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There’s nothing like St. Patrick’s Day in Illinois.
Results from a busy primary election as of Wednesday morning, March 18, show blue states poised to choose their next slate of congressional leaders. The Senate, House and gubernatorial races were highlighted by the opportunity to replace longtime incumbent Sen. Dick Durbin, a liberal stalwart who is retiring after first being elected in 1996.
Here are the primary election results and what they mean for November’s midterm elections.
Senate election results
All eyes are on the Illinois Senate election to be held in 2026. Durbin, 81, is in contention for a seat in the U.S. Senate after announcing his retirement in April 2025. Durbin’s opening comes as Republicans struggle to maintain a majority on Capitol Hill that would ensure the success of President Donald Trump’s policies in a second term. Both Illinois senators are currently Democrats, with Durbin serving alongside Sen. Tammy Duckworth. Democrats in faithfully blue states are trying to lock down their strongholds.
On the Democratic ticket, Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton won by 40%, according to the Associated Press and CNN. She defeated Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthy, who had topped the polls in campaign funding. Stratton, backed by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, will bring a more progressive agenda to the Capitol. She said she would not support Sen. Chuck Schumer as Democratic leader and advocated abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. If she wins in November, Stratton could become the sixth Black woman ever to serve in the Senate.
Stratton will face Republican Don Tracy, who won by a 39.8% margin, according to the Associated Press and CNN. Tracy is a former chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, a heavily Democratic state.
House race results
There is plenty of room for new members to enter the House of Representatives in January 2027. Voters in each of Illinois’ 17 congressional districts have cast their votes for one Republican and one Democrat on the November 2026 ballot to determine who is elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Their seats are up for grabs as two incumbent Illinois House members, Mr. Krishnamoorthy and Rep. Robin Kelly, are currently running for Senate. Two more seats remain open as Rep. Jan Schakowsky, 81, and Rep. Danny Davis, 84, announced their retirement. Fresh candidates continued to enter the race to fill these seats.
Here are the results of these major races, according to AP and CNN:
- District 2 (Kelly): Donna Kelly defeated the late civil rights leader’s son Jesse Jackson Jr., slowing his return to politics by 40%. She will face Republican Michael Noak, who ran unopposed.
- District 7 (Davis): La’Shawn Ford won with 23.9% and Chad Coppie with 65%.
- District 8 (Krishnamoorthi): Former Representative Melissa Bean won 31% of the Democratic ticket and regained her old seat. She will face Republican Jennifer Davis, who won with 51.5%.
- District 9 (Shakowsky): Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss won with 29% and John Elson with 49%. Bis defeated a wealthy Gen Z opponent, Kat Abu Ghazaleh, who is influential among many opponents.
Pritzker tests president’s tone
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 ran unopposed in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, giving him a boost in political appeal. Pritzker will face Republican Darren Bailey, who won by a 53% margin, in November, according to the Associated Press and CNN.
Pritzker, a possible 2028 Democratic presidential nominee, also criticized President Trump in his victory speech on March 17, calling him the Republican Party’s “dear leader.” He also spoke out against last year’s immigration enforcement campaign in the state, dubbed Operation Midway Blitz, and called Trump a “carnival barker in chief” and a “thieving commander in chief.”
Why is this race important?
Race in Illinois has state-level and national implications. For local voters, Tuesday’s primary brought a fresh dose of energy from newcomers intent on keeping the Democratic Party’s mission alive in resolutely green-light states.
And the impact on America is significant. The election comes as both parties seek to maintain control of Congress in order to block or ensure the success of President Trump’s policies in a second term.
Contributor: Philip Bailey, Jay Stahl
