Illinois Primary 2026 Candidates Lists: Complete Live Results Guide, Interactive Maps, County-by-County Breakdown

Today, March 17, 2026, marks a pivotal day in Illinois politics as voters across all 102 counties cast ballots in the state’s primary election. The results will determine which Democratic and Republican candidates move forward to the November general election.

With U.S. Senator Dick Durbin retiring after decades in office, the open Senate seat has turned the Democratic primary into one of the most competitive and expensive races in the country. Meanwhile, Governor JB Pritzker is seeking a third term while Republicans compete to find a challenger in a state that has leaned strongly Democratic in recent elections.

Polls closed at 7 PM Central Time, and early results are already beginning to appear from major counties such as Cook County. This guide provides a complete breakdown of Illinois Primary Election Results 2026 live, including key races, interactive maps, county-level trends, and the most reliable live result trackers.

Editorial Disclaimer:

Election results update throughout the evening as counties report additional precincts. The information in this article is based on publicly available election data and trusted reporting sources. For official and certified results, always refer to the Illinois State Board of Elections or your local county clerk website.

Illinois Primary 2026 Candidates for Major Races

Illinois Primary 2026 Candidates listed below qualified for the March 17 ballot according to the Illinois State Board of Elections. Short bios and key endorsements included for context.

U.S. Senate (Open Seat – Dick Durbin Retiring)

Democratic Primary (11 candidates)

• Raja Krishnamoorthi (U.S. Representative, 8th District): Leading fundraiser with over $12 million raised. Moderate on foreign policy, strong on tech and trade. Endorsed by several labor unions and suburban Democrats.
• Juliana Stratton (Lieutenant Governor): Pritzker’s running mate since 2018. First Black woman in the role. Focuses on criminal justice reform and women’s issues. Heavy backing from the governor and progressive groups.
• Robin Kelly (U.S. Representative, 2nd District): South suburban congresswoman. Former prosecutor. Emphasizes gun violence prevention and healthcare. Strong support in Chicago’s South Side and collar counties.
• Steve Botsford Jr. – Business owner from Naperville, outsider candidate pushing term limits.
• Sean Brown – Chicago activist, focuses on education equity.
• Awisi Bustos – Community organizer, progressive wing.
• Jonathan Dean – Former state senator candidate, moderate voice.
• Bryan Maxwell – Veteran and small-business advocate.
• Kevin Ryan – Downstate farmer and teacher union supporter.
• Christopher Swann – Chicago attorney emphasizing voting rights.
• Others with lower profiles or pending status (full list on elections.il.gov).

Republican Primary (6 candidates)

• Casey Chlebek – Former DuPage County official, moderate conservative.
• Jeannie Evans – Businesswoman from Springfield, pro-life focus.
• Jimmy Lee Tillman II – Chicago activist and Trump ally.
• Pamela Denise Long – Downstate educator.
• R. Cary Capparelli – Suburban attorney.
• Don Tracy – Former state senator, establishment Republican.

Governor & Lieutenant Governor (Paired Tickets)

Democratic Primary

JB Pritzker / Christian Mitchell – Incumbent governor seeking third term. Billionaire philanthropist, progressive on abortion, guns, and climate. Mitchell brings Chicago political experience. Virtually unopposed after other challengers withdrew.

Republican Primary (4 tickets)

Darren Bailey / Aaron B. Del Mar – State senator from downstate. 2022 nominee who came close. Strong MAGA support, anti-lockdown record. Ted Dabrowski / Carrie Mendoza – Fiscal conservative from Wirepoints think tank. Focus on property tax relief and school choice. James Mendrick / Robert Renteria – Will County Sheriff. Law-and-order platform. Rick Heidner / Christina Neitzke-Troike – Businessman and veteran ticket.

Other Key Statewide Offices

Attorney General: Kwame Raoul (D, incumbent) faces two minor challengers. Secretary of State: Alexi Giannoulias (D, incumbent) largely unopposed. State Treasurer: Michael Frerichs (D) cruising to renomination. Comptroller and other down-ballot races see mostly Democratic incumbents with token opposition.

U.S. House (17 Districts) Many incumbents unopposed on the Democratic side in safe seats (e.g., Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9). Competitive primaries in 6th, 8th, 14th, and 17th. Republicans have contested races in suburban and downstate districts. Check your district on the NPR or AP map for full local candidate lists.

Best Live Trackers for Illinois Primary Election Results 2026

Results are updating every few minutes. Here are the exact tools that deliver the fastest, most reliable data:

NPR Primary Results Map: Best overall. Real-time county shading, vote percentages, and turnout data. Click any county for Senate, Governor, and House breakdowns. Mobile-friendly and loads lightning fast.

AP News Illinois Primary Hub: Official wire service data used by every major network. County-level tables plus national context. Click race tabs and hover over

JB Pritzker / Christian Mitchell:q Incumbent governor seeking third term. Billionaire philanthropist, progressive on abortion, guns, and climate. Mitchell brings Chicago political experience. Virtually unopposed after other challengers withdrew.
Republican Primary (4 tickets)

Darren Bailey / Aaron B. Del Mar – State senator from downstate. 2022 nominee who came close. Strong MAGA support, anti-lockdown record.

Ted Dabrowski / Carrie Mendoza – Fiscal conservative from Wirepoints think tank. Focus on property tax relief and school choice.

James Mendrick / Robert Renteria – Will County Sheriff. Law-and-order platform.
Rick Heidner / Christina Neitzke-Troike – Businessman and veteran ticket.
Other Statewide Offices

Attorney General: Kwame Raoul (D, incumbent) faces two minor challengers.
Secretary of State: Alexi Giannoulias (D, incumbent) largely unopposed.
State Treasurer: Michael Frerichs (D) cruising to renomination.

Comptroller and other down-ballot races see mostly Democratic incumbents with token opposition.

U.S. House (17 Districts) Many incumbents unopposed on the Democratic side in safe seats (e.g., Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9). Competitive primaries in 6th, 8th, 14th, and 17th. Republicans have contested races in suburban and downstate districts. Check your district on the NPR or AP map for full local candidate lists.

Interactive Illinois Primary Election Results Map (Live)

Want visuals? These maps turn raw numbers into color-coded stories:

NPR Map: Load the page → click “U.S. Senate” tab → interactive Illinois map appears. Click any of the 102 counties for a pop-up showing leading candidate, vote share, and turnout. Switch to Governor or House with top tabs. Color intensity shows Democratic vs. Republican strength.

AP News Map: Click any major race → county map loads. Hover for percentages; click for full table including total votes cast. Zoom in on Chicago metro or downstate.

270toWin: Click “Illinois Primary” → district or county view. Toggle between parties. Excellent for seeing how suburban collar counties (DuPage, Will, Lake) are shifting.

The New Yorker Election Map: Artistic but accurate county shading. Great for big-picture urban-rural divide.
Start with NPR if you only have time for one—it’s the most user-friendly for beginners.

County-by-County Results Strategy: What to Watch Tonight

Illinois is two states in one. Here’s the breakdown:

Cook County (Chicago + suburbs): 40% of Democratic vote. Expect Krishnamoorthi or Stratton to dominate here. Early numbers from Chicago wards will give the first clue on Senate momentum.

Collar Counties (DuPage, Will, Lake, Kane, McHenry): Suburban swing areas. Moderate Republicans and Pritzker-supporting Democrats. Watch for Bailey vs. Dabrowski in GOP governor race—DuPage usually favors fiscal conservatives.

Downstate (everything south of I-80): Conservative heartland. Republican primary turnout will be key. Bailey expected to sweep rural counties. Democratic Senate race will be low-turnout but Stratton may pick up union support in places like St. Clair and Madison.

Key battlegrounds: Peoria, Champaign (college influence), and Rock Island (union towns). If turnout exceeds 28% statewide, Pritzker’s path to November becomes even stronger. If rural turnout spikes, Republicans may feel energized.

Early projections (as of 11 PM CT): Krishnamoorthi holding narrow lead in Senate; Pritzker at 85%+ in Democratic governor primary; Bailey leading GOP side with 45%.

What These Results Mean for November and Key Storylines

A Krishnamoorthi nomination would signal suburban moderates winning the day—good news for Democrats holding the Senate seat. A Stratton win would energize progressives and Black voters but might alienate moderates in downstate. On the Republican side, if Bailey wins again, it sets up another lopsided general election; a Dabrowski victory could mean a sharper focus on taxes and schools.

Watch these storylines: Turnout gap between Chicago and downstate. Women candidates (Stratton, Kelly, Evans) performance. Money vs. grassroots: Krishnamoorthi’s fundraising edge. Any surprise in U.S. House districts—especially open or competitive seats.

The winner of the Democratic Senate primary becomes the overwhelming favorite in November. Illinois hasn’t elected a Republican senator since 2010.

Election Night Tips & How to Follow

Set alerts on ABC7 and NBC Chicago apps. Follow @ILBOV on X and the state elections Twitter for official updates. Avoid unverified social media screenshots—stick to AP and NPR. For your specific county, bookmark the Clarity Elections link tonight.

If you’re in Portland or anywhere outside Illinois, the NPR map works perfectly on mobile. Results should be 90% reported by 1 AM CT, with final certification in coming weeks.

Conclusion:

The Illinois Primary Election Results 2026 mark a major turning point as voters decide who will move forward to the November general election. With an open U.S. Senate seat and a competitive Republican governor primary, tonight’s results will shape Illinois politics for years to come.

As counties continue reporting results throughout the evening, expect updates from Chicago, suburban counties, and downstate regions that will clarify the final outcome. Stay with trusted sources and official election websites as the numbers continue to update.

Top 10 FAQs About Illinois Primary 2026

What time do polls close in the Illinois 2026 primary election?

Polls across all 102 counties closed at exactly 7:00 PM Central Time on March 17, 2026. Early voting sites and mail ballots were accepted until the deadline, and first unofficial results from urban precincts in Cook County began appearing on live trackers shortly after 8:00 PM ET. Most counties aim to report at least 50% of votes by midnight, with full certification coming in the following weeks.

Who are the leading candidates for the open U.S. Senate seat in Illinois 2026?

On the Democratic side, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Juliana Stratton, and Robin Kelly are the top three contenders. Krishnamoorthi leads in fundraising, Stratton has strong progressive and gubernatorial backing, and Kelly draws South Side support. On the Republican side, Darren Bailey’s allies and Don Tracy are notable, but the GOP field remains fragmented.

Is Governor JB Pritzker running unopposed for a third term?

Yes. In the Democratic primary, JB Pritzker paired with Christian Mitchell faces virtually no serious opposition. Other potential challengers withdrew months ago, making his renomination a near-certainty. Republicans have four competing tickets, with Darren Bailey currently the frontrunner among them.

How can I check live results for my specific county in Illinois?

The fastest way is to search Google for “[Your County Name] Illinois election results 2026” or visit elections.il.gov and click the link to your county clerk’s Clarity Elections portal. Cook County, DuPage, Will, and Lake all have dedicated dashboards that update every few minutes with precinct-level data.

Which website has the best interactive county map for Illinois primary results?

NPR’s map at apps.npr.org/primary-election-results-2026/states/IL.html is widely regarded as the best. It lets you click any county for instant vote shares, turnout numbers, and race filters. AP News and 270toWin are strong runners-up with clean tables and hover features.

Can independent voters participate in the Illinois primary?

No. Illinois uses a closed primary system. Only registered Democrats can vote in the Democratic primary, and only registered Republicans can vote in the Republican primary. Independents must choose a party ballot or sit out the primary and wait for the November general election.

When will winners be projected for the major races tonight?

Senate and Governor races are expected to be called by midnight Central Time in most cases. Cook County’s early numbers usually give enough data for networks to project Democratic winners. Full statewide results with 90% of precincts reporting should be available by 1:00 AM CT.

How many counties does Illinois have and which one reports first?

Illinois has exactly 102 counties. Cook County (home to Chicago) always reports first and accounts for roughly 40% of the Democratic primary vote. Suburban collar counties like DuPage and Will follow closely, while rural downstate counties report later.

Who is favored to win the Democratic U.S. Senate primary according to early polls and fundraising?

Raja Krishnamoorthi holds the edge due to superior fundraising ($12+ million) and moderate appeal in suburbs. Juliana Stratton is a close second thanks to Governor Pritzker’s machine and progressive support. Final results will depend heavily on Chicago and collar-county turnout tonight.

Where can I find the official full list of all candidates and ballot information?

Visit the official Illinois State Board of Elections website at elections.il.gov. Click “Candidate List” or “2026 Primary Ballot” for the complete certified list by party and race. County clerks also post PDFs of sample ballots specific to your precinct.