Illinois Primary Election | Voter Guide 2024

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Races to watch

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

Who will replace Kim Foxx as Cook County’s top prosecutor?

Running in the Democratic primary for Cook County state’s attorney are Clayton Harris III, a university lecturer, and Eileen O’Neill Burke, a former Illinois Appellate Court judge.

By Matthew Hendrickson

In the March 19 Democratic primary contest for Illinois Supreme Court, Justice Joy Cunningham faces a challenge from Illinois Appellate Judge Jesse Reyes.

Elections

Justice Joy Cunningham runs to keep seat on Illinois Supreme Court, facing primary challenge from Judge Jesse Reyes

Cunningham seeks to hold onto the position she was appointed to in 2022, but Reyes says it’s time for a Latino justice on the state’s highest court.

By Sophie Sherry

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

Zerlina Smith-Members (left) is challenging incumbent Cook County Commissioner Tara Stamps, who was appointed to fill the seat vacated by Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Elections

Cook County Board

Incumbent Commissioner Tara Stamps has less campaign money than her Democratic challenger, but Stamps does have the blessing of County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

By Kristen Schorsch | WBEZ Chicago

Democratic incumbent Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez (left) faces a challenge from her own party in the March 19 primary from Mariyana Spyropoulos.

Elections

<a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2024/02/15/cook-county-circuit-court-clerk-march-19-primary-iris-martinez-mariyana-spyropoulos">Cook County Circuit Court clerk</a>

Incumbent Iris Martinez took on her own party and won four years ago. Now, she faces another tough fight from her own party for reelection.

By Kristen Schorsch | WBEZ Chicago

Elections

Cook County Board of Review

Cook County tax appeal official Larry Rogers faces challenger Larecia Tucker.

By Dan Mihalopoulos | WBEZ

Elections

20th District | State Senate

State Sen. Natalie Toro and Chicago Teachers Union organizer Graciela Guzman reprise their battle for a pivotal Logan Square seat. The heavyweight political fight also includes Dr. Dave Nayak and Geary Yonker

By Mitchell Armentrout

6th District | State House

Incumbent Sonya Harper touts her efforts to expand community gardening and urban agriculture in a district desperately lacking groceries and healthy food options. Challenger Joseph Williams was elected last year to the 7th District Police Council.

By Mitchell Armentrout

36th District | State House

The 36th Illinois House district touches Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood but mostly encompasses the southwest suburbs from south suburban Evergreen Park to Palos Hills.

By Mitchell Armentrout

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (left) is facing a challenge from within his Democratic Party from Chicago Ald. Raymond Lopez.

Elections

4th District

U.S. Rep. Jesus ‘Chuy’ Garcia challenged from the right by Ald. Raymond Lopez.

By Lynn Sweet

U.S. Rep. Sean Casten, Mahnoor Ahmad, Charles Hughes

Elections

6th District

Rep. Sean Casten faces political newcomer Mahnoor Ahmad and Charles Hughes with the war in Gaza emerging as a focal point.

By Lynn Sweet

Elections

7th District

U.S. Rep. Danny Davis faces a hard reelection fight as he tackles challenges from four fellow Democrats.

By Mariah Woelfel | WBEZ

U.S. Rep. Bill Foster (left) faces a challenge from Naperville lawyer Qasim Rashid in the Democratic primary for the 11th congressional district.

Elections

11th District

Longtime Rep. Bill Foster and challenger Qasim Rashid face off in 11th District primary, differ over Gaza war.

By Tina Sfondeles

President Donald Trump listens as Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., speaks during a rally at Southern Illinois Airport in Murphysboro, Ill., in 2018.

Elections

12th District

Trump-backed U.S. Rep. Mike Bost touts experience amid challenge from ‘outsider’ Darren Bailey.

By Tina Sfondeles

4th District | Democratic

The 4th Congressional District, which stretches across the Southwest Side and western suburbs, has more Latinos than any other in Illinois, and who wins could signal which wing of the Democratic Party the district is swaying toward.

Jesus “Chuy” Garcia

Raymond A. Lopez

7th District | Democratic

Democratic incumbent Rep. Danny Davis, 82, is vying to hold onto his near three-decade grip on Illinois’ 7th District. But the 14-term incumbent faces a challenge from four other Democrats in this hotly contested primary election.

Nikhil Bhatia

Kina Collins

Melissa Conyears-Ervin

Danny Davis

Kouri Marshall

11th District | Democratic

The race represents one of the largest congressional districts overlaying Chicago’s collar counties. Here are the candidates running against seven-term Democratic Rep. Bill Foster.

Bill Foster

Qasim Rashid

Latest News

Cook County Democrats selected Monica Gordon on Friday to appear on the November ballot as the party's nominee for Cook County Clerk in a special election.

Politics

Cook County Democratic leaders pick Monica Gordon to run for county clerk: 'I have some big shoes to fill'

Gordon will run in the November general election to fill the rest of the late Karen Yarbrough’s term as Cook County clerk.

By Kristen Schorsch | WBEZ Chicago

Chicago Cubs' broadcaster Harry Caray sings "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" during the seventh inning stretch at Chicago's Wrigley Field in 1989.

Columnists

Why did Harry Caray always say ‘Holy Cow?’ It could be linked to a 1930s flying bovine. No bull!

In 1930, a 15-year-old Harry Caray was living in St. Louis when the city hosted an aircraft exhibition honoring aviator Charles Lindbergh. “The ‘first ever’ cow to fly in an airplane was introduced at the exhibition,” said Grant DePorter, Harry Caray restaurants manager. “She became the most famous cow in the world at the time and is still listed among the most famous bovines along with Mrs. O’Leary’s cow and ‘Elsie the cow.’”

By Michael Sneed

Democracy Solutions Project

Illinois Republicans grapple with mail voting amid mixed signals from Trump — 'We have to adapt'

A greater share of Chicago area Republicans cast their ballots by mail in March compared to the 2022 primary, but they were still vastly outpaced by Democrats in using a voting system that has become increasingly popular.

By Mitchell Armentrout

Elections

Arizona indicts 18 in case over 2020 election in Arizona, including Giuliani and Meadows

Eleven Republicans who submitted a document to Congress falsely declaring that Donald Trump won Arizona in 2020 are among those indicted. Trump is described as an unindicted co-conspirator.

By Associated Press

image (3).pngHouse Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., autographs a book for Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch, D-Hillside, in the Capitol.

Washington

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel Welch travels to Washington on fundraising trip

On Monday afternoon, Welch raises money for the People for Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch committee, with the ask ranging from $1,000 for a ticket to $68,500 from a political action committee.

By Lynn Sweet

A voter feeds her ballot into a voting machine on Election Day at Isabelle C. O’Keeffe School in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood, April 4.

Elections

Ballot bypass? Illinois sees lowest presidential primary voter turnout in decades

The statewide voter turnout of 19.07% is the lowest for a presidential primary election since at least 1960, according to Illinois State Board of Elections figures.

By Sun-Times staff

Commentary, analysis and explainers exploring critical issues facing our democracy and the search for solutions.

U.S. Capitol Police officers stand at an intersection near the U.S. Capitol and a Library of Congress building in Washington on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, as law enforcement investigate a report of a possible explosive device in a pickup truck.

Democracy Solutions Project

Violent threats against politicians are a risk to democracy

Threats and harassment are more common against officeholders who are people of color, a University of Illinois Chicago professor writes.

By Alexandra Filindra

The Capitol dome in Washington, framed by early morning clouds,

Democracy Solutions Project

Our federal government is bloated with political appointees, and that weakens democracy

This is not some dry, academic question, writes Max Stier of the Partnership for Public Service. It’s an issue in the upcoming presidential election, with profound consequences for the capability of our government to solve critical problems.

By Max Stier

Democracy Solutions Project

Didn't vote on Tuesday? You weren't alone. Here's how to start making the Illinois primary a bigger draw.

Voter turnout is always low in primary elections, and Tuesday was an extreme example. Ranked choice voting is one idea that could boost turnout and decrease partisanship and negative campaigning.

By CST Editorial Board

Latest election news

2024 Democratic National Convention

No cracks in Blue Wall? Top Democrats vow Chicago is ready for convention, despite party divisions

Democrats are deeply focused on Wisconsin and Michigan to help bolster President Joe Biden’s re-election chances — and officials, in town for meetings hosted by the Democratic National Convention Committee, say they plan on showing voters a deep party contrast.

By Tina Sfondeles

Mayor Brandon Johnson makes his inaugural address at Credit Union 1 Arena on Monday, May 15, 2023.

City Hall

Petition drive launched to give Chicago voters power to recall mayor

If Daniel Boland’s petition drive collects 56,464 valid signatures by Aug. 5, the question could go on the November ballot. But that would just give Chicago voters the power to remove a mayor via recall, which they don’t now have.

By Fran Spielman

Columnists

Democratic Party leaders meet in Chicago this week for pre-convention talks

In Chicago, the Democratic National Committee leaders will pick the members of the party’s platform, rules and credentials committees at the last party meeting before the August convention to renominate President Joe Biden.

By Lynn Sweet

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks during a gathering in Manchester, N.H., last year.

Columnists

No dice for No Labels? How Chris Christie almost made third-party presidential run — but didn't

In an exclusive interview, Dan K. Webb, who was in charge of creating the vetting process for the No Labels third-party run, tells Michael Sneed “the ticket came this/close to reality weeks ago.”

By Michael Sneed

The United Center displays DNC 2024 on its LED screen outside of the arena on April 11, 2023.

2024 Democratic National Convention

'Security footprint' plan for Democratic Convention kicked to City Council for Wednesday vote

Protesters, residents and other DNC observers would be prohibited from bringing laptops, large bags, scooters and other items into certain areas closest to convention attendees under a proposed ordinance.

By Mitchell Armentrout

President Biden Hosts Japanese PM Kishida For Official State Visit

Politics

Chicagoans, including Rahm Emanuel, attend White House State Dinner for the Japanese prime minister

U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, the former Chicago mayor, brought his wife Amy and two of their children to the dinner.

By Lynn Sweet

Donald Trump speaks while pointing to something or someone while standing at a lectern and microphone.

Columnists

Donald Trump's abortion stance is politically convenient and sensible

The Constitution does not give Congress the authority to regulate abortion. It’s an issue for the states.

By Jacob Sullum

Politics

As Cook County mourns Clerk Karen Yarbrough, planning starts to pick her successor

The county’s Democratic Party will pick a temporary replacement for Yarbrough, who had more than two years left on her term.

By Kristen Schorsch | WBEZ Chicago

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, from left, Mayor Brandon Johnson and Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., greet President Joe Biden as he arrives at the Soldier Field landing zone aboard Marine One before attending a campaign fundraiser on Monday.

Elections

Biden visits Chicago for fundraiser after pitching student loan relief in Wisconsin

Pro-Palestinian protesters greeted Biden outside the Drake Hotel on the Gold Coast, where the president had a campaign meeting before making remarks at the fundraiser.

By Emmanuel Camarillo and Cindy Hernandez

Elections

Biden heading to Chicago for fundraiser

A Chicago fundraiser for President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign is expected to collected $2.5 million for the Biden Action Fund, a joint fundraising committee consisting of the Biden for President operation and the Democratic National Committee.

By Lynn Sweet

Board of Elections