Trump’s support will be tested in key elections
President Donald Trump’s political power is under close scrutiny as politicians consider the power of his support.
The next election in this year’s election cycle is Illinois.
Voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, March 17, to cast their votes in primaries for various state and national seats. The results will determine which candidates will face off in November’s midterm elections, which are expected to send a strong signal about the country’s political climate in the midst of President Donald Trump’s second term.
Voting begins in Illinois at 6 a.m. Tuesday. If you are registered to vote in Illinois, you can find a sample ballot at the State Board of Elections.
Here’s what you need to know about the Illinois primary.
Illinois primary election
Voters in each of Illinois’ 17 congressional districts will elect one Republican and one Democrat on the November 2026 ballot to determine the winner of a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Currently, Illinois has 14 Democrats and 3 Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives.
There is plenty of room for new people to enter the House of Representatives in January 2027. Two Illinois House members, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthy and Rep. Robin Kelly, are currently running for Senate, while Rep. Jan Schakowsky, 81, and Rep. Danny Davis, 84, plan to retire. According to Ballotpedia, many candidates are in the race to fill the seat.
- 2nd District (Kerry): 10 Democrats, 2 Republicans
- District 7 (Davis): 13 Democrats, 2 Republicans
- District 8 (Krishnamoorthi): 8 Democrats, 4 Republicans
- 9th District (Shakowsky): 15 Democrats, 4 Republicans
Given the slim Republican House majority, Republicans could seek to maintain control, while Democrats could spearhead an opportunity to gain influence and rein in President Trump’s policies in his second term.
Illinois US Senate Primary
A U.S. Senate seat is up for grabs in Illinois after Sen. Dick Durbin, 81, announced his retirement in April 2025. Durbin serves alongside Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who took office in 2017.
Democratic candidates have been vying for public blessings from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who endorsed Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton in April 2025. Stratton is also backed by Duckworth and Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch.
Mr. Krishnamoorthi is leading the race in fundraising by more than $30 million, according to the Federal Election Commission. Stratton raised about $4 million. Other Democrats in the race include Kelly, Steve Botsford Jr., Sean Brown, Awisi Bastos, Jonathan Dean, Brian Maxwell, Kevin Ryan and Christopher Swan.
Among the Republican candidates, Don Tracy, former chairman of the Illinois Republican Party and former chairman of the Illinois Gaming Commission, raised the most money at $2.2 million, according to the FEC. He will face Republican candidates R. Carey Capparelli, Casey Klebeck, Jeannie Evans, Dr. Pamela Dennis Long, and Dr. Jimmy Lee Tillman II.
Illinois gubernatorial primary
Pritzker is looking at his campaign to become the first Democratic governor in the state’s history to serve a third term. Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run on the same ticket. Pritzker and Christian Mitchell are running unopposed in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, but will face the Republican winner in November.
Republican candidates include Darren Bailey and Aaron Del Mar. Ted Dabrowski and Dr. Carrie Mendoza. Rick Heidner, Christina Neitzke Troike, James Mendrick, and Dr. Robert Renteria.
immigrants on the front lines
Immigration is a key issue at the center of the Illinois primary. Illinois is a “sanctuary state” and refuses to cooperate with President Trump’s federal immigration crackdown. The president has sparred with Pritzker over the Midway Blitz in Chicago and threatened to deprive the state of federal funds. And Chicago has become the site of anti-ICE protests amid President Trump’s immigration crackdown. Durbin, a longtime supporter of liberal policies, has echoed his message in the Senate as an ardent supporter of immigrant rights.
