The 2026 election is going to be a busy time for Illinois voters, with numerous members of Congress not seeking reelection and with a hotly contested governor’s race. That race will feature incumbent Gov.

Come January 2027, Illinois will not be represented in Congress by Dick Durbin for the first time in more than four decades.

Republican Darren Bailey is taking on a different strategy in this campaign than the one four years ago, when he lost to Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker by 13 points.

Early voting for the 2026 primary election is right around the corner when voters will decide on nominees for local, state, and federal offices.

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The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that veteran downstate Republican Rep. Mike Bost has standing to pursue a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Illinois’ election law that allows mail-in ballots postmarked or certified by Election Day to be counted up to 14 days later.

House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch says this spring’s election-year legislative session will be squarely focused on tackling Illinois voters’ priorities. “We’re going to focus on things that help folks in their household budget,

WIFR Morning News Anchor Mike Garrigan gives an in-depth preview of the 2026 Illinois Governor’s race.