DeKALB – On Tuesday, voters selected nominees for a full slate of offices, including governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House and local races.
ILLINOIS GOVERNOR RACE
Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker is seeking a third term in November and is set to face Darren Bailey, who won the Republican Governor’s Primary.
The two previously faced each other in 2022, where Pritzker won reelection to a second term. Bailey has campaigned on improving education quality, reducing crime and lowering the economic burden on working families.
Pritzker has previously expressed interest in a potential White House run in 2028. If reelected, his term would begin in 2027, which could complicate a presidential campaign timeline.
SENATE RACE
The race to succeed Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, who is retiring after five terms, featured three Democratic nominees and two Republican nominees.
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratten, as well as U.S. Reps. Robin Kelly and Raja Krishnamoorthi were among the leading candidates in the Democratic Illinois Senate Primary. The Republican field included former Illinois Republican Party chair Don Tracy and attorney Jeannie Evans.
Stratton defeated Krishnamoorthi and Kelly to secure the Democratic nomination. She led Cook County with 40% of the vote, compared with Krishnamoorthi’s 29% and Kelly’s 23%. Stratton, who is a Chicago South Side native, was leading Krishnamoorthi by 20 points in the city of Chicago, while tying with Krishnamoorthi in the Chicago suburbs.
Stratton campaigned on expanding free Medicare for all and raising the minimum wage in Illinois.
According to the DeKalb County Clerk and Recorder, Stratton received about 1,445 votes in DeKalb township, compared with 1,096 for Krishnamoorthi and 377 for Kelly. Stratton will represent the Democrats in the run for the Senate in November.
In the Republican Senate Primary, Former GOP chair Don Tracy defeated attorney Jeannie Evans after campaigning on lowering prices, particularly energy costs.
Stratton and Tracy will both run for the open Illinois Senate seat in November.
HOUSE RACE
The U.S. House races in Illinois saw significant changes due to retirements and open seats.
State Rep. La Shawn Ford won the Democratic nomination to replace Rep. Danny Davis after Davis served nearly 15 terms representing Illinois’ 7th Congressional District. Ford recieved 23.9% of the vote, defeating Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, who earned 20.5%.
Ford defeated 12 candidates and was endorsed by Davis when it was announced he would not seek a 16th term. On the Republican side, Chad Koppie secured the nomination after finishing 1,560 votes ahead of his opponent, Patricia Easley.
Ford and Koppie will face off in November.
In the Ninth Congressional District, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss won the Democratic nomination with 29.4% of the vote, ahead of Kat Abughazaleh with 26.1% and state Sen. Laura Fine with 20.3%. 15 candidates competed for the open seat created by the retirement of Rep. Jan Schakowsky after 15 terms.
Biss, who Schakowsky endorsed, has served in the State Senate since 2021. He previously ran for governor in 2018, finishing second behind Pritzker.
Pastor John Elleson won the Republican primary for Illinois’ Ninth Congressional District with 49.1% of the vote. Elleson previously ran for the seat in 2018 but lost to Schakowsky. His campaign focused on reducing regulation, expanding job opportunities, lowering healthcare costs and strengthening national security.
Biss and Elleson will compete in the general election in November.
In the Second Congressional District, Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller campaigned on Medicare for All, maternal health and reproductive justice, and lowering costs for working families. Miller led by 9,250 Democratic votes over her competitor, Jesse Jackson, who represented the district for 17 years. Republican nominee Michael Noack ran uncontested and will advance to the general election.
In the Eigth Congressional District, former Rep. Melissa Bean recieved 31.8% of the Democratic vote, ahead of Junaid Ahmed, with 26.7%.
On the Republican side, Jennifer Davis received 14,307 votes, finishing 3,110 votes ahead of Mark Rice, to win the GOP nomination.
Bean and Davis will both appear on the November ballot.
COMMUNITY VOICES
Local voters also shared their perspectives on the importance of participating in elections and the current political climate.
Gordon Robinson, an NIU graduate student, expressed how important it is to vote in DeKalb, explaining that voting empowers Americans.
“Voting is our political voice,” Robinson said. “We have very little control in this country, and so I try to exercise as much control as I can, and voting is one of the ways that you can do that.”
Holding a bachelor’s degree in political science, Robinson closely follows politics and described the current political climate as “not great.”
“There’s so much that has to change, no matter who’s in charge — Democrat or Republican,” Robinson said. “Right now, just seeing the president not even attempt to be bipartisan and just relentlessly attack the other side of the aisle and not do things for the betterment of American citizens is very disheartening.”
Sophomore kinesiology major Shardae Spruille said people who choose not to vote are missing an important opportunity.
“I just feel like it’s ignorant for people to not vote, especially if we’ve gotten this right after years of not being able to vote and all the hardships that our ancestors had to go through to vote,” Spruille said.
