This St. Patrick’s Day, DuPage County voters can head to the polls in addition to sampling a green beer.

March 17 marks the 2026 primary, where voters can pull a Democratic or Republican ballot to pick who appears on the ballot come November. All voters, partisan or not, can weigh in on referendum questions.

Who has filed and how can I learn more about them?

Illinois governor and lieutenant governor: Incumbent JB Pritzker, a Democrat, has filed to run for reelection. He has named Christian Mitchell as his running mate after Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton announced her intention to run for the U.S. Senate.

Conservative research group Wirepoints president Ted Dabrowski, DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick, former state Sen. Darren Bailey and Gold Rush Gaming owner Rick Heidner of Barrington Hills have filed as Republicans.

The only other Democrat to file, Patricia L. Tillman of Chicago, was removed from the ballot following a successful objection as was Republicans Gregg Moore of Broadview and Joseph Severino of Lake Forest. Republican Max Solomon of Hazel Crest withdrew his candidacy.

• Coverage: “GOP governor candidates in McHenry say abolishing TRUST Act would end need for ICE raids”

Illinois attorney general: Incumbent Kwame Raoul, a Democrat, has filed to run for another term. Former Chicago alderman Bob Fioretti has filed to run as a Republican.

Republican Andy Williams Jr. of Darien was removed from the ballot following a successful objection and JoAnne Guillemette of Chicago withdrew after an objection was filed.

Illinois secretary of state: Alexi Giannoulias, an incumbent Democrat, has filed to run for reelection. Walter Adamczyk of Chicago and Joliet Junior College Trustee Diane M. Harris filed to run as Republicans.

• Diane Harris’ candidate questionnaire.

Illinois comptroller: Incumbent Susana Mendoza, a Democrat, is not running again. State Sen. Karina Villa of West Chicago, Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim of Mundelein, state Rep. Margaret Croke of Chicago and state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit of Oswego have filed to run as Democrats and and Bryan Drew of Benton as a Republican.

Champaign County Auditor George Danos, a Democrat, was removed from the ballot following a successful objection.

• Coverage: “4 Democrats seeking to replace Mendoza as Illinois comptroller”

Illinois treasurer: Incumbent Michael Frerichs, a Democrat, has filed to run for a fourth term.

U.S. Senate: Incumbent Dick Durbin, a Democrat, is not seeking reelection.

Casey Chlebek, former Illinois Republican Party Chair Don Tracy, R. Cary Capparelli of Chicago, Pamela Denise Long of Edwardsville, Jimmy Lee Tillman II of Chicago andJohn Goodman of Des Plaines Jeannie Evans of Chicago have filed to run as Republicans.

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton of Chicago, U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg, Kevin Ryan of Chicago, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly of Lynwood, Steve Botsford Jr. of Chicago, Jonathan Dean of Chicago, Sean Brown of Orland Park, Bryan Maxwell of Urbana, Awisi A. Bustos of Springfield and Christopher A. Swann of Chicago as Democrats. Independents Tyrone Muhammad and Austin J. Mink have also said they are running.

Democrats Adam Delgado of Chicago, Anthony Williams of Dolton and Jump Shepherd of North Riverside were removed from the ballot following successful objections as was CaSándra Claiborne of Chicago. Democrat Robert Palmer of Chicago and Republican John Goodman of Des Plaines withdrew as candidates.

U.S. House of Representatives: All 17 members of Congress representing Illinois are up in 2026. To find what district you live in, go to congress.gov/members/find-your-member.

• District 3: Delia Ramirez, a Democrat representing parts of Cook and DuPage counties, has filed to run for reelection. Angel Oakley of Wheaton filed to run as a Republican. Republican Spomenka Vajic of Chicago and Democrat Mark John Pasieka Sr. of Chicago were removed from the ballot following successful objections.
• District 4: Incumbent Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, a Democrat representing parts of Cook and DuPage counties, filed to run for reelection but then withdrew his candidacy. Lupe Castillo of Chicago has filed to run as a Republican, Ed Hershey of Chicago for the Working Class Party and Garcia’s chief of staff, Patty Garcia of Cicero, as a Democrat.
• District 6: Sean Casten, a Democrat representing parts of Cook and DuPage counties, has filed to run for reelection. Joseph “Joey” Ruzevich of Chicago also filed to run as a Democrat and Niki Conforti of Glen Ellyn and Skylar Duensing of Shorewood have filed to run as Republicans.
• District 8: Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat representing parts of Cook, DuPage and Kane counties, is not seeking reelection and instead running for the U.S. Senate. Neil Khot of Hoffman Estates, Kevin B. Morrison of Mount Prospect, Junaid Ahmed of South Barrington, Ryan Vetticad of South Barrington, Melissa L. Bean of Barrington, Yasmeen Bankole of Hanover Park, Dan Tully of Carol Stream and Sanjyot Dunnug of Des Plaines have filed as Democrats. Mark Rice of Arlington Heights, Jennifer Davis of Huntley, Kevin Ake of Elk Grove Village and Herbert Hebein of Chicago have filed as Republicans.
• District 11: Bill Foster, a Democrat representing parts of Boone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will, has filed to run for reelection. Elburn Village President Jeff Walter, Michael Pierce of Naperville and Charlie Kim of Aurora have filed as Republicans. Tedora Brown of Palos Park was removed from the ballot following a successful objection.

Illinois State Senate: Like its federal counterpart, only some of its members are up for reelection this year. In northern Illinois, that includes:

• District 21: Laura Ellman, a Democrat representing DuPage and Will counties, has filed to run for reelection. Julie Berkowicz of Naperville has filed to run as a Republican.
• District 23: Suzy Glowiak Hilton, a Democrat representing DuPage and Cook counties, has filed to run for reelection. Linda Z. Polacek of Lombard filed to run as a Republican
• District 24: Seth Lewis, a Republican representing DuPage and Cook counties, has filed to run for reelection. Benjamin “Ben” McAdams of Bloomingdale has filed as a Democrat.
• District 33: Don DeWitte, a Republican representing Kane, DuPage and McHenry counties, is not running for reelection. Michele Clark of Algonquin filed to run as a Democrat and Danielle Penman of St. Charles and Jessica Breugelmans of Geneva as Republicans. Satnaam Singh Mago, a Democrat from Wayne, withdrew his candidacy, and Cody Holt, a Republican from Elgin, was removed from the ballot following a successful objection.
• District 39: Don Harmon, a Democrat representing DuPage and Cook counties, has filed to run for reelection.
• District 41: Senate Minority Leader John F. Curran, a Republican representing Cook, DuPage and Will counties, has filed to run for reelection.
• District 42: Linda Holmes, a Democrat representing DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will counties, has filed to run for reelection. Edgardo “Eddie” Perez of Aurora filed as a Republican. Democrat Justin H.S. Breaux of Aurora was removed from the ballot following a successful objection.

Illinois House of Representatives: All state representative seats are up every two years. Among some of the races in northern Illinois:

• District 7: Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, a Democrat representing Cook and DuPage counties, has filed to run for reelection. Anabel Mendoza has filed to run as a Democrat.
• District 41: Janet Yang Rohr, a Democrat representing DuPage and Will counties, has filed to run for reelection. Ajay Gupta of Naperville has filed to run as a Republican.
• District 42: Terra Costa Howard, a Democrat representing DuPage County, is running for reelection. Margaret A. DeLaRosa of Glen Ellyn and Lynn LaPlante of Glen Ellyn have also filed as Democrats and Stephanie W. Trussell of Lisle filed as a Republican.
• Lynn LaPlante’s candidate questionnaire.
• District 45: Martha “Marti” Deuter, a Democrat representing Cook and DuPage counties, has filed to run for reelection. Gina Parrilli of Westmont has filed to run as a Republican.
• District 46: Diane Blair Sherlock, a Democrat representing DuPage County, has filed to run for reelection. Pedro Jovany Mendoza of Villa Park filed to run as a Republican.
• Diane Blair Sherlock’s candidate questionnaire.
• District 47: Amy L. Grant, a Republican representing DuPage County, is not running for reelection. Robert A. Vrankovich of Carol Stream has filed to run as a Republican and Erica Bray-Parker as a Democrat.
• District 48: Jennifer Sanalitro, a Republican representing Cook and DuPage counties, has filed to run for reelection. Amanda Zahorak of Itasca has filed to run as a Democrat.
• District 49: Maura Hirschauer, a Democrat representing Cook, Kane and DuPage counties, has filed to run for reelection. John Paul Augustynowicz of Warrenville has filed as a Republican.
• District 50: Barbara Hernandez, a Democrat representing Kane and DuPage counties, has filed to run for reelection.
• District 56: Michelle Mussman, a Democrat representing Cook and DuPage counties, is running for reelection. Edward “Ed” Lapinski of Des Plaines filed to run as a Republican. Fellow Republican Peter R. Dombrowski of Schaumburg was removed from the ballot following a successful objection.
• District 65: Dan Ugaste, a Republican representing DuPage and Kane counties, has filed to run for reelection. Ricky Rivard of St. Charles has filed to run as a Democrat.
• District 77: Norma Hernandez, a Democrat representing Cook and DuPage counties, has filed to run for reelection. Anthony Airdo of Melrose Park has filed to run as a Republican.
• District 81: Anne Stava, a Democrat representing DuPage County, has filed to run for reelection. Laura Hois of Downers Grove filed as a Republican.
• District 82: Nicole La Ha, a Republican representing Cook and DuPage counties, has filed to run for reelection.
• District 84: Stephanie A. Kifowit, a Democrat representing DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will counties, is not running for reelection as she is running for comptroller. Saba Haider and Jared Ploger, both of Aurora, have filed to run as Democrats and Brian Scopa of Naperville has filed to run as a Republican.
• District 85: Dagmara “Dee” Avelar, a Democrat representing DuPage and Will counties, has filed to run for reelection. Chris Metcalfe of Bolingbrook has filed as a Republican.

County-level races: Also on the ballot will be County Board members, county clerks, treasurers, sheriffs, assessors, and regional superintendents. Some counties also elect their Boards of Review, sanitary districts, and forest preserve district commissioners and president

What judicial races will I get to vote on?

Three vacancies are up at the Illinois appellate court level, according to an Illinois State Board of Elections list as of Sept. 3. Voters will also get to vote on retentions.

They include seats in the First, Third, and Fifth districts.

The First District includes just Cook County. Judith C. Rice of River Forest and Christopher Swann of Chicago filed to run as Democrats.

The Third Appellate District sits in Ottawa and includes Bureau, La Salle, DuPage, Will, Grundy, Kankakee, and Iroquois counties. Margaret “Peggy” O’Connell of Lisle and John Pavich of Frankfort has filed to run as Democrats and Jason A. Helland of Mazon and Mark Senak of Glen Ellyn has filed as Republicans.

The 5th District sits in Mt. Vernon and covers much of southern Illinois, including Vermilion, Champaign, Piatt, De Witt, Macon, Christian, Montgomery, Bond and Madison. Amy E. Sholar of Godfrey filed to run as a Republican.

Nearly 30 vacancies are up in Cook County. The candidates include:

• Six at-large seats: Linda Sackey of Chicago and Luz Maria Toledo of Palos Hills have filed to run as Democrats for the Cobbs vacancy. Michael Cabonargi of Wilmette and Ashonta C. Rice of Chicago have filed as Democrats for the Coghlan vacancy. Ava George Stewart of Chicago has filed as a Democrat for the Hooks vacancy and D’Anthony “Tony” Thedford of Chicago as a Democrat for the Karkula vacancy. Steven Q. McKenzie of Chicago has filed as a Democrat for the Burke vacancy.
• Three on the 1st Subcircuit: Radiance Ward and Natalie L., Howse, both of Chicago, have filed as Democrats for the Balanoff vacancy and Ashley Greer Shambley, Tiffany N. Brooks and Ginger Odom, all of Chicago, as Democrats for the Walker vacancy.
• Two on the 3rd Subcircuit: John Carroll of Riverside has filed as a Democrat for the Murphy vacancy and Martin Douglas Reggi of Cicero and Rachel Marrello of Riverside as Democrats for the Sherlock vacancy.
• Two on the 8th Subcircuit: Kathleen Cunniff Ori, Garson Fischer and Elizabeth Christina Dibler, all of Chicago, filed as Democrats for the Gamrath vacancy and Dan Balanoff, Lester Finkle and Katherine Carole Morrison, all of Chicago, as Democrats for the Mikva vacancy.
• Two on the 11th Subcircuit: John R. Carrozza, a Democrat from Elmwood Park, and Jarrett Knox, a Democrat from Oak Park, filed for the Meyerson vacancy, and Kim Przekota, a Democrat from Park Ridge, filed for the Roberts vacancy.
• Four on the 13th Subcircuit: Robert “Bob” Groebner, a Democrat from Inverness, filed for the Curry Jr. vacancy, Brittany Michelle Pedersen, a Democrat from Elgin, for the Martin C. Kelley vacancy, and Dan Naranjo, a Democrat from Barrington, for the O’Malley vacancy. William F. Kelley of Schaumburg has filed as a Democrat for the Thomas J. Kelley vacancy.
• Two on the 16th Subcircuit: Julian Sanchez Crozier, a Democrat from Chicago, filed for the Callie L. Baird seat, and Jessica Karina Veleza Democrat from Chicago, for the Patricia Mendoza seat.
• Two on the 17th Subcircuit: Meridth Hammer, a Democrat from Chicago, and Natalia Moore, a Democrat from Calumet City, filed for the Lloyd J. Brooks seat. Bianca B. Brown, a Democrat from Lynwood, and Amari Dawson of Homewood and André Thapedi of Chicago filed as Democrats for the James R. Carroll seat.
• Two on the 18th Subcircuit: Juan Ponce de Leon of Des Plaines filed as a Democrat for the Jeffrey G. Chrones seat and Sam Bae of Mount Prospect has filed as a Democrat for the Frank J. Andreou seat. Lynn Terese Palac, a Democrat from Arlington Heights, withdrew her candidacy for the Chrones seat.
• Two on the 19th Subcircuit: Sara McGann, a Democrat from Chicago, filed for the John A. Fairman seat, and Monica Somerville and Dave Condron, both Democrats from Chicago, and John Harkins, a Democrat from Palos Heights, for the Michael J. Kane seat. Jessica Megan Scheller, a Democrat from Chicago, withdrew her candidacy for the Kane seat.
• Two of the 20th Subcircuit: Jon Stromsta and Belle Katubig, both of Chicago, filed as Democrats for the Stephanie K. Miller seat and Michael J. Zink, also of Chicago, as a Democrat for the David E. Haracz seat.

More than 20 more seats are up across the rest of Illinois:

• 2nd Circuit, one in Edwards County, one in Richland and one in Wayne: Chelsey E. Clark of Olney and Mark A. McCormick of Richland both filed as Republicans for the Vaughn vacancy; Matthew E. Vaughn as a Republican for the Molt vacancy; and Brian T Shinkle of Browns for the Valentine v
• 3rd Circuit, which includes Madison and Bond counties, on the 2nd Subcircuit: Patrick G. King has filed as a Republican to run for the Stobbs vacancy on the 2nd Subcircuit.
• 4th Circuit, which includes nine counties in central Illinois: Phillip Givens of Louisville, Brenda Mathis of Ramsey, Aaron C. Jones of Effingham and Wesley A. Gozia of Salem filed as Republicans.
• 8th Circuit, two at-large seats, serving eight counties in western Illinois: Christopher W. Pratt of Quincy and Tim Bass of Paloma filed to run as Republicans for the Adrian vacancy, Gabriel “Gabe” Grosboll as a Republican for the Lannerd vacancy and Scott P. McClintock as a Republican for the Standard vacancy.
• 9th Circuit, one at-large seat and one in Warren County: Carissa Ann Bryant of Sciota filed to run as a Republican but was removed from the ballot following a successful objection.
• 10th Circuit, one in Peoria County: Timothy J. Cusack of Peoria has filed as a Republican and Michael P. Vespa of Peoria as a Democrat.
• 11th Circuit, one at-large, one in Livingston County and one in Woodford County: Gregory Michael Minger of Eureka filed as a Republican for the Feeney III vacancy.
• 12th Circuit, three total seats in the Will County circuit, one each in the 1st, 3rd and 5th subcircuits: John Paul Ivec of Plainfield has filed to run a Republican for the Carlson vacancy in the 1st Subcircuit and Amy Christiansen of Aurora as a Democrat for that vacancy. Sonni Choi Williams of Lockport filed to run as a Democrat for the Anderson vacancy on the 3rd Subcircuit. Erin O’Brien of Frankford and Art Smigielski of Homer Glen filed as Republicans for the Petrungaro vacancy in the 5th Subcircuit.
• 13th Circuit, one at-large member for the circuit, which includes La Salle, Grundy and Bureau counties: Melissa Olivero of Peru filed as a Democrat and Michelle A. Vescogni of Peru as a Republican.
• 14th Circuit, one in Rock Island County: Tionn Fambro Carter of Moline filed to run as a Democrat.
• 15th Circuit, one in Jo Daviess County and one in Stephenson County: John D. Hay has filed to run as a Republican for the Ward vacancy and Karla M. Niemann of Freeport and Judd Thruman of McConnell as Republicans for the Hauser vacancy.
• 17th Circuit in Winnebago and Boone counties, on the 1st and 2nd subcircuits: Paul Carpenter of Rockford and Erin C. Hannigan of Rockford filed to run as Democrats in the 1st Subcircuit and Scott Robinson of Rockton as a Republican in the 2nd Subcircuit.
• 18th Circuit in Winnebago and Boone counties, on the 4th and 5th subcircuits: Christina Kye and Michael W. Fleming, both of Elmhurst, filed to run as a Democrat for the Wilson vacancy on the 4th Subcircuit and Terra Costa Howard of Glen Ellyn as a Democrat in the 5th Subcircuit.

Important Dates

Feb. 5: Early voting starts and county clerks begin mailing vote-by-mail ballots.

March 1: Last day to register to vote online through the State Board of Elections’ website. Grace period registration and voting continues through Election Day.

March 17: Election Day for the 2026 primary. Polls close at 7 p.m. Voters can request a partisan ballot with either Democratic or Republican candidates listed or a non-partisan ballot, which includes any referndums.