Ashonta Rice
Ashonta Rice (Democratic Party) (formerly Ashonta Rice-Akiwowo) ran for election for judge of the Cook County Circuit Court in Illinois. Rice was on the ballot in the Democratic primary on March 17, 2026.[source]
Elections
2026
See also: Municipal elections in Cook County, Illinois (2026)
General election
The primary occurred on March 17, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
Democratic primary
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
Democratic primary for Cook County Circuit Court
Incumbent Michael Cabonargi (D) and Ashonta Rice (D) ran in the Democratic primary for Cook County Circuit Court on March 17, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Michael Cabonargi | ||
| Ashonta Rice | ||
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Republican primary
The Republican primary scheduled for March 17, 2026, was canceled.
Endorsements
Rice received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
2024
See also: Municipal elections in Cook County, Illinois (2024)
General election
General election for Cook County Circuit Court
James Murphy-Aguilú won election in the general election for Cook County Circuit Court on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | James Murphy-Aguilú (D) | 100.0 | 1,369,131 | |
| Total votes: 1,369,131 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Cook County Circuit Court
James Murphy-Aguilú advanced from the Democratic primary for Cook County Circuit Court on March 19, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | James Murphy-Aguilú | 100.0 | 407,797 | |
| Total votes: 407,797 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Ashonta Rice (D)
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Rice in this election.
2018
General election
General election for Cook County Circuit Court 15th Subcircuit
Michael Barrett won election in the general election for Cook County Circuit Court 15th Subcircuit on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Michael Barrett (D) | 100.0 | 101,047 | |
| Total votes: 101,047 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Cook County Circuit Court 15th Subcircuit
Michael Barrett defeated Ashonta Rice in the Democratic primary for Cook County Circuit Court 15th Subcircuit on March 20, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Michael Barrett | 58.7 | 28,836 | |
| Ashonta Rice | 41.3 | 20,247 | ||
| Total votes: 49,083 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Rivanda Beal (D)
Selection method
- See also: Partisan elections
There are 513 judges on the Illinois Circuit Court, each elected in partisan elections to six-year terms. Upon the completion of these terms, judges who wish to continue serving must compete in uncontested, nonpartisan retention elections.[1]
The chief judge of each circuit court is selected by peer vote; he or she serves in that capacity indefinitely.[1]
The circuit courts are also served by 391 associate judges, who are limited in that they may not preside over cases in which the defendant is charged with a felony (an offense punishable by one or more years in prison). Associate judges are appointed to four-year terms by circuit judges.[2][1]
Midterm vacancies are filled by Illinois Supreme Court appointment.[1]
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a judge must be:[1]
- a U.S. citizen;
- a circuit/county resident; and
- licensed to practice law in Illinois.
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Ashonta Rice has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. Send a message to Ashonta Rice asking them to fill out the survey. If you are Ashonta Rice, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey?
Any candidate running for elected office, at any level, can complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Survey. Completing the survey will update the candidate's Ballotpedia profile, letting voters know who they are and what they stand for. More than 26,000 candidates have taken Ballotpedia's candidate survey since we launched it in 2015. Learn more about the survey here.
You can ask Ashonta Rice to fill out this survey by using the button below or emailing info@ashontaforjudge.com.
Campaign website
Rice's campaign website stated the following:
A tireless advocate for children, Ashonta C. Rice has twenty years of legal practice representing clients in Domestic Relations, Child Protection, and DCFS administrative hearings as a founding partner in a highly sought after family law and estate planning practice.
Ashonta C. Rice is recognized for delivering justice when all other options have been exhausted; litigating matters to successful outcomes in the circuit court after unsuccessful administrative hearings.
Ashonta C. Rice believes that all litigants should be treated with RESPECT, have their voices HEARD, and should be treated FAIRLY.
Ashonta C. Rice will administer true JUSTICE in Cook County!
— Ashonta Rice's campaign website (March 5, 2026)
2024
Ashonta Rice did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Cook County Circuit Court |
Footnotes
Federal courts:
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Central District of Illinois, Northern District of Illinois, Southern District of Illinois • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Central District of Illinois, Northern District of Illinois, Southern District of Illinois
State courts:
Illinois Supreme Court • Illinois Appellate Court • Illinois Circuit Court
State resources:
Courts in Illinois • Illinois judicial elections • Judicial selection in Illinois
