Homer Markel
Homer Markel (Democratic Party) (also known as Chip) is running for election to the Illinois House of Representatives to represent District 118. He is on the ballot in the Democratic primary on March 17, 2026.[source]
Markel completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Homer Markel served in the U.S. Navy from 1978 to 1982. He earned a high school diploma from Trico High School. As of 2026, he is retired.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: Illinois House of Representatives elections, 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 Illinois House of Representatives District 118
Homer Markel is running in the Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 118 on March 17, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Homer Markel  | |
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 118
Scott Doody, Dayton Loyd, and Harold Visser are running in the Republican primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 118 on March 17, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Scott Doody | ||
 | Dayton Loyd | |
 | Harold Visser | |
| ||||
| = 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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Joe DeBose (R)
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2022
See also: Illinois' 12th Congressional District election, 2022
General election
General election for U.S. House Illinois District 12
Incumbent Mike Bost defeated Homer Markel in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 12 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mike Bost (R) | 75.0 | 218,379 |
| Homer Markel (D) | 25.0 | 72,791 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 1 | ||
| Total votes: 291,171 | |||
| = 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 U.S. House Illinois District 12
Homer Markel defeated Joshua Qualls in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 12 on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Homer Markel | 56.7 | 11,068 |
 | Joshua Qualls | 43.3 | 8,438 | |
| Total votes: 19,506 | |||
| = 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
- Keith Richardson (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 12
Incumbent Mike Bost advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 12 on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mike Bost | 100.0 | 88,681 |
| Total votes: 88,681 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Homer Markel completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Markel's responses.
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- Energy bills are hitting our families harder every single month. Seniors on fixed incomes, working parents and small business owners are all feeling the squeeze. We need real solutions that lower costs now and protect us from skyrocketing utility rates in the future. That means expanding access to affordable, renewable energy like solar power. Solar isn't just good for the environment, it's good for our wallets. By investing in local solar projects, encouraging rooftop solar for homeowners, and supporting community solar programs, we can reduce dependence on costly energy sources and stabilize utility bills for the long term. Together, we can turn the lights on to a more affordable tomorrow.
- Families in our communities are working harder than ever, and they deserve to keep more of what they earn. I believe we need more oversight of our TIF districts and Enterprise Zones with full transparency, regular audits, and clear accountability for where every dollar goes. These funds were meant to strengthen our neighborhoods, not operate without public scrutiny. When we shine a light on TIF District/Enterprise Zone spending and stop the waste, we ease the burden on homeowners and taxpayers. This campaign is about common-sense leadership that puts working families, seniors, and homeowners first. Cut the waste. Increase transparency. Lower property taxes.
- Creating good paying jobs in our District is one of our top priorities. I am committed to bringing meaningful, lasting employment to the district by focusing on a few key strategies: 1) Continued investment in infrastructure and broadband access. 2) Support local industry from agriculture and a stable power base to renewable energy and manufacturing. I will work to modernize and support industries while encouraging innovation and sustainable growth. 3) Workforce Development: Partnering with unions, local colleges and employers to expand training programs and apprenticeships. 4) Investing in Small Towns and rural communities: I will work tirelessly to see the Port of Cairo is completed and the Tamms Correctional Center is reopened.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2022
Homer Markel completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Markel's responses.
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- The economy is not supporting the working and middle class. We need higher wages and a handle on inflation.
- Our democracy is under threat. We must protect voting rights, and take swift action against those who threaten the tenets of democracy.
- Personal freedoms and civil liberties should be protected for every American. All Americans should have to right to privacy, to make their own personal healthcare choices, to live authentically, to form their chosen relationships, and more.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign website
Markel's campaign website stated the following:
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Voting Rights: Our voting rights must be protected Protecting our democracy is an essential obligation for all Americans. This country was founded on the belief that all Americans should have the right to vote for their beliefs. Yet, certain states are currently attempting to take away that fundamental right by enacting restrictive voting laws. In 2021, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act failed to pass. We need bills like the J.R.L. voting rights act to protect everyone’s right to vote for what they believe.
Roe v Wade is about much more than a woman’s right to choose; it is also about the right to privacy. In the years before Roe was decided, there were over 1 million illegal abortions performed annually. Roe v Wade did not increase the number of abortions, but it did make them legal, safer, and preserved a woman’s right to privacy. If the Supreme Court overturns Roe v Wade, abortions will still happen. What will change, however, is that many women will not have access to safe medical options. Furthermore, women will lose the right to privacy. The Supreme Court is threatening to dissolve a 50-year precedent. What will be the next privacy issue challenged or the next precedent overturned? What other established precedents will be at risk? I support personal freedoms, personal privacy, and a woman’s right to choose.
The Federal Deficit has exploded over the last couple of decades. Since 2014, our debt to G.D.P. ratio has been 100% or higher. Fiscal responsibility is essential to creating a better, stronger, and more prosperous nation. Congress is “borrowing” money from the Social Security Trust Fund, which weakens the Social Security system. We need legislators who will control spending by requiring funding to be attached to the legislation. If it is not funded, it should not pass. I will push for any legislation requiring funding to have funding attached to pass. I will push to balance our budgets. In 2001 America had a surplus of $127 billion, but in 2020 there was a deficit of $3.1 trillion. We must cut unnecessary and excessive spending, such as giving government subsidies to billion-dollar companies. We must close tax loopholes that allow the extremely wealthy to avoid paying their fair share in taxes.
We must have a comprehensive energy plan. Since the 1970s, energy has been a critical issue for many Americans, from gas prices to our carbon footprint. We must act and invest in renewable energy, cancel government subsidies for the Big Oil Companies, and work towards a carbon-neutral footprint. I believe that America can and will thrive once we invest in renewable energy research and incentives programs, such as clean coal research and more.
Social Security Senator Rick Scott from Florida introduced his “Rescue America” plan. This plan, if passed, would allow federal programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid to expire within five years if Congress fails to pass legislation to renew them. Republican legislators are trying to create ways to end these programs. These are the programs that most senior citizens rely on to survive. American citizens should not have to struggle with health care. We must protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security by providing appropriate funding. Pharmaceutical Costs The Medicare Modernization Act put corporate pharmacy benefit managers in charge of acquiring drugs for the Medicare Part D plan. These for-profit companies cost the American consumer billions of dollars and must be eliminated. Allowing Medicare to negotiate the cost of drugs would help lower out-of-pocket costs, lower premiums for Part D coverage, and more. Veteran Health Finally, we must protect veterans through legislation like the Pact Act that improves health care and benefits for those men and women exposed to toxic substances while serving our great nation.[2] |
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| —Homer Markel's campaign website (2022)[3] | ||
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.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 23, 2026
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Homer "Chip" Markel for Congress, “Issues,” accessed August 29, 2022
