Representative Robin Kelly rounds out the major contenders, offering an alternative to a race that has otherwise been defined by the clash between Krishnamoorthi’s fund-raising and Stratton’s institutional support.

Republican Darren Bailey is taking on a different strategy in this campaign than the one four years ago, when he lost to Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker by 13 points.

Early voting for the 2026 primary election is right around the corner when voters will decide on nominees for local, state, and federal offices.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that veteran downstate Republican Rep. Mike Bost has standing to pursue a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Illinois’ election law that allows mail-in ballots postmarked or certified by Election Day to be counted up to 14 days later.

(The Center Square) – A U.S. Supreme Court ruling clears the way for U.S. Rep. Mike Bost to challenge Illinois’ law allowing mail-in ballots to be counted weeks after Election Day, a dispute that lower courts had previously refused to hear.

CHICAGO - Early voting for the 2026 primary election in Illinois will start soon, with voters having multiple opportunities to cast their ballot for several key local, state, and federal offices. While the primary election day is set for March 17, there will also be early voting via mail and in-person available weeks beforehand.

County clerks from across Illinois are urging voters to send in their mail ballots earlier than usual due to newly implemented U.S. Postal Service changes that could affect the postmark date and

Elections officers across Illinois are concerned delays in mail delivery could disrupt mail-in voting in upcoming elections.

The court's decision reverses a ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, which found that Bost lacked the legal standing to sue and affirmed a district court decision dismissing Bost's case. The Supreme Court sent the case back to the lower courts for further proceedings.

Supreme Court lets Rep. Mike Bost challenge Illinois' law allowing late vote-by-mail ballots, advancing election integrity debates in Murphysboro and beyond.