What to Watch in the Illinois Primaries

Voters in Illinois will head to the polls on March 17 to nominate candidates for Congress and other offices ahead of the 2026 midterms.

The most closely watched race is the Democratic primary to succeed longtime Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who announced last year that he would not run for reelection. The top candidates in the latest polls are Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) and Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), as well as Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who has been endorsed by Gov. JB Pritzker.

The candidates hold similar positions on most issues. In a Jan. 29 debate on ABC affiliate WLS-TV, all three candidates supported major changes to federal immigration enforcement and called for abolishing or dismantling Immigration and Customs Enforcement, while supporting pathways to citizenship for Dreamers and other long-term illegal immigrants.

They all said the United States is facing a constitutional crisis under President Donald Trump and emphasized the need for stronger congressional oversight and institutional reforms. Additionally, they argued that a president should seek congressional approval before taking major military action, except in emergencies.

The Trump administration has rejected the accusation that it is creating a constitutional crisis.

“Many outlets in this room have been fearmongering the American people into believing there is a constitutional crisis taking place here at the White House … but in fact the real constitutional crisis is taking place within our judicial branch,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a news briefing last year.

The administration has also rejected calls to seek congressional authorization before using military force.

On economic policy, the candidates broadly support higher wages, expanded housing assistance, tax changes targeting wealthy individuals and corporations, and stronger food security programs. However, they differ on the appropriate level for a new federal minimum wage. In a Feb. 19 debate on WGN-TV, Kelly and Krishnamoorthi suggested $17 per hour, while Stratton called for $25 per hour.

The candidates also diverge somewhat on health care policy. Stratton and Kelly support Medicare for All and argue that health care should be a universal right. Krishnamoorthi has instead advocated for a public option, expanded Medicaid, and incremental reforms, although he said he would support Medicare for All if it reached a Senate vote.

Foreign policy has produced another point of disagreement. Krishnamoorthi and Stratton said Israel did not commit genocide in the Gaza Strip, while Kelly said she believed that it did. Israel has denied the accusation, and the United States government has taken the same position. All three candidates said Iran should not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons but indicated that they would prefer a diplomatic solution over military action.

Seven Republicans are competing in their Senate primary, including geography teacher R. Cary Capparelli, occupational therapist Pamela Denise Long, and attorney Don Tracy. No polls have been conducted during the primary.

Capparelli’s campaign focuses on bringing jobs back to Illinois and advocating for farmers. Long has emphasized economic growth, parental rights, border security, public safety, and health and well-being. Tracy has pledged to lower the cost of living for working families, promote what he describes as “common-sense solutions,” and represent the entire state, not just Chicago.

House Races

The Senate race is not the only contest drawing attention in the Prairie State.

Of the 17 congressional seats in Illinois, five are open this year, the largest number of open House seats in the state in at least 70 years. In these districts, the Democratic primary winner is expected to be favored in the general election because of the districts’ strong Democratic lean.

The largest field is in the state’s Ninth Congressional District, where 15 Democrats are competing to replace retiring Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.). They include Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, content creator Kat Abughazaleh, and state Sen. Laura Fine. Polls show Biss leading the pack.

Republicans running include software writer Paul Friedman, information technology consultant Mark Su, and community activist John Elleson.

Thirteen Democrats are running to succeed retiring Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.) in the state’s Seventh Congressional District. They include community organizer Kina Collins, who unsuccessfully challenged Davis in 2020, 2022, and 2024, and state Rep. La Shawn Ford. A poll shows Ford ahead.

The small GOP field consists of former investment adviser Patricia Easley and school board member Chad Koppie.

Meanwhile, in the Second Congressional District, 11 Democrats are looking to replace Kelly. They include former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), son of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson, and Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller. Polls commissioned by the Jackson and Miller campaigns show the former congressman with a big lead.

Truck driver Mike Noack is the only Republican running in that district.

In the Eighth Congressional District, the eight Democrats running to succeed Krishnamoorthi include former Rep. Melissa Bean (D-Ill.), tech consultant Junaid Ahmed, Hanover Park trustee Yasmeen Bankole, and Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison.

The Republican candidates are accountant Kevin Ake, investor Mark Rice, service technology company founder Jennifer Davis, and retired police officer Herbert Hebein.

Finally, in the Fourth Congressional District, the presumptive Democratic nominee is Patty Garcia, chief of staff for Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-Ill.), who decided at the last minute to end his reelection campaign, leaving his chief of staff as the sole candidate on the Democratic ballot by the time the filing deadline passed.

Pharmacy technician Lupe Castillo is the presumptive GOP nominee.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.