Candidates in the 2026 political race are now granted permission to initiate petition drives, with the goal of securing a spot on the election ballot.
The election season in Illinois is officially underway, with the March 2026 primary election set to be a significant event. Among the key races, the U.S. Senate election is shaping up to be the most prominent, featuring a primary for both parties.
In the U.S. Senate race, multiple Republican contenders have declared or expressed interest, including Doug Bennett, R. Cary Capparelli, Casey Chlebek, John Goodman, Pamela Long, and potential candidates like Mark Curran (former Lake County Sheriff), Jim Durkin, and Mary Miller. On the Democratic side, Rod Blagojevich has publicly expressed interest.
Locally, counties such as Cook and Will will hold primary elections for various positions, including county offices like sheriff, county board, and precinct committee roles. Cook County's Democratic Party has slotted candidates for numerous positions, though the specific races like sheriff in Cook County have not been detailed yet. Will County, on the other hand, has indicated that countywide and precinct positions will be on the ballot for the March 17, 2026, primary.
Candidate filing for various county and local races, including sheriff and county board seats, begins on October 27, 2025. This means that multiple candidates have already announced their intention to run for sheriff in counties like Bureau, with the full slate of candidates becoming clearer as filings open and parties endorse candidates closer to the primary.
In addition to the U.S. Senate race and county races, various statehouse seats are up for grabs in the election. Moreover, judicial elections are also part of the 2026 Illinois election cycle, comprising partisan and retention contests.
The nominating petitions for established party candidates in Illinois can be circulated starting Tuesday, and the election season promises to be an exciting one, with a wide array of candidates vying for various positions across the state. Stay tuned for more updates as the election season unfolds.
Policy-and-legislation discussions are inevitable as the election season in Illinois progresses, with key races including the U.S. Senate election and various statehouse seats. Politics related to these races will be extensively covered in general news media as the March 2026 primary election approaches.
