Illinois voters will soon head to the polls for the 2026 primary elections, which will take place on Tuesday, March 17. The primary elections will determine which candidates from each political party will move on to compete in the general elections in November. Although there is no presidential race in 2026, the election still includes several important local, state and federal offices that could shape Illinois politics for years to come.
Early voting has already begun in many parts of Illinois, including counties in the Chicagoland area. Additional early voting locations opened in early March to make it easier for voters to participate. Early voting will continue until the day before the election (March 16), while mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within two weeks afterward to be counted.
One of the most closely watched races in the 2026 primary is the contest for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Senator Dick Durbin, who announced he will retire after serving more than three decades in office. Because of this retirement, several candidates from both major political parties are competing in the primary to win their party’s nomination. The winners of those primaries will face each other in the general election in November.
Another major race on the ballot is for Illinois governor. Incumbent Democratic governor J.B. Pritzker is seeking another term and is currently running unopposed in the Democratic primary. On the Republican side, several candidates are competing to become the party’s nominee who will challenge Pritzker in the general election.
In addition to the senate and governor races, Illinois voters will also choose party nominees for all 17 congressional districts, along with other statewide offices such as Illinois Comptroller. Several congressional districts, including the 2nd, 7th, 8th and 9th districts, are expected to have particularly competitive primaries.
Primary elections are an important part of the democratic process because they allow voters to decide which candidates will represent their political party in the general election. In Illinois, voters must select a party ballot when they vote in the primary, meaning they can only vote for candidates within that party during the election.
17-year-olds who are registered to vote in Illinois and will turn 18 by the general election in November are eligible to vote in the primaries. To learn more about the races on the ballot and how to vote, make sure to visit https://www.ballotready.org/us/illinois.
As Election Day approaches, Illinois election officials are encouraging voters to check registration deadlines, research candidates, and plan how they will cast their ballots. With several important races on the ballot, the 2026 primary election will play a significant role in determining the political future of Illinois.