Yesterday, Illinois held its 2026 primary elections and WTTW News has the latest on every big race.
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The U.S. Capitol building. (Mesut Dogan / iStock)
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The 2nd Congressional District
Donna Miller, a Cook County commissioner since 2018, has been declared the winner of a packed Democratic primary for Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District seat.
The Associated Press called the race for Miller, 61, who received 40% of votes, according to unofficial results, after more than 90% of all ballots had been counted.
She defeated Jesse Jackson Jr. — who previously held this seat for several years — who earned 29% of votes.
The 7th Congressional District
Illinois state Rep. La Shawn Ford declared victory in the Democratic primary for the 7th Congressional District after his closest competitor in Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin conceded the race.
Ford has 23.9% of votes, putting him ahead of Conyears-Ervin, who has 20.4% of votes with nearly 90% of votes tallied, according to unofficial results.
The 8th Congressional District
Melissa Bean, who previously served Illinois’ 8th Congressional District for three terms, took a major step toward taking that seat back, as she has been declared the winner in Tuesday’s Democratic primary race.
The Associated Press called the race for Bean, who leads the eight-person field of candidates with 32% of votes, according to unofficial results, while progressive tech businessman Junaid Ahmed is currently running in second place with 26.5% after nearly 90% of votes were tallied.
The candidates ran to replace U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who left his seat in the northern suburban district that covers parts of Cook, DuPage and Kane counties after nearly a decade to run for the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin.
The 9th Congressional District
Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss has been declared the winner of a jam-packed Democratic primary race for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District seat, which is set to see its first new leader in more than 25 years with Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky retiring.
The Associated Press called the race for Biss, who leads the 15-candidate Democratic field with 29.5% of votes, according to unofficial results, putting him ahead of former journalist Kat Abughazaleh (25.9% of votes) and state Sen. Laura Fine (20.2%), after 92% of votes have been tallied.
“This race had everything and it had fundamental questions about who are we going to be as a Democratic party,” Biss said late Tuesday. “Are we going to concede in advance, or are we going to fight?”
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Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton appears in a March 9, 2026, candidate forum on "Chicago Tonight." (WTTW News)
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Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton has been declared the winner of the Democratic primary in the race to replace U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, according to the Associated Press.
Stratton comes out on top of U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly who were battling to win a rare open seat in a contest that will reshape Illinois politics.
Stratton took an early lead over Krishnamoorthi that held up throughout the night.
With an estimated 90% of the vote counted, Stratton had 40% to 33.2% for Krishnamoorthi and 18.2% for Kelly, according to unofficial results.
The intense race has drawn tens of millions of dollars spent by outside groups on television, mail and online advertisements, with most coming from pro-Israel, pro-artificial intelligence development, pro-cryptocurrency and pro-cloud data center interests.
Most of that spending went to tout Krishnamoorthi’s candidacy and slam Stratton, records show.
Krishnamoorthi and Kelly both conceded the race to Stratton.
With a soundtrack of loud house music, Stratton’s supporters cheered at her election night party as she took the early lead, enjoying the free buffet and open bar.
“We’re going to bring the fight to Donald Trump’s front door,” Stratton told the cheering crowd.
Stratton, 60, also promised to work to expand health care for all Illinois residents.
“We will fight for Medicare for All,” Stratton said. “Tomorrow the work begins again.”
If elected, Stratton would be the sixth Black woman to serve in the Senate, joining U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, of Maryland, and U.S. Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, of Delaware.
Who won in the Republican primary?
Stratton will face Don Tracy, a former head of the Illinois Republican Party, in November’s general election.
She is widely expected to win November's general election. The last time a Republican won a statewide election in Illinois was 2014.
If elected, Stratton would be the sixth Black woman to serve in the Senate, joining U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, of Maryland, and U.S. Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, of Delaware.
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Incumbent Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has declared victory in the March 17, 2026, Democratic primary election. She spoke at a campaign event at Little Black Pearl in Kenwood. (Blair Paddock / WTTW News)dani
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Illinois Governor (Republican Primary)
Clay County farmer Darren Bailey is now a two-time Republican gubernatorial nominee. Bailey won Tuesday’s Republican primary election with nearly 54% of the vote, according to the Associated Press. He’s followed by the former president of the conservative blog Wirepoints, Ted Dabrowski, at nearly 29%.
“I want to work together to make Illinois government work together again at all levels,” Bailey said to a crowd of supporters Tuesday night. “Together, we can make Illinois affordable again.”
Cook County Board
Incumbent Toni Preckwinkle on Tuesday won the Democratic nomination for Cook County Board president, positioning her to run for a fifth term in office. Preckwinkle took the lead with 68% of the votes. Her opponent, Chicago Ald. Brendan Reilly, followed with 32%.
Illinois Comptroller
State Rep. Margaret Croke remained ahead in unofficial returns Tuesday in the Democratic primary for Illinois comptroller, but state Sen. Karina Villa closed the gap as vote totals continued to roll in. According to unofficial results, Croke received 34.7% of the vote with 87% of the vote counted. Karina Villa trailed with 32.4% of the vote. Holly Kim received 24.1%.
Cook County Assessor
Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi’s has conceded defeat to Pat Hynes, a onetime employee of the two-term incumbent’s office. With over 86% of the vote reported, Hynes was leading with 52.5% to Kaegi’s 47.5% in a Democratic primary contest in a race that was defined by an intense debate over soaring property tax bills.
Cook County Board of Review
One incumbent of a Cook County agency responsible for deciding taxpayers’ property assessment appeals appears headed for defeat as another is hanging on.
Incumbent Commissioner George Cardenas is leading with about 52.6% of the vote to challenger Juanita Irizarry with 47.4% in the District 1 race, with more than 95% of the vote counted.
In District 2, Elizabeth “Liz” Nicholson with 61.3% of the vote was handily ahead of incumbent Samantha Steele.
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD)
With 99% of precincts reporting in suburban Cook County and more than 90% of precincts counted in Chicago, incumbents Eira Corral-Sepulveda, Precious Brady-Davis and Beth McElroy Kirkwood had all amassed sizable leads over challenger Sarah Bury.
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Back in the Day: March 18, 1986 - Two LaRouche Followers Win Statewide Democratic Nominations
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Lyndon LaRouche was a far-right conspiracy theorist and a perennial third-party presidential candidate. While his movement and paranoid politics were anathema to the mainstream Democratic and Republican parties, he was an aggressive fundraiser and had followers who ran for office. On this day 40 years ago, thanks to low turnout and general confusion at the ballot, two of his supporters were elected on the Democratic primary ticket on March 18, 1986. The nominations of Mark Fairchild for lieutenant governor and Janice Hart for secretary of state struck Democrats with horror and forced then Democratic candidate Adlai Stevenson III to run for reelection on an independent ticket
paving the way for a Republican victory with Jim Thompson. Fortunately for the Democratic party, other LaRouche followers failed to secure any electoral gains during the subsequent primaries. LaRouche would be convicted of mail fraud, conspiracy and tax evasion in 1988, serving five years in prison. He died in 2019 at 96.
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Chicago-Area Live Music Recommendations for March 18-24
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Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.
Wednesday, March 18:
Elly Kace, Carl Hauck at the International Museum of Surgical Science. Tickets.
A Chicago-raised singer with a spectacular voice makes a stop in the Gold Coast for an intimate show at a museum.
Fust, Merce Lemon, Walker Rider at SPACE. Tickets.
Three of the best rising artists in folk rock team up in Evanston.
Thursday, March 19:
Westhead, Glass-Beagle at Hideout. Tickets.
Like rock music that’s also twangy? You’re in luck.
Friday, March 20:
DJ Spinn, TRAXMAN, Jana Rush at Empty Bottle. Tickets.
This Friday night in Ukrainian Village, celebrate the roster and catalog of local footwork label Teklife.
Carriers, DD Island, Jessica Risker at Judson and Moore. Tickets.
This excellent Ohio songwriter has collaborated with members of the National.
Saturday, March 21:
Lefty Parker, Blue Ranger, Sleeper’s Bell at Color Club. Tickets.
This Texas artist is playing a couple of shows in Old Irving Park. Get there early for the local and national openers.
Universal Togetherness Band at Subterranean. Tickets.
This Chicago soul and disco band from the ‘70s and ‘80s found a second life from local archival label Numero Group.
Joe Glass, Barreleye, Alga, Jason Shapiro at Gman Tavern. Tickets.
The headliner is a member of the Chicago rock band Sharp Pins and has one of this newsletter producer’s favorite albums of 2026 in “Snakewards.”
Sunday, March 22:
Molina, Lipsticism at Schubas. Tickets.
The Danish-Chilean artists enlists a likeminded Chicagoan to open this Lakeview show.
Monday, March 23:
Cootie Catcher, Bungee Jumpers, National Photo Committee, Alive Girl at Hideout. Tickets.
A pretty stacked lineup for a Monday rock show.
Tuesday, March 24:
Patrick Watson, La Force at Thalia Hall. Tickets.
The veteran piano bard makes a return to Pilsen.
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What's your favorite new restaurant in Chicago?
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published.
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5:30 PM | 10:00 PM
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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry
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