Illinois Primary Election 2024

Clayton Harris III (left) and Eileen O'Neill Burke (rght) campaign for Cook County state's attorney on election day.

Elections

Ebb turns to slow for O'Neill Burke, whose thinning lead thickens ever so slightly

The latest batch of city and suburban mail-in ballots in the Cook County state’s attorney’s race show Eileen O’Neill Burke leading Clayton Harris III by 1,637 votes, up 39 since Tuesday.

By Emmanuel Camarillo

Education

Chicago's first school board elections mean crash course time for voters, candidates

2024 Cook County State's Attorney Primary

Elections

Did Gaza protest vote make a mark on Illinois primary and impact support for Biden?

Elections

One week and half a million votes later, still no Democratic nominee for Cook County state’s attorney

Elections

Mail ballots whittle O'Neill Burke's lead over Harris in state's attorney race for 6th straight day

By Emmanuel Camarillo and Sophie Sherry

A large camp of homeless people along Lower Wacker Drive on Feb. 15, 2018. | Kevin Tanaka/For the Sun Times

City Hall

City Council's Progressive Caucus responds to 'Bring Chicago Home' defeat with 'we heard you' humility

By Fran Spielman

Elections

City mail vote slices O'Neill Burke's lead over Harris in state’s attorney race

By Emmanuel Camarillo

Eileen O'Neill Burke (left) speaks with reporters during a campaign stop at Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen on Election Day; Clayton Harris III (right) speaks at Taste 222 in the West Loop on Election Night.

Elections

Mail ballots trickling in cut Eileen O'Neill Burke’s lead over Clayton Harris in Cook County state's attorney race

By Matthew Hendrickson

Elections

Bring Chicago Home map: View which precincts voted for and against the referendum

With more than 100,000 mail-in ballots outstanding, the fate of Bring Chicago Home is not yet known. See a breakdown of the votes that have been counted.

By Jesse Howe, Matt Kiefer, and 1 more

Las posturas de algunos de los candidatos sobre temas importantes en estas elecciones primarias

By Politics and Government Team

Elections

What you need to know about the 'Bring Chicago Home' referendum

The goal is to raise $100 million a year to fund affordable housing and programs to help end homelessness. Supporters say it is long overdue. Critics have their doubts.

By Fran Spielman

Columnists

Biden zings Trump, warns about threats to democracy at Gridiron Club dinner

Turning around questions about age dogging Biden, he quipped, ‘Of course, the big news this week is two candidates clinched their parties’ nomination for president. One candidate is too old and mentally unfit to be president. The other is me.’

By Lynn Sweet

Composite of three head and torso photos of U.S. Rep. Danny Davis speaking at a podium and City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, and Kina Collins speaking into hand-held microphones.

Elections

Closing arguments: Candidates make final pitch to Chicago voters before Tuesday’s primary

On the final weekend of campaigning before Illinois polls open, candidates treaded two well-worn campaign paths: St. Patrick’s Day parades and churches across the city.

By Mitchell Armentrout, Violet Miller, and 1 more

Elections

Muslim community leaders urge Illinois voters to protest Biden by writing in 'Gaza' on primary ballot

The push comes after similar efforts in Michigan and Minnesota shook President Biden’s reelection campaign, with more than 150,000 voters choosing to vote “uncommitted” over the president in those states’ primaries.

By Nader Issa

Headshots for President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden

The Watchdogs

Who's giving the big money in Illinois to Biden and Trump?

Using data from the Federal Election Commission, the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ analyzed the money from Illinois pumped — directly and indirectly — into the 2024 race for the White House.

By Lynn Sweet and Matt Kiefer

Editorials

Put voting on your to-do list, Chicago

The Illinois primary is Tuesday, March 19. Casting your ballot is an essential part of the democratic process.

By CST Editorial Board

Side-by-side headshots of Illinois House candidates Adam Niemerg and Jim Acklin, both wearing blazers.

Columnists

Mistakes come back to haunt state Rep. Adam Niemerg in heated downstate race

Niemerg’s Republican primary opponent, Jim Acklin, also faces nasty claims in the 102nd District race.

By Rich Miller

Former Republican President Donald Trump (left) speaks at a campaign rally in Rome Ga., last week; Then-mayoral candidate Paul Vallas (right) talks to reporters at at a campaign event on Election Day 2023.

Columnists

Vallas calls Trump's mockery of stuttering 'dehumanizing' — Vallas' mother has stronger words

What does former mayoral candidate Paul Vallas, who battled a serious childhood stutter, have to say about Donald Trump’s “B-B-B-Biden” ridicule at a political rally last weekend? “Call my mother,” Vallas advised.

By Michael Sneed

La Voz Chicago

Una propuesta protegería la información sobre el aborto y la salud reproductiva en los documentos judiciales

La iniciativa, la primera de este tipo en el país, sellaría o redactaría automáticamente los detalles sobre la salud reproductiva de una persona incluidos en documentos de las cortes.

By Kaitlin Washburn

Running against each other in the Democratic March 19 primary for Cook County state’s attorney are Eileen O’Neill Burke and Clayton Harris III.

Elections

Nearly all of state's attorney hopeful Eileen O'Neill Burke's big funders are white men

The ex-judge’s top 25 individual donors include no African Americans and no women, a WBEZ analysis of her Illinois campaign filings finds.

By Chip Mitchell | WBEZ

Elections

For Toni Preckwinkle, another election and another chance to wield her political muscle

Allies and rivals alike describe a “masterful” politician and talk about how she’s held onto power for so many years.

By Tina Sfondeles and Kristen Schorsch | WBEZ Chicago

Bernie Sanders: It's OK To Be Angry About Capitalism

La Voz Chicago

Bernie Sanders respalda a Graciela Guzmán en la carrera al Senado en el lado noroeste

El respaldo del progresista en la contienda para reemplazar a la senadora estatal Natalie Toro podría ser de gran ayuda en un distrito ampliamente considerado como uno de los más izquierdistas de Illinois.

By Mitchell Armentrout

A row of empty ballot boxes sits at the downtown voting super site, Monday, April 3, 2023.

La Voz Chicago

Cómo votar en las elecciones primarias presidenciales de Illinois el 19 de marzo

Les presentamos una guía para emitir su voto — ya sea para inscribirse o votar en general.

By Tony Arnold | WBEZ

Columnists

Trump can be a loser, and his voters stand by him. Biden faces tougher scrutiny.

Biden’s voters are telling him to do better, be better, whereas Trump’s voters love him even when he’s the absolute worst.

By S. E. Cupp

Elections

Bring Chicago Home votes will be counted after Illinois Supreme Court denies appeal

The Illinois Supreme Court denied an effort to block the ballot question regarding tax rates on property sales.

By Tessa Weinberg | WBEZ and Mariah Woelfel | WBEZ

City Hall

Civic Federation questions volatility, structure, fairness of 'Bring Chicago Home' referendum

Among other things, the 25-page analysis questions whether the tax would generate the millions of dollars Mayor Johnson is hoping for and whether there’s sufficient oversight to ensure the money goes for its intended purpose.

By Fran Spielman

Crime

Summit man held in custody after feds say he fired gun during U.S. Capitol riot

The charges make John Banuelos the latest of nearly 50 Illinois residents to be accused in the Capitol riot. He also appears to be the first of that group to be ordered into custody as a danger or flight risk.

By Jon Seidel

Abortion

Abortion, other reproductive health info would be shielded in court documents under pioneering proposal

The initiative, the first of its kind in the country, would automatically seal or redact details about someone’s reproductive health detailed in court documents.

By Kaitlin Washburn

Elections

Bernie Sanders endorses Graciela Guzmán in Northwest Side state Senate race

The progressive superstar’s backing in the contest to unseat appointed state Sen. Natalie Toro could be a boon in a district widely considered one of the most left-leaning in Illinois.

By Mitchell Armentrout

Appellate Court Justice Jesse Reyes speaks about his Democratic primary race for the Illinois Supreme Court against Justice Joy Cunningham, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024.

USA vs. Edward M. Burke

Candidate for Illinois Supreme Court decries high court’s inaction against ex-Ald. Ed Burke

Appeals Justice Jesse Reyes called on his Democratic primary opponent to say if she recused herself when the court failed to suspend Burke’s law license.

By Dave McKinney | WBEZ

Politics

Taxation without participation? Low turnout lets slim minority decide ballot questions hitting voters’ wallets

A study found less than 30% of registered Cook County voters determined the fate of 75 property tax-related referendums between 2020 and 2023.

By David Struett

Farzin Parang, executive director of the Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago, stands and speaks at a podium adorned with the Illinois state seal.

Elections

Real estate groups ask Illinois Supreme Court to block ‘Bring Chicago Home’ referendum

The groups want the court to remove a question from the March 19 primary ballot that asks voters if they approve an increased sales tax on high-end properties.

By Tessa Weinberg | WBEZ and Mariah Woelfel | WBEZ

Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 President John Catanzara

Elections

Dem candidates for Cook County state's attorney distance themselves from FOP head's encouraging words

Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 President John Catanzara said he voted for Eileen O’Neill Burke and encouraged officers in the union to do so. But he added that Burke’s opponent, Clayton Harris, would be “a step up” from State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, who is not running for re-election.

By Matthew Hendrickson

President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol on Thursday. Biden goaded Republicans over their policies on immigration, taxes and more, invited call-and-response banter with fellow Democrats and seemed to relish the fight.

Washington

Biden uses feisty State of the Union to contrast with Trump, sell voters on a second term

President Joe Biden fired multiple broadsides at Donald Trump without mentioning his name as he worked to quell voter concerns about his age and job performance while sharpening the contrast with his all-but-certain November rival.

By Associated Press

President Joe Biden, wearing a dark blue suit, smiles as he takes a selfie with Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), clad in orange and bright pink, inside the Capitol building.

Politics

Chicago-area voters offer mixed reactions to Biden's State of the Union speech

President Biden made his case for a second term and responded to criticism about whether he’s fit for the job. One area voter thought he looked strong, while another thought he was the “lesser of two evils.”

By Kade Heather

President Joe Biden State of the Union 2014

Columnists

Biden's reset on the Israel-Hamas war in State of the Union speech

‘I know the last five months have been gut-wrenching for so many people, for the Israeli people, the Palestinian people, and so many here in America,’ Biden said.

By Lynn Sweet

Crime

Downstate man faces charges for swinging 'Trump' flag at police during U.S. Capitol riot

Lance Michael Ligocki is now one of nearly 50 Illinois residents charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.

By Jon Seidel

Elections

Helping the unhoused 'a matter of life and death,' Johnson says during Bring Chicago Home push

Mayor Brandon Johnson received a tour detailing the homeless veteran services provided at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center a day after an appellate court ruled votes would be counted in the Bring Chicago Home ballot referendum.

By Kaitlin Washburn

2024 Democratic National Convention

Protests and peace — Chicago ready for demonstrators at Dem convention, but police won’t ‘tolerate violence'

“We want to make sure that we maintain peace,” Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling said during a news conference Wednesday about this summer’s Democratic National Convention. “We’re going to police constitutionally.”

By Tom Schuba and Fran Spielman