2026 Midterm Elections in Illinois

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2026 Illinois Midterm Election and Primaries

The 2026 Illinois Primary will be held on March 17, 2026. The 2026 midterm general election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.

The entire U.S. House of Representatives and 33 U.S. Senate seats are up for grabs this fall. This year, dozens of candidates are vying for a handful of Congressional and Senate seats that haven't been open in years, as Senator Dick Durbin and 9th District Rep. Jan Schakowsky announced their retirements. Both have held office for decades.

Here is everything you need to know about the midterms, candidates, highest profile races and voting in Illinois this year.

Illinois Primary Races and Candidates

Who is running for Illinois governor?

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is running for reelection in 2026, with several Republicans facing off in the March 17 primary to challenge him in November.

8H ago

Who is running for U.S. Senate in Illinois?

With U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin retiring at the end of his term, Illinois voters face a crowded ballot in the bid to fill a seat Durbin has held since 1997.

8H ago

Government Shutdown Looms As House And Senate Disagree On Funding Bill

Who is running in Illinois' 7th Congressional District?

With U.S. Rep. Danny Davis retiring at the end of his term, voters in Illinois' 7th Congressional District face a crowded ballot to elect a new representative for the first time in 30 years.

4H ago

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Who is running for the U.S. House in Illinois' 2nd Congressional District?

With U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly giving up her seat in the House to run for the Senate, voters in Illinois' 2nd Congressional District face a crowded ballot in the Democratic primary on March 17.

4H ago

Congress Returns To Capitol Hill After Summer Recess

Who is running for the U.S. House in Illinois' 8th Congressional District?

With U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi giving up his seat in the House to run for the Senate, voters in Illinois' 8th Congressional District face a crowded ballot in the Democratic primary on March 17.

4H ago

Voting Resources and Information

Illinois voter guide: How to vote in the 2026 primary and midterm elections

The Illinois primary for the 2026 midterm election will be held on March 17, 2026. The general midterm will be held on Nov. 3, 2026. Here's what you need to know to make sure you're ready to vote in Illinois.

4H ago

2026 Election Coverage

Who is running for the U.S. House in Illinois' 8th Congressional District?

With U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi giving up his seat in the House to run for the Senate, voters in Illinois' 8th Congressional District face a crowded ballot in the Democratic primary on March 17.

4H ago

Who is running for the U.S. House in Illinois' 2nd Congressional District?

With U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly giving up her seat in the House to run for the Senate, voters in Illinois' 2nd Congressional District face a crowded ballot in the Democratic primary on March 17.

4H ago

Who is running for the U.S. House in Illinois' 7th Congressional District?

With U.S. Rep. Danny Davis retiring at the end of his term, voters in Illinois' 7th Congressional District face a crowded ballot to elect a new representative for the first time in 30 years.

4H ago

Who is running for U.S. Senate in Illinois in the 2026 primary elections?

With U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin retiring at the end of his term, Illinois voters face a crowded ballot in the bid to fill a seat Durbin has held since 1997.

8H ago

Who is running for Illinois governor in the 2026 primary elections?

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is running for reelection in 2026, with several Republicans facing off in the March 17 primary to face him in the November general election.

8H ago

Trump Tax Bill Heads To Senate After Narrowly Passing House

Sen. Amy Klobuchar announces run for Minnesota governor

Sen. Amy Klobuchar on Thursday launched her campaign to be Minnesota's next governor, a surprise twist in the race for the top job in the state as it experiences an unprecedented immigration enforcement operation that's ignited a national debate.

Jan 29

Rep. Mike Quigley to run for mayor of Chicago in 2027, saying city is "in crisis"

Saying "Chicago is in crisis," U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley said he plans to run for mayor in 2027, even as he is in the midst of a congressional re-election campaign.

Jan 9

State Rep. Hoan Huynh running to succeed Schakowsky in Congress

Current Illinois State Rep. Hoan Huynh has entered the Democratic field to succeed Jan Schakowsky in the U.S. Congress.

Jul 2, 2025

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy And Ranking GOP Members Discuss Biden Administration's Withdrawal From Afghanistan

Supreme Court to consider reviving Republicans' Illinois election law challenge

GOP Rep. Michael Bost and two Republican presidential electors challenged Illinois' decision to count mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day.

Jun 2, 2025

FILE - Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., speaks at a rally on Capitol Hill in Washington, Sept. 28, 2022.

Illinois Rep. Jan Schakowsky not running for reelection in 2026

U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who represents Illinois' 9th District, is retiring at the end of her term and will not run for reelection in 2026.

May 5, 2025

Politics

Immigration officers in Minneapolis will start wearing body cameras, Noem says

All federal immigration agents in Minneapolis will begin wearing body cameras, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said Monday, a policy that could be rolled out nationwide.

3H ago

Who is running for the U.S. House in Illinois' 8th Congressional District?

With U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi giving up his seat in the House to run for the Senate, voters in Illinois' 8th Congressional District face a crowded ballot in the Democratic primary on March 17.

4H ago

Who is running for the U.S. House in Illinois' 2nd Congressional District?

With U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly giving up her seat in the House to run for the Senate, voters in Illinois' 2nd Congressional District face a crowded ballot in the Democratic primary on March 17.

4H ago

Who is running for the U.S. House in Illinois' 7th Congressional District?

With U.S. Rep. Danny Davis retiring at the end of his term, voters in Illinois' 7th Congressional District face a crowded ballot to elect a new representative for the first time in 30 years.

4H ago

Who is running for U.S. Senate in Illinois in the 2026 primary elections?

With U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin retiring at the end of his term, Illinois voters face a crowded ballot in the bid to fill a seat Durbin has held since 1997.

8H ago

Who is running for Illinois governor in the 2026 primary elections?

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is running for reelection in 2026, with several Republicans facing off in the March 17 primary to face him in the November general election.

8H ago

Illinois voter guide: How to vote in the 2026 primary and midterm elections

4H ago

Doorbell-Camera Company Ring Partners With Over 400 Police Departments, Raising Surveillance Concerns

Illinois partners with Ring to help domestic violence survivors

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is announcing a new partnership between Illinois and Amazon's doorbell camera company Ring to help domestic violence survivors.

9H ago

Bad Bunny says "ICE out" at Grammy Awards: "We're not aliens"

Bad Bunny used his Grammy acceptance speech on Sunday to denounce U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and call for the end of the ongoing immigration crackdown.

Feb 1

OTHER: JAN 17 The Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts

Kennedy Center to close for construction for 2 years, Trump says

Complete closure of the performing arts center in Washington, D.C., will start on July 4, Mr. Trump said. It's not yet clear how extensive the changes to the building might be.

5H ago