2026 Illinois Senate election
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39 of 59 seats in the Illinois Senate 30 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Illinois |
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The 2026 Illinois Senate election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect members of the Illinois Senate from two-thirds of districts.[1]
Retirements
Democratic
- District 9: Laura Fine is retiring to run for the U.S. House of Representatives in Illinois's 9th congressional district.[2]
- District 27: Mark L. Walker is retiring.[3]
Republican
- District 33: Don DeWitte is retiring.[4]
- District 59: Dale Fowler is retiring.[5]
List of districts
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District 2 • District 3 • District 5 • District 6 • District 8 • District 9 • District 11 • District 12 • District 14 • District 15 • District 17 • District 18 • District 20 • District 21 • District 23 • District 24 • District 26 • District 27 • District 29 • District 30 • District 32 • District 33 • District 35 • District 36 • District 38 • District 39 • District 41 • District 42 • District 44 • District 45 • District 47 • District 48 • District 50 • District 51 • District 53 • District 54 • District 56 • District 57 • District 59 |
District 2
The 2nd district encompasses the Chicago neighborhoods of Ukrainian Village, Humboldt Park, and Belmont Cragin.[6] The incumbent is Democrat Omar Aquino, who was re-elected in 2022 with 100% of the vote.[7]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Potential
- Omar Aquino, incumbent state senator
District 3
The 3rd district encompasses the Chicago neighborhoods of Woodlawn, West Englewood, and Printer's Row.[6] The incumbent is Democrat Mattie Hunter, who was re-elected in 2022 with 100% of the vote.[7]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Potential
- Mattie Hunter, incumbent state senator
District 5
The 5th district encompasses the Chicago neighborhoods of West Garfield Park, Little Italy, and Pulaski Park.[6] The incumbent is Democrat Patricia Van Pelt, who was re-elected in 2022 with 100% of the vote.[7]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Potential
- Patricia Van Pelt, incumbent state senator
District 6
The 6th district includes the lakefront neighborhoods of Lake View, Lincoln Park, Buena Park and the Near North Side in the city of Chicago.[6] The incumbent is Democrat Sara Feigenholtz, who was re-elected in 2022 with 100% of the vote.[7]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
- Nick Uniejewski, policy analyst and community organizer[8]
Potential
- Sara Feigenholtz, incumbent state senator
Endorsements
- Local officials
- Dick Simpson, former Chicago alderman (1971–1979)[9]
District 8
The 8th district includes the suburban towns of Niles and Lincolnwood.[6] The incumbent is Democrat Ram Villivalam, who was re-elected in 2022 with 100% of the vote.[7]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Potential
- Ram Villivalam, incumbent state senator
District 9
The 9th district includes the suburban towns of Glenview, Evanston, and Winnetka.[6] The incumbent is Democrat Laura Fine, who was re-elected in 2022 with 71.8% of the vote.[7] In May 2025, Fine announced that she would run for the U.S. House of Representatives in Illinois's 9th congressional district.[2]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
- Patrick Hanley, president of the New Trier Democrats[10]
- Rachel Ruttenberg, deputy committeeperson of the Evanston Democratic Party[11]
Declined
- Laura Fine, incumbent state senator (running for IL-09)[2]
Endorsements
- U.S. representatives
- Jan Schakowsky, U.S. representative from Illinois's 9th congressional district (1999–present)[10]
- State legislators
- Robyn Gabel, majority leader of the Illinois House of Representatives (2023–present) from the 18th district (2010–present)[11]
- Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, state representative from the 17th district (2019–present)[11]
- Tracy Katz Muhl, state representative from the 57th district (2024–present)[10]
District 11
The 11th district includes all or parts of Bedford Park, Berwyn, Bridgeview, Brookfield, Burbank, Cicero, Countryside, Hodgkins, Justice, La Grange, La Grange Park, North Riverside, Riverside, Summit and the Chicago neighborhoods of Ashburn, Clearing, Garfield Ridge, West Elsdon, and West Lawn.[6] The incumbent is Democrat Mike Porfirio, who was elected in 2022 with 66.2% of the vote.[7]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Potential
- Mike Porfirio, incumbent state senator
District 12
The 12th district includes the neighborhoods of South Lawndale, Brighton Park, and Chinatown.[6] The incumbent is Democrat Celina Villanueva, who was elected in 2022 with 100% of the vote.[7]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Potential
- Celina Villanueva, incumbent state senator
District 14
The 14th district stretches from the neighborhood of Princeton Park in Chicago to the suburban communities of Blue Island, Tinley Park, and Orland Park.[6] The incumbent is Democrat Emil Jones III, who was re-elected in 2022 with 100% of the vote.[7]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Potential
- Emil Jones III, incumbent state senator
District 15
The 15th district stretches from the town of Kankakee to the suburban communities of Dolton, Harvey, Oak Forest, and Flossmoor.[6] The incumbent is Democrat Napoleon Harris, who was re-elected in 2022 with 100% of the vote.[7]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Potential
- Napoleon Harris, incumbent state senator
District 17
The 17th district stretches from the town of Aroma Park, Illinois to the suburban communities of South Chicago, Hammond, and Lansing.[6] The incumbent is Democrat Elgie Sims, who was re-elected in 2022 with 100% of the vote.[7]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Potential
- Elgie Sims, incumbent state senator
District 18
The 18th district includes the suburban communities of Orland Park, Oak Lawn, and Evergreen Park.[6] The incumbent is Democrat Bill Cunningham, who was re-elected in 2022 with 59.4% of the vote.[7]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Potential
- Bill Cunningham, incumbent state senator
District 20
The 20th district includes the neighborhoods of Logan Square, Hermosa, and Albany Park in the city of Chicago.[6] The incumbent is Democrat Cristina Pacione-Zayas, who was re-elected in 2022 with 86.3% of the vote.[7]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Potential
- Cristina Pacione-Zayas, incumbent state senator
District 21
The 21st district includes the cities of Lombard, Glen Ellyn, and Naperville.[6] The incumbent is Democrat Laura Ellman, who was re-elected in 2022 with 58.8% of the vote.[7]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Potential
- Laura Ellman, incumbent state senator
District 23
The 23rd district includes the communities of Glendale Heights, Glen Ellyn, Villa Park, and Westmont.[6] The incumbent is Democrat Suzy Glowiak, who was re-elected in 2022 with 54.6% of the vote.[7]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Potential
- Suzy Glowiak, incumbent state senator
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
- Linda Polacek, York Center Park District commissioner[8]
District 24
The 24th district includes the communities of Warrenville, Wheaton, Carol Stream, and Wood Dale.[6] The incumbent is Republican Seth Lewis, who was elected in 2022 with 51.9% of the vote.[7]
Republican primary
Candidates
Potential
- Seth Lewis, incumbent state senator
District 26
The 26th district includes the communities of Wauconda, Palatine, and Algonquin.[6] The incumbent is Republican Darby Hills, who was appointed to the seat in February 2025, following the resignation of then-state senator Dan McConchie.[12] McConchie was re-elected with 50.2% of the vote in 2022.[7]
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
- Darby Hills, incumbent state senator[13]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
- Nabeela Syed, state representative from the 51st district (2023–present)[14]
District 27
The 27th district encompasses the communities of Arlington Heights, Illinois and Mount Prospect.[6] The incumbent is Democrat Mark L. Walker, who was elected in 2024 with 57.6% of the vote.[15]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
- Carina Santa Maria, Arlington Heights trustee[16]
Declined
- Mark L. Walker, incumbent state senator[3]
District 29
The 29th district includes the communities of Lake Forest, Highland Park, Northbrook, and Deerfield.[6] The incumbent is Democrat Julie Morrison, who was re-elected in 2022 with 100% of the vote.[7]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
- Julie Morrison, incumbent state senator[17]
District 30
The 30th district stretches from the city of Waukegan to the communities of Mundelein, Vernon Hills, and Wheeling.[6] The incumbent is Democrat Adriane Johnson, who was re-elected in 2022 with 100% of the vote.[7]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Potential
- Adriane Johnson, incumbent state senator
District 32
The 32nd district contains parts of Lake and McHenry counties, including the communities of Woodstock, McHenry, Spring Grove, and Antioch.[6] The incumbent is Republican Craig Wilcox, who was re-elected in 2022 with 55.9% of the vote.[7]
Republican primary
Candidates
Potential
- Craig Wilcox, incumbent state senator
District 33
The 33rd district includes the northeast corner of Kane County as well as the communities of Lake in the Hills and Crystal Lake in McHenry County.[6] The incumbent is Republican Don DeWitte, who was re-elected in 2022 with 100% of the vote.[7]
Republican primary
Candidates
Declined
- Don DeWitte, incumbent state senator[4]
District 35
The 35th district includes portions of Boone, DeKalb, Kane, McHenry, and Winnebago counties.[6] The incumbent is Republican Dave Syverson, who was re-elected in 2022 with 100% of the vote.[7]
Republican primary
Candidates
Potential
- Dave Syverson, incumbent state senator
District 36
The 36th district contains portions of Rock Island County, Henry County, Mercer County, Knox County, McDonough County, and Warren County.[6] The incumbent is Democrat Michael Halpin, who was elected in 2022 with 54.6% of the vote.[7]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
- Michael Halpin, incumbent state senator[18]
District 38
The 38th district includes portions of DeKalb, Grundy, Kendall, and LaSalle counties.[6] The incumbent is Republican Sue Rezin, who was re-elected in 2022 with 100% of the vote.[7]
Republican primary
Candidates
Potential
- Sue Rezin, incumbent state senator
District 39
The 39th district includes the communities of Oak Park, Elmwood Park, Franklin Park, and Addison in the suburbs of Chicago, as well as the O'Hare International Airport.[6] The incumbent is Democrat Don Harmon, the president of the Illinois Senate, who was re-elected in 2022 with 100% of the vote.[7]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Potential
- Don Harmon, incumbent state senator
District 41
The 41st district includes the communities of Downers Grove, Woodridge, Darien, and Lemont.[6] The incumbent is Republican John Curran, the minority leader of the Illinois Senate, who was re-elected in 2022 with 100% of the vote.[7]
Republican primary
Candidates
Potential
- John Curran, incumbent state senator
District 42
The 42nd district includes all or parts of Aurora, Boulder Hill, Montgomery, Naperville, North Aurora and Oswego.[6] The incumbent is Democrat Linda Holmes, who was re-elected in 2022 with 60.3% of the vote.[7]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Potential
- Linda Holmes, incumbent state senator
Republican primary
Candidates
Potential
- Eddie Perez, U.S. Air Force veteran[19]
District 44
The 44th district includes all or portions of DeWitt, Logan, Macon, McLean, Piatt, and Tazewell counties in central Illinois.[6] The incumbent is Republican Sally Turner, who was re-elected in 2022 with 100% of the vote.[7]
Republican primary
Candidates
Potential
- Sally Turner, incumbent state senator
District 45
The 45th district includes all or portions of Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago counties in northwestern Illinois.[6] The incumbent is Republican Andrew Chesney, who was elected in 2022 with 66.4% of the vote.[7]
Republican primary
Candidates
Potential
- Andrew Chesney, incumbent state senator
District 47
The 47th district includes all of Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, and Mason counties, as well as parts of Adams, Henry, Knox, McDonough, Mercer, Peoria, Schuyler, Stark, Tazewell, and Warren counties.[6] The incumbent is Republican Neil Anderson, who was re-elected in 2022 with 100% of the vote.[7]
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
- Neil Anderson, incumbent state senator[20]
District 48
The 48th district stretches between the cities of Springfield and Decatur, including the communities of Rochester, Edinburg, and Mount Auburn.[6] The incumbent is Democrat Doris Turner, who was elected in 2022 with 50.9% of the vote.[7]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
- Doris Turner, incumbent state senator[21]
District 50
The 50th district covers a large swath of west-central Illinois, including all of Adams, Brown, Cass, Hancock, Henderson, Mason, McDonough, Schuyler, Warren counties and portions of Fulton and Knox counties.[6] The incumbent is Republican Jil Tracy, who was re-elected in 2022 with 100% of the vote.[7]
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
District 51
The 51st district includes all or portions of Champaign, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Jasper, Lawrence, and Vermilion counties.[6] The incumbent is Republican Chapin Rose, who was re-elected in 2022 with 100% of the vote.[7]
Republican primary
Candidates
Potential
- Chapin Rose, incumbent state senator
District 53
The 53rd district includes all or portions of Bureau, Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, LaSalle, Marshall, McLean, Peoria, Putnam, Tazewell, Will, and Woodford counties in central Illinois.[6] The incumbent is Republican Chris Balkema, who was elected in 2024 with 100% of the vote.[15]
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
- Chris Balkema, incumbent state senator[23]
District 54
The 54th district includes all or portions of Christian, Effingham, Macoupin, Macon, Menard, Montgomery, Moultrie, Sangamon, and Shelby counties.[6] The incumbent is Republican Steve McClure, who was re-elected in 2022 with 100% of the vote.[7]
Republican primary
Candidates
Potential
- Steve McClure, incumbent state senator
District 56
The 56th district includes the cities of East Alton, Edwardsville, Granite City, and Collinsville. The incumbent is Republican Erica Harriss, who was elected in 2022 with 51.4% of the vote.[7]
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
- Erica Harriss, incumbent state senator[24]
District 57
The 57th district encompasses most of St. Clair County, including the communities of Belleville, Mascoutah, and Cahokia Heights.[6] The incumbent is Democrat Christopher Belt, who was re-elected in 2022 with 57.7% of the vote.[7]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Potential
- Christopher Belt, incumbent state senator
District 59
The 59th district encompasses the southern tip of Illinois, including all or portions of Alexander, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union, White, and Williamson counties.[6] The incumbent is Republican Dale Fowler, who was re-elected in 2022 with 100% of the vote.[7]
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
- Paul Jacobs, state representative from the 118th district (2023–present)[25]
Declined
- Dale Fowler, incumbent state senator[5]
References
- ^ "Illinois State Senate elections, 2026". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
- ^ a b c Eadie, Matthew (May 6, 2025). "Laura Fine launches bid for Congress". Evanston Now. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
- ^ a b Keeshan, Charles (July 29, 2025). "State Sen. Mark Walker won't seek reelection in 2026". Daily Herald. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ^ a b Sarkauskas, Susan (July 19, 2025). "State Sen. DeWitte won't seek reelection". Daily Herald. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
- ^ a b Heller, Marsha (July 25, 2025). "Ill. State Sen. Fowler will not seek reelection". KFVS-TV. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al "IL 2022 State Senate". Daves Redistricting. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak "2022 Election Results". www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
- ^ a b "Who's running (so far) for Illinois' open Congressional seats in 2026". The Daily Line. July 31, 2025. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
- ^ Kapos, Shia (June 25, 2025). "Pritzker to run for a 3rd term". Politico. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
- ^ a b c Coughlin, Joe (May 9, 2025). "New Trier Dems' Hanley announces bid for state senate — with Schakowsky endorsement in tow". The Record. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
- ^ a b c Harrison, Alex (May 9, 2025). "Local Dem leaders running for state senator open midterm downballot contests". Evanston RoundTable. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
- ^ Sadin, Steve (April 18, 2025). "New state Sen. Darby Hills introduces first bill; 'I'm going to … focus on what matters'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
- ^ Kapos, Shia (August 5, 2025). "Texas hold'em in Illinois". Politico. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ^ Kapos, Shia (July 31, 2025). "Danny Davis is making news". Politico. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
- ^ a b "2024 General Primary Results". www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
- ^ Placek, Christopher (August 4, 2025). "Arlington Heights trustee launches bid for state Senate seat". Daily Herald. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
- ^ "State Sen. Julie Morrison announces her bid for re-election in the 29th District". Chicago Tribune. July 14, 2025. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
- ^ Watt, Anthony (July 3, 2025). "State Sen. Mike Halpin announces he will run for reelection". The Dispatch / The Rock Island Argus. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
- ^ Smith, R. Christian (June 30, 2025). "Eddie Perez announces run for Illinois State Senate 42nd District seat". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
- ^ Geyer, Thomas (July 13, 2025). "Illinois State Senator Neil Anderson announces reelection bid". Quad-City Times. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
- ^ Moore, Brenden (August 9, 2025). "Doris Turner pledges 'all gas, no brakes' in Illinois Senate reelection bid". Herald & Review. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
- ^ "Tracy to run for re-election to the Illinois Senate in the 50th District". WGEM-TV. June 24, 2025. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
- ^ Seabaugh, Josh (July 10, 2025). "Senator Chris Balkema announces re-election campaign for Illinois' 53rd District". WMBD-TV. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
- ^ Murphy, Derek (June 30, 2025). "Senator Erica Harriss Launches Re-Election Campaign, Vows to Keep Standing Up for Metro East Families". RiverBender.com. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
- ^ Heisserer, Brian (July 25, 2025). "State Rep. Jacobs to run for State Sen. Fowler's seat in 2026". KFVS-TV. Retrieved July 25, 2025.