Here’s what to know before Tuesday’s Election Day in Illinois, from key races to the amendment on the ballot to where to vote and much more.
Everything you need to know about the how to vote this primary election is here, including early voting, mail-in voting and going to the polls on Election Day.
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Here are the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board’s 2022 endorsements for the Nov. 8 elections. See the full list here.
Before the primaries, the Tribune Editorial Board posed a series of questions to the candidates to inform voters and make endorsements. Here’s the full list of those answers.
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Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker is trying to win a second term as he faces Republican state Sen. Darren Bailey, one of the most conservative major party candidates for Illinois governor in generations. Bailey has focused his campaign on crime, the economy and education while Pritzker has tried to persuade voters he advanced the state forward while successfully guiding it through the COVID-19 pandemic. Abortion has also become a major campaign issue following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to knock down the landmark Roe vs. Wade decision.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, a Democrat, is seeking his second term and being challenged by Republican Tom DeVore, a civil attorney who made a name for himself by filing suits against the state and Pritzker for his school mask mandate and other executive orders following the spread of the coronavirus.
Former Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, a Democrat, seeks to retake a statewide office by running for Secretary of State against Republican state Rep. Dan Brady. One of the two will replace longtime Secretary of State Jesse White, who is retiring from office after 24 years. The winner will head an operation with more than 4,000 employees that oversees driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations, keeps track of business registrations, and maintains an organ and tissue donation registry.
Democrat U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth is looking to win a second, six-year term as she faces off against Republican Kathy Salvi. In 2016, Duckworth took the seat once held by Barack Obama by defeating Republican Mark Kirk. Salvi is an attorney from Mundelein and touts a conservative agenda, while Duckworth, an Iraq War Veteran, has become popular enough politician nationally to be shortlisted by President Joe Biden for vice president.
Two of the Illinois Supreme Court’s seven seats are up for grabs and Republicans have a chance to win a majority for the first time in more than half a century.
Should Illinois enshrine into the state constitution the right of workers to unionize and collectively bargain? That question will top ballots statewide.
Many of the biggest races for Congress occurred in the June primary but there are still several important contests for U.S. House. Illinois’ 17th Congressional District could result in a Republican taking a seat now in Democratic hands and numerous suburban districts are shaping up to be interesting on Election Day.
- 17th District: In the fight for the US House, one of the most important battles is in northwest Illinois
- 6th District: In campaign that has raised social issues, US Rep. Sean Casten looks to cement power against Keith Pekau
- 11th District: Abortion, inflation among key issues as challenger Catalina Lauf takes on incumbent Bill Foster in newly drawn suburban 11th Congressional District
- 14th District: GOP contender Scott Gryder says local experience could help him unseat U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood in congressional race
- Seats with no incumbent on the ballot, 1st, 3rd and 13th congressional districts: Challengers vie for seats in U.S. House with no incumbent on the ballot
- Seats where incumbents have an election edge, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th, 15th, 16th congressional districts: Redrawn Illinois congressional map gives most incumbents an election edge over newcomers, but issues such as economy, crime, abortion could also play a factor
Every countywide office in Cook County plus every one of the 17 seats seat on the Cook County Board are up during this general election. Atop the list is President Toni Preckwinkle, who is seeking her fourth term in the office versus former Chicago Ald. Bob Fioretti, who is running as a Republican. A referendum for the Cook County forest preserves is also on the ballot.
