Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.
Christian Mitchell
Christian Mitchell (Democratic Party) is running for election for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois. He declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on March 17, 2026.[source]
Mitchell (Democratic Party) was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing District 26. He assumed office in 2013. He left office on January 11, 2019.
Mitchell resigned on January 11, 2019, to work for the gubernatorial administration of J.B. Pritzker (D).[1]
In July 2018, Mitchell was named the interim executive director of the Democratic Party of Illinois.[2]
Biography
Mitchell earned his bachelor's in public policy studies from the University of Chicago. His professional experience includes working as a community organizer, deputy field director for the Lisa Madigan re-election campaign, and campaign manager for Will Burns, Alderman, 4th Ward, in 2010.[3]
Elections
2026
See also: Illinois gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on March 17, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
Christian Mitchell is running in the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois on March 17, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Christian Mitchell | |
| ||||
 = 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. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2018
General election
General election for Illinois House of Representatives District 26
Incumbent Christian Mitchell won election in the general election for Illinois House of Representatives District 26 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Christian Mitchell (D) | 100.0 | 35,992 |
| Total votes: 35,992 | |||
| = 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 Illinois House of Representatives District 26
Incumbent Christian Mitchell advanced from the Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 26 on March 20, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Christian Mitchell | 100.0 | 15,926 |
| Total votes: 15,926 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2016
| Obama endorsement |
|---|
|
| During the 2016 election cycle Mitchell was one of the candidates endorsed by President Barack Obama |
Full list of Obama's 2016 endorsements |
Elections for the Illinois House of Representatives were held in 2016. The primary election was held on March 15, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was November 30, 2015.[4]
Incumbent Christian Mitchell ran unopposed in the Illinois House of Representatives District 26 general election.[5][6]
| Illinois House of Representatives, District 26 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic |  Christian Mitchell Incumbent (unopposed) | |
| Source: Illinois State Board of Elections | ||
Incumbent Christian Mitchell defeated Jhatayn "Jay" Travis in the Illinois House of Representatives District 26 Democratic primary.[7][8]
| Illinois House of Representatives, District 26 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Christian Mitchell Incumbent |
56.19% | 14,735 | |
| Democratic | Jhatayn "Jay" Travis | 43.81% | 11,489 | |
| Total Votes | 26,224 | |||
2014
Elections for the Illinois House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on March 18, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was December 2, 2013. Incumbent Christian Mitchell defeated Jhatayn "Jay" Travis in the Democratic primary, while Jacob "Coby" Hakalir ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Mitchell then defeated Hakalir in the general election.[9][10][11][12]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Christian L. Mitchell Incumbent |
83.5% | 25,715 | |
| Republican | Jacob "Coby" Hakalir | 16.5% | 5,083 | |
| Total Votes | 30,798 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Christian Mitchell Incumbent |
53% | 4,949 |
| Jhatayn "Jay" Travis | 47% | 4,393 |
| Total Votes | 9,342 | |
2012
Mitchell won election in the 2012 election for Illinois House of Representatives District 26. Mitchell defeated Kenny Johnson in the March 20 Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[13][14][15]
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Christian Mitchell has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. If you are Christian Mitchell, 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 22,000 candidates have taken Ballotpedia's candidate survey since we launched it in 2015. Learn more about the survey here.
Help improve Ballotpedia - send us candidate contact info.
2014
Mitchell's campaign website highlighted the following issues:[16]
- Pension Reform
- Education
- Excerpt: "Christian is fighting to reform the way we fund our schools, so that all children get their fair share of resources. Christian believes that the public should have more say in the decisions made by Chicago Public Schools, and that is why he is a co-sponsor of a bill to make the Chicago Public School board democratically elected."
- Public safety
- Excerpt: "Christian is proactive in sponsoring legislation to keep illegal guns out of the hands of criminals."
- Jobs
- To increase employment, Christian:
- "Started a program that gives low-interest loans to small local businesses, so that they can create more jobs in our community."
- "Targets government investment where Illinois has the most potential for growth. This ensures that the jobs of the new economy will be created right here at home."
- "Fights for updated school courses to keep Illinois competitive in the future."
- "Looks for results in government efforts to create jobs. Christian pushes for accountability from government programs. He wants to use set goals to determine whether or not a program grows enough jobs. His efforts for transparency make sure that Illinois directs investment in the most effective way to grow our economy."
- To increase employment, Christian:
- Marriage equality
- Excerpt: "Christian believes family and commitment are the roots to a strong community, and that all people should be allowed to make a commitment to the one that they love."
- Ethics
- Excerpt: "Illinois doesn’t have the best history producing honest government officials, but Christian is working to change that. Christian isn’t beholden to special interest groups. He’s in Springfield to fight for you."
2012
Mitchell's campaign website listed the following issues:[17]
- Ethics Policy
- Excerpt: "The people of the 26th District have long supported reform efforts and elected officials who work to make government more accountable. Christian Mitchell pledges to uphold this tradition as State Representative."
- Transportation Policy
- Excerpt: "As State Representative, Christian will pursue several goals to maintain and enhance the state’s transportation system."
- Jobs Policy
- Excerpt: "Illinois needs more jobs. Our state’s unemployment rate is 9.8 percent, 1.5 points higher than the national rate. Entrepreneurs and businesses face an unstable financial landscape that impedes job creation."
- Energy Policy
- Excerpt: "The state of Illinois is at a crossroads with respect to energy use and the environment. We must re-examine our energy sources: fossil fuel use pollutes our air and skews the nation’s foreign policy."
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Endorsements
2014
In 2014, Mitchell's endorsements included the following:[18]
- The Illinois Observer
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Christian Mitchell |
100% | 37,002 | |
| Total Votes | 37,002 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Christian Mitchell |
51.9% | 6,739 |
| Kenny Johnson | 48.1% | 6,238 |
| Total Votes | 12,977 | |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Christian Mitchell |
100% | 37,002 | |
| Total Votes | 37,002 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Christian Mitchell |
51.9% | 6,739 |
| Kenny Johnson | 48.1% | 6,238 |
| Total Votes | 12,977 | |
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Illinois scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2018
In 2018, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 8 through May 31.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills that "help or hinder Illinois citizens with developmental disabilities access more included lives in their homes and communities."'
- Legislators are scored on their votes on manufacturing issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2017, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 11 through May 31. There were also special sessions. The 1st special session was June 21-July 6. The 2nd special session was July 26-July 31. During the 3rd special session, the Senate met on August 13, and the House met on August 16. The 4th special session was on August 28-29. There was a veto session from October 24-November 9.
|
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2016, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 13 through May 31.
|
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2015, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 14 through December 7 (extended session).
|
2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2014, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 29 through June 2.
|
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the Illinois State Legislature was in session from January 9 through May 31.
|
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Chicago Sun Times, "State Rep. Christian Mitchell resigns to join Pritzker administration," January 11, 2019
- ↑ Chicago-Sun Times, "South Side legislator named interim director of state Democratic Party," July 10, 2018
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Rep. Christian Mitchell," accessed February 24, 2014
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Election and Campaign Finance Calendar," accessed November 30, 2015
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Candidate list: General Election - 11/8/2016," accessed August 8, 2016
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Election results, General election 2016," accessed December 15, 2016
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Candidate Filing Search," accessed January 3, 2016
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Election Results: GENERAL PRIMARY - 3/15/2016," accessed August 8, 2016
- ↑ Illinois Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed March 18, 2014
- ↑ Illinois Board of Elections, "General Primary Election Official Canvass," April 18, 2014
- ↑ Illinois Secretary of State, "Official general election candidate list," accessed March 18, 2014
- ↑ The Chicago Tribune, "Results List (Unofficial)," accessed November 5, 2014
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Candidate List," accessed December 5, 2011
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Official 2012 Primary Results," accessed May 14, 2014
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, “Official Vote - November 6, 2012 General Election,” accessed January 18, 2013
- ↑ Official campaign website, "Policy," accessed February 14, 2014
- ↑ Campaign website, Policy
- ↑ www.illinoisobserver.net, "Illinois House and Senate 2014 Primary Endorsements Part I,” accessed February 24, 2014
- ↑ Citizen Action Illinois, "99th General Assembly Legislative Scorecard 2016," accessed July 11, 2017
- ↑ Illinois Parents of Adults with Developmental Disabilities, "2016 Illinois Community Living Report," accessed July 11, 2017
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Kimberly du Buclet (D) |
Illinois House of Representatives District 26 2013–2019 |
Succeeded by Kambium Buckner (D) |
