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Illinois' 15th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 17 Republican primary)

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Illinois' 15th Congressional District
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Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: November 3, 2025
Primary: March 17, 2026
General: November 3, 2026
How to vote
Poll times:

6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voting in Illinois

Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican
DDHQ and The Hill: Pending
Inside Elections: Solid Republican
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026
See also
Illinois' 15th Congressional District
U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th • 11th • 12th • 13th • 14th • 15th • 16th • 17th
Illinois elections, 2026
U.S. Congress elections, 2026
U.S. Senate elections, 2026
U.S. House elections, 2026

A Republican Party primary takes place on March 17, 2026, in Illinois' 15th Congressional District to determine which Republican candidate will run in the district's general election on November 3, 2026.

Candidate filing deadline Primary election General election
November 3, 2025
March 17, 2026
November 3, 2026



A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. In Illinois, state law provides for a closed primary where a voter must be affiliated with a party to vote in that party's primary. However, voters state their affiliation at the polls and any voter may change their affiliation on the day of the primary. A voter's eligibility to vote a party's ballot may be challenged.[1]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

This page focuses on Illinois' 15th Congressional District Republican primary. For more in-depth information on the district's Democratic primary and the general election, see the following pages:

Candidates and election results


Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 15

Incumbent Mary Miller, Judy Bowlby, and Ryan Tebrugge are running in the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 15 on March 17, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Mary Miller
Mary Miller
Image of Judy Bowlby
Judy Bowlby Candidate Connection
Image of Ryan Tebrugge
Ryan Tebrugge Candidate Connection

Incumbents are bolded and underlined.

Candidate Connection = 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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Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Judy Bowlby

Image of Judy Bowlby

WebsiteFacebook

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "I grew up on my aunt and uncle’s farm in Central Illinois in the small town of Cerro Gordo, helping with livestock, walking the bean fields, and detasseling corn. After high school, I graduated with a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Eastern Illinois University. While in college, I traveled with both the Illinois and American Soybean Associations as a goodwill ambassador educating the public, government leaders and international ambassadors and the community about the nutritional benefits of the soybean and farmers’ ability to feed the world. After college, as a mental health counselor in central Illinois, I helped people who were facing life issues such as anxiety, depression, drug addiction, PTSD and loneliness. I went into a new field in my late 20s as a pharmaceutical representative, calling on local pharmacies, doctors and teaching institutions (U of I and SIU) in Central Illinois. In addition to sales, I provided educational symposiums to the local medical community. In my mid 30s, I became a Government Affairs Manager and for the next 25 years represented pharmaceutical/biotech/medical/dental companies. I have a proven record working with both Republicans and Democrats to compromise and pass legislation and policy that expanded access to healthcare on behalf of the people of Illinois. I have worked with associations, advocacy groups, and the people of Illinois to message to our political parties what we need to “get the job done.”"

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

Constituents in the 15th district are struggling to pay for everyday necessities, facing job loss, stagnant wages, and instability in the healthcare, manufacturing, and agricultural sectors. The district represents 31% of Illinois’ total agricultural sales and farmers are facing another difficult season due to tariff policy and high production costs. We are facing a crisis with hospital closures and provider shortages leading to reduced access to care and worse outcomes. Manufacturing, the second largest employment sector, has been impacted due to volatile tariffs and supply chain chaos leading to reduced investment and hiring. This district needs someone who will first show up, focus on these issues, and fight for the middle class.

The first and most effective way to bring immediate relief to the people in the district would be to request Community Project Funding for communities and initiatives throughout the district. This is the most pressing issue that is being ignored by the current office holder. These funds can be used by communities for updating and improving water systems, wastewater treatment facilities, roads, bridges, resources for fire departments, public safety and infrastructure needs. I would immediately apply for Community Project Funding and begin to distribute the millions of dollars the district has been entitled to but not receiving for almost 6 years thus saving local tax dollars from being spent on federal eligible projects.

We must learn to see one another as Americans first before party. We must learn again to listen, share our experiences and compromise for a common cause. For 30 years in Government Affairs, I collaborated with both Republicans and Democrats to co-sponsor and pass legislation benefiting Illinois residents. My efforts also involved coordinating advocacy groups, associations, and citizens—including high-profile supporters like Muhammad Ali—to testify before committees. I expanded a healthcare program to cover Parkinson’s Disease and four other conditions which became law in Illinois and was later adopted by 10 other states. These collaborations show that results are possible when Congress members prioritize serving people over party interests.

Ryan Tebrugge

Image of Ryan Tebrugge

WebsiteFacebook

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "Ryan is a small business owner running to represent Illinois’ 15th Congressional District. Raised by two union parents, he developed a strong respect for hard work, workers’ rights, and the role organized labor has played in building the American middle class. While firmly pro union, he also believes in accountability and transparency to ensure unions serve the people they represent. Ryan supports law enforcement, rural communities, farmers, and small businesses that form the backbone of the district. He believes government should focus on pragmatic, results driven solutions that lower costs, create jobs, and protect taxpayers from wasteful spending through strong oversight of every dollar. On healthcare, Ryan emphasizes preventative care, affordability, and patient focused reforms, along with improving food safety standards to better protect public health. He is also a strong supporter of responsible innovation, including artificial intelligence paired with data privacy protections and clear rules for corporations. Ryan’s campaign centers on practical leadership and putting people over politics. He believes leaders should work together to strengthen local communities, grow the economy, and expand opportunity for the next generation."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

Voters deserve leaders who focus on pragmatic solutions, not political drama. This campaign is about lowering costs, creating jobs, and making government work better for everyday people.

Every dollar should be spent responsibly. Strong oversight, transparency, and cutting waste are essential to rebuilding trust in government and protecting hardworking families.

From small businesses and farmers to law enforcement and working families, strong communities are the foundation of a strong country. Policy should support those who keep America running.

Voting information

See also: Voting in Illinois

Election information in Illinois: March 17, 2026, election.

What is the voter registration deadline?

  • In-person: March 17, 2026
  • By mail: Postmarked by Feb. 17, 2026
  • Online: March 1, 2026

Is absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

Yes

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

  • In-person: March 16, 2026
  • By mail: Received by March 12, 2026
  • Online: March 12, 2026

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

  • In-person: March 17, 2026
  • By mail: Postmarked by March 17, 2026

Is early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What are the early voting start and end dates?

Feb. 5, 2026 to March 16, 2026

Are all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, is a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When are polls open on Election Day?

6:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (CT)

Campaign finance

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Mary Miller Republican Party $976,301 $840,154 $782,404 As of February 25, 2026
Judy Bowlby Republican Party $23,953 $19,270 $4,684 As of February 25, 2026
Ryan Tebrugge Republican Party $5,470 $3,308 $2,375 As of February 25, 2026

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.

District analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about voter composition, past elections, and demographics in both the district and the state.

  • District map - A map of the district in place for the election.
  • Competitiveness - Information about the competitiveness of 2026 U.S. House elections in the state.
  • Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the district and the state.
  • State party control - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.


Below is the district map in place for this election. Click the map below to enlarge it.

2023_01_03_il_congressional_district_015.jpg
See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2026

This section contains data on U.S. House primary election competitiveness in Illinois.

Post-filing deadline analysis

The following analysis covers all U.S. House districts up for election in Illinois in 2026. Information below was calculated on Nov. 3, 2025, and may differ from information shown in the table above due to candidate replacements and withdrawals after that time.

One hundred five candidates — 69 Democrats and 36 Republicans — ran for Illinois’ 17 U.S. House districts. That’s 6.2 candidates per district. There were 2.7 candidates per district in 2024, 5.6 in 2022, 4.1 in 2020, 4.4 in 2018, 2.7 in 2016, and 2.8 in 2014.

This was the highest total number of candidates who ran for the U.S. House since 2014.

Five districts were open in 2026. There were no districts open in 2024, four in 2022, one in 2020, one in 2018, one in 2016, and none in 2014. Reps. Jesus Garcia (D-4th), Danny K. Davis (D-7th), and Jan Schakowsky (D-9th) retired from public office. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-8th) and Robin Kelly (D-2nd) ran for the U.S. Senate.

Twenty primaries — nine Democratic and 11 Republican — were contested in 2026. In total, there were 11 contested primaries in 2024, 19 in 2022, 21 in 2020, 20 in 2018, 14 in 2016, and nine in 2014.

Twenty candidates — 16 Democrats and four Republicans — ran for the open 9th district, the most candidates that ran for a district in 2026.

Five incumbents — four Democrats and one Republican — faced primary challengers in 2026. There were five incumbents in a contested primary in 2024, seven in 2022, 10 in 2020, seven in 2018, seven in 2016, and three in 2014.

Candidates filed to run in the Republican and Democratic primaries in all 17 districts, meaning no districts were guaranteed to either party.

Partisan Voter Index

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is R+20. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 20 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Illinois' 15th the 32nd most Republican district nationally.[2]

2020 presidential election results

The table below shows what the vote in the 2024 presidential election was in this district. The presidential election data was compiled by The Downballot.

2024 presidential results in Illinois' 15th Congressional District
Kamala Harris Democratic PartyDonald Trump Republican Party
29.0%69.0%

Presidential voting history

See also: Presidential election in Illinois, 2024

Illinois presidential election results (1900-2024)

  • 17 Democratic wins
  • 15 Republican wins
Year 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
Winning Party R R R D R R R R D D D D D R R D D R R R R R R D D D D D D D D D
See also: Party control of Illinois state government

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of Illinois' congressional delegation as of October 2025.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Illinois
Party U.S. Senate U.S. House Total
Democratic 2 14 16
Republican 0 3 3
Independent 0 0 0
Vacancies 0 0 0
Total 2 17 19

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in Illinois' top four state executive offices as of October 2025.

State executive officials in Illinois, October 2025
OfficeOfficeholder
GovernorDemocratic Party J.B. Pritzker
Lieutenant GovernorDemocratic Party Juliana Stratton
Secretary of StateDemocratic Party Alexi Giannoulias
Attorney GeneralDemocratic Party Kwame Raoul

State legislature

Illinois State Senate

Party As of October 2025
     Democratic Party 40
     Republican Party 19
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 59

Illinois House of Representatives

Party As of October 2025
     Democratic Party 78
     Republican Party 40
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 118

Trifecta control

Illinois Party Control: 1992-2025
Nineteen years of Democratic trifectas  •  Two years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor R R R R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R D D D D D D D
Senate D R R R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D
House D D D R R D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D

Ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Illinois in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Illinois, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2026
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Illinois U.S. House Established parties Not less than .5% (.005) of the qualified primary electors of their party in the congressional district N/A 11/3/2025 Source
Illinois U.S. House Independents Not less than 5% nor more than 8% (or 50 more than the minimum, whichever is greater) of the total number of persons who voted at the last regular general election within the congressional district. N/A 5/26/2026 Source

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Illinois General Assembly, "Ill. Rev. Stat. ch. 10, § 5/7–44," accessed December 4, 2025
  2. ↑ Cook Political Report, "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)," accessed July 1, 2025


Illinois' current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
Tammy Duckworth (D)
Dick Durbin (D)
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
Mike Bost (R)
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
Democratic Party (16)
Republican Party (3)


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