By Marketing Media TV | November 3, 2026 | All times Central
Illinois voters are making decisions that reach from Springfield to Washington and into Chicago’s public school classrooms. Tuesday’s general election includes the governor’s race, an open U.S. Senate seat, all 17 Illinois seats in the U.S. House and Chicago’s first election of an entirely elected school board.
Election Day polling places are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. The phrase “voting begins” refers to Election Day voting: many residents have already participated through early voting or mail ballots.
Official election information: Illinois State Board of Elections
Governor: Pritzker and Bailey meet again
Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker is seeking a third term against Republican Darren Bailey, a former state senator who also challenged him in 2022. Independent Collin Corbett is on the ballot as well.
| Party | Governor candidate | Lieutenant governor running mate |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic | JB Pritzker | Christian Mitchell |
| Republican | Darren Bailey | Aaron B. Del Mar |
| Independent | Collin Corbett | Carolyn Schofield |
Voters choose a governor and lieutenant governor together as a ticket. The winner will lead the state executive branch, with responsibilities that include proposing budgets, administering state agencies and acting on legislation passed by the General Assembly.
Pritzker’s bid also carries a historical dimension: he is seeking to become the first Illinois governor elected to a third term since 1982.
Source: Kane County’s official general-election candidate list · Background: Chicago Sun-Times voter guide
U.S. Senate: voters choose a successor to Dick Durbin
With longtime Sen. Dick Durbin retiring, Illinois is choosing a new senator. The ballot includes Democrat Juliana Stratton, currently the state’s lieutenant governor; Republican Don Tracy; and Whitfield Harrington Jr. of the American Center Party.
This is a statewide contest, meaning eligible voters across Illinois choose among the same Senate candidates. The office carries a six-year term and a role in federal legislation, spending and confirmation votes.
For readers sorting through the different races, the distinction matters: this U.S. Senate seat is in Washington. It is separate from seats in the Illinois Senate, which is part of the state legislature in Springfield.
Source: Official candidate list · Background: Senate race
U.S. House: five open seats bring a major change
All 17 Illinois congressional districts are voting for U.S. House representatives. Five outgoing members are leaving open seats in the 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th and 9th districts, making this election a substantial transition in the state’s Washington delegation.
| District | Democratic nominee | Republican nominee | Other listed candidates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd | Donna Miller | Michael Scott Noack | — |
| 4th | Patty Garcia | Lupe Castillo | Ed Hershey, Working Class Party; Chris Getty, independent |
| 7th | La Shawn K. Ford | Chad Koppie | — |
| 8th | Melissa L. Bean | Jennifer Davis | — |
| 9th | Daniel Biss | John Elleson | — |
Voters select a representative for their own district, not every district in the state. Congressional boundaries can divide communities, so an address-based sample ballot is more reliable than assuming a district from a city or neighborhood name.
The 4th District is among the closely watched transitions. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García is retiring, and his former chief of staff Patty Garcia is among those seeking to succeed him.
Source: General-election candidate overview · Candidate-list cross-check · Background: NBC Chicago voter guide
Chicago school board: a historic citywide vote
Chicago voters are electing all 21 members of the Board of Education: 20 district representatives and one citywide president. Each eligible Chicago voter chooses a presidential candidate and the representative for their own school board district.
The transition began in 2024 with a hybrid board combining elected and mayor-appointed members. This election completes the move to a fully elected board; it is not Chicago’s first school board election.
The three active contenders for president are:
- Jessica Biggs: a current board member, former teacher and former CPS principal.
- Hilario Dominguez: a former CPS teacher and former Chicago Teachers Union deputy political director.
- Victor Henderson: an attorney and former Chicago Bar Association president.
The board president runs meetings, helps shape the agenda and represents the board publicly. The broader debate includes school funding, enrollment and the future of under-enrolled schools.
Sendhil Revuluri suspended his presidential campaign after ballots were set, so voters may still see his name. The Chicago school board contests apply to city voters; suburban residents do not vote in these CPS races simply because they live in Cook County.
Source: Chalkbeat election coverage · School board candidate guide and district map · Candidate background: ABC7 Chicago
What voters need to know before heading out
Check your polling place. Use the Illinois State Board of Elections voter tools or your local election authority to confirm where to vote and review your sample ballot. Chicago and suburban Cook County have different election authorities.
Stay in line if you arrive before closing. Eligible voters in line by 7 p.m. have the right to vote even if the line takes longer to process.
Registration may still be possible. Online registration is closed, but Illinois offers grace-period registration through Election Day at authorized locations. Bring two forms of identification, including one showing your current home address, when registering or updating registration. Confirm the appropriate location with your election authority.
Handle mail ballots carefully. Follow the instructions on the return envelope. Illinois Legal Aid’s election guide says mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received by November 17. Authorized drop boxes are another return option, but some close earlier than 7 p.m.; verify the specific location’s deadline.
Official grace-period registration guidance · Illinois Legal Aid voting FAQ
Why election-night totals may change
The first reported totals are unofficial. Valid mail ballots arriving after Election Day and eligible provisional ballots can still enter the count under Illinois rules.
The State Board of Elections calendar identifies November 17 as the deadline for completing the counting of qualifying late-arriving mail ballots and validation of provisional ballots. That means a close race may take time to resolve. A media projection and an officially certified result are different stages of reporting.
Readers following returns should check the timestamp and the reporting election authority. A partial total should not be presented as a final outcome.
Source: Illinois State Board of Elections counting calendar
This Election Day guide was checked November 3, 2026. It does not report winners. Consult your local election authority for polling locations, registration assistance, ballot-return instructions and official results.
