Donation Options Search Search Search On the first day of early voting, Fred Blakely, 75, of South Shore, casts his ballot in the March 17 Illinois primary election at the new Loop super site at 191 N.

A historic wave of retirements is hitting the Illinois congressional delegation, and every statewide office is up for election. As we settle into a new year, here are three political storylines to watch for before the March primary: U.

Affordability will be a key political theme of the coming Illinois General Assembly as leaders signal proposals from health care to a Bears stadium will be filtered through a cost-of-living lens.

will be nothing short of a banner year with so many races and a bumper crop of candidates vying for what could be an unprecedented number of open congressional seats.

With 2026 upon us, the new year offers Illinois voters a fresh opportunity to change Springfield. Primary elections are March 17. But early voting begins Feb. 5. The bombardment of political ads will commence this week. And so will the Republican primary voter litmus test.

CHICAGO - Early voting for the 2026 primary election in Illinois will start soon, with voters having multiple opportunities to cast their ballot for several key local, state, and federal offices. While the primary election day is set for March 17, there will also be early voting via mail and in-person available weeks beforehand.

Primary election ballot certified The Illinois State Board of Elections certified the March 2026 primary ballot this week, removing several Republican candidates for governor after upholding petition challenges.

The Illinois State Board of Elections certified the March 2026 primary ballot this week, removing several candidates for governor and U.S. Senate after upholding petition challenges.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Darin LaHood are up for reelection in 2026. Those races and others will have an impact around the state and locally.