategy,” says former presidential candidate Howard Dean.
You can no longer register to vote online for the upcoming Midterm General Election. But there are still plenty of ways to register in person.
Stratton, the Democratic candidate for the seat of Sen. Dick Durbin, who is retiring, repeatedly vowed to stand up to President Donald Trump’s policies, as Tracy, the Republican, used the platform to call her a socialist — three times.
The Service Employees International Union Locals 1 and 73 threw their formidable support behind Alexi Giannoulias, the presumed frontrunner with a campaign war chest of $19.2 million. SEIU affiliates together donated over $4.5 million to Johnson’s 2023 mayoral campaign. The union also provided scores of campaign workers and materials.
Some Chicagoans are choosing to early vote to avoid long lines and possible bad weather on Election Day
Candidates for mayor, city treasurer, and city clerk — all up for election in 2027 — often turn in double or triple the number of signatures needed, hoping to have enough extra to survive challenges to the validity of some signatures on their petitions.
Pritzker’s GOP challenger, Darren Bailey, argues the team is as good as gone to Indiana, but stadium negotiators have hinted at momentum.
The Chicago School Board is broken into 20 districts where voters can cast a ballot based on their address plus a second vote citywide for board president. Read more about the dynamics and what’s at stake in each race by journalists from WBEZ, the Chicago Sun-Times, Chalkbeat, and Block Club Chicago.
Democrat state Rep. Nabeela Syed is trying to unseat incumbent state Sen. Darby Hills, a Republican, in the northwest suburbs. The race is drawing big money from the political parties.
Reps. Brad Schneider, Mike Quigley, Robin Kelly and Jan Schakowsky reported being sent the letters in a broader wave of threatening packages mailed to congressional and state election offices nationwide ahead of Election Day in November.
The inspector general’s office defended its investigation following multiple calls for an independent review of how the district watchdog handled the matter so close to Election Day.
Johnson has just $379,471 in the bank — yet another indication of his struggle to raise money for the uphill reelection bid he announced last month.
Illinois Democrats also hold massive fundraising advantages as they seek to expand supermajorities In the General Assembly.
Democrat Jessica Dixon Heitman is seeking a full term against Republican Gabby Shanahan, following the resignation of ex-Rep. Harry Benton — and the ensuing questions around Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch’s leadership.
The Illinois State Board of Elections on Thursday evening said the Chicago office received a “suspicious envelope,” spokesman Matt Dietrich said. It marks one of dozens of letters that were sent to congressional offices and state election offices across the country.
Some lobbyists who gave to her campaign work for firms that lobby the state of Illinois.
Democrat Patty García faces Chris Getty, two other challengers in race for Rep. 'Chuy' García's seat
Patty García, U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia’s former chief of staff, faces independent candidate and Lyons Mayor Chris Getty, Republican candidate Lupe Castillo and Ed Hershey, the Working Class Party candidate, in the race for the 4th Congressional District.
Mayoral challenger William J. Quinlan sued to force the Illinois secretary of state, congressman and Cook County treasurer to make the choice between their current offices and running for Chicago mayor, but a circuit judge ruled the suit was premature.
Democrat Juliana Stratton faces Don Tracy, former GOP chair, in Senate battle for Dick Durbin's seat
Although the numbers are in Stratton’s favor in blue Illinois, she says she’s not taking anything for granted. Tracy says he’s running to “bring a voice and bring hope” to Republicans in the state.
Pritzker and Bailey sparred over President Donald Trump, the Chicago Bears, data centers and more.
Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker seeks a third term — and a second straight win over Republican nominee Darren Bailey, while independent candidate Collin Corbett seeks to shape the conversation.
Obama has taped at least two dozen ads for Democratic candidates for governor and Senate; those ads are expected to be released in the coming days and weeks. Obama also plans to make campaign stops in battleground states.
CPS’ inspector general reopened an investigation involving a former CPS student and Hilario Dominguez, the teachers union-backed candidate. The woman says she’s looking for accountability. Dominguez denies any wrongdoing and questions why the 2017 allegations resurfaced during a heated race. Election Day is Nov. 3.
Durkin, the moderate suburban Republican who has long opposed President Donald Trump, said he’s tired of “the Darren Bailey shtick.”
Kelly made the promise while showcasing his political candor to an audience of movers and shakers at the City Club of Chicago Thursday.
On Thursday, early voting for the midterm general election on Nov. 3 began for Chicagoans, at the city’s Early Voting Supersite, at 137 S. State St., and at the Chicago Board of Elections offices, at 69 W. Washington St., 6th floor, and by mail.
The former school board vice president says he doesn’t want to try to keep up with the flood of money from special interest groups and their messaging “that’s completely unrelated to student success.”
Under county ethics rules, that’s allowed. A Preckwinkle spokesperson said, “Residents can trust that decisions are made in full compliance with the law and in full public view,” and union support “is a reflection of shared values, not a quid pro quo.”