R. Cary Capparelli
R. Cary Capparelli (Republican Party) is running for election to the U.S. Senate to represent Illinois. He is on the ballot in the Republican primary on March 17, 2026.[source]
Capparelli completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
R. Cary Capparelli was born in Chicago, Illinois. He earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Drake University. He earned a graduate degree in journalism from the Northwestern University Medill School, a graduate degree from Northeastern Illinois University, and a doctoral degree from the University of London. His career experience includes working as a geography professor and as the president of OMNI-Communique.[1][2][3]
Elections
2026
See also: United States Senate election in Illinois, 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.
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for U.S. Senate Illinois
Austin Mink (Independent), Tyrone Muhammad (Independent), and Anthony Smith (Independent) are running in the general election for U.S. Senate Illinois on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Austin Mink (Independent)  | |
 | Tyrone Muhammad (Independent) | |
| Anthony Smith (Independent) | ||
| ||||
| = 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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Democratic primary
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Illinois
The following candidates are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Illinois on March 17, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Steve Botsford Jr. | |
 | Sean Brown | |
 | Awisi Bustos | |
 | Jonathan Dean | |
 | Robin Kelly | |
 | Raja Krishnamoorthi | |
 | Bryan Maxwell | |
 | Kevin Ryan | |
 | Juliana Stratton | |
 | Christopher Swann | |
 | Adam Delgado (Write-in) | |
| ||||
| = 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
- Dick Durbin (D)
- Stanley Leavell (D)
- Robert Palmer (D)
- Adair Rodriquez (D)
- Jump Shepherd (D)
- Anthony Williams (D)
Republican primary
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
Republican primary for U.S. Senate Illinois
The following candidates are running in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Illinois on March 17, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | R. Cary Capparelli | |
 | Casey Chlebek | |
 | Jeannie Evans | |
 | Pamela Denise Long | |
 | Jimmy Lee Tillman II | |
 | Don Tracy | |
 | Max Rice (Write-in) | |
| ||||
| = 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
- Panagioti Bartzis (R)
- Doug Bennett (R)
- CaSándra Claiborne (R)
- John Goodman (R)
- Lloyd Jones (R)
- Januario Ortega (R)
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2024
See also: Municipal elections in Cook County, Illinois (2024)
General election
Special general election for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Incumbent Precious Brady-Davis defeated R. Cary Capparelli in the special general election for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Precious Brady-Davis (D) | 69.3 | 1,284,203 |
| R. Cary Capparelli (R) | 30.7 | 567,911 | |
| Total votes: 1,852,114 | |||
| = 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
Special Democratic primary for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Incumbent Precious Brady-Davis advanced from the special Democratic primary for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago on March 19, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Precious Brady-Davis | 100.0 | 425,160 |
| Total votes: 425,160 | |||
| = 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
- Andrew Holmes (D)
Republican primary election
Special Republican primary for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
R. Cary Capparelli advanced from the special Republican primary for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago on March 19, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | R. Cary Capparelli | 100.0 | 76,809 |
| Total votes: 76,809 | |||
| = 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 did not identify endorsements for Capparelli in this election.
2022
See also: Municipal elections in Cook County, Illinois (2022)
General election
General election for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (3 seats)
Incumbent Mariyana Spyropoulos, Patricia Theresa Flynn, and Yumeka Brown defeated R. Cary Capparelli and Mark Buettner in the general election for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Mariyana Spyropoulos (D) | 29.6 | 865,103 | |
| ✔ | Patricia Theresa Flynn (D) | 26.2 | 766,291 | |
| ✔ |  | Yumeka Brown (D) | 24.3 | 710,037 |
| R. Cary Capparelli (R) | 12.5 | 365,671 | |
 | Mark Buettner (G) | 7.5 | 219,711 | |
| Total votes: 2,926,813 | |||
| = 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 Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (3 seats)
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Mariyana Spyropoulos | 22.2 | 257,580 | |
| ✔ | Patricia Theresa Flynn | 17.4 | 201,003 | |
| ✔ | | Yumeka Brown | 16.0 | 185,222 |
 | Sharon Waller | 12.9 | 149,165 | |
| Precious Brady-Davis | 10.9 | 126,672 | |
| Frank Avila | 8.6 | 99,815 | ||
| Rick Garcia | 6.6 | 76,019 | ||
| Cristina Nonato | 5.4 | 62,738 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 5 | ||
| Total votes: 1,158,219 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (3 seats)
R. Cary Capparelli advanced from the Republican primary for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | R. Cary Capparelli | 100.0 | 100,427 |
| Total votes: 100,427 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2020
See also: Illinois House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Illinois House of Representatives District 20
Incumbent Brad Stephens defeated Michelle Darbro in the general election for Illinois House of Representatives District 20 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Brad Stephens (R) | 54.6 | 28,314 | |
| Michelle Darbro (D) | 45.4 | 23,546 | ||
| Total votes: 51,860 | |||
| = 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 20
Michelle Darbro defeated R. Cary Capparelli in the Democratic primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 20 on March 17, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Michelle Darbro | 66.9 | 9,921 | |
| R. Cary Capparelli | 33.1 | 4,905 | |
| Total votes: 14,826 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 20
Incumbent Brad Stephens advanced from the Republican primary for Illinois House of Representatives District 20 on March 17, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Brad Stephens | 100.0 | 3,705 | |
| Total votes: 3,705 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2018
General election
General election for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (3 seats)
The following candidates ran in the general election for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Debra Shore (D) | 26.5 | 1,025,409 |
| ✔ | Kari Steele (D) | 23.6 | 912,598 | |
| ✔ |  | Marcelino Garcia (D) | 21.8 | 841,193 |
| R. Cary Capparelli (R) | 8.6 | 332,435 | |
| Shundar Lin (R) | 6.8 | 263,494 | ||
| Karen Roothaan (G) | 4.5 | 172,278 | ||
| Christopher Anthony (G) | 4.4 | 171,927 | ||
| Tammie Vinson (G) | 3.8 | 147,638 | ||
| Total votes: 3,866,972 | |||
| = 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 Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (3 seats)
Incumbent Debra Shore, incumbent Kari Steele, and Marcelino Garcia defeated incumbent Martin Durkan in the Democratic primary for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago on March 20, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Debra Shore | 31.7 | 436,325 |
| ✔ | Kari Steele | 28.6 | 393,570 | |
| ✔ | | Marcelino Garcia | 20.8 | 286,540 |
| Martin Durkan | 18.9 | 259,701 | ||
| Total votes: 1,376,136 | |||
| = 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
- Rene Avila (D)
- Elizabeth Joyce (D)
- Toni Williams (D)
- Robert Shaw (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (3 seats)
R. Cary Capparelli and Shundar Lin advanced from the Republican primary for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago on March 20, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | R. Cary Capparelli | 63.2 | 92,637 |
| ✔ | Shundar Lin | 36.8 | 53,832 | |
| Total votes: 146,469 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Green primary election
The Green primary election was canceled. Christopher Anthony, Karen Roothaan, and Tammie Vinson advanced from the Green primary for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.
2016
Cook County held elections for county board of review, state's attorney, clerk of the circuit court, county recorder, and special districts in 2016. The general election was held on November 8, 2016. A primary election was held on March 15, 2016.[4] The following candidates ran in the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago primary election for the 3 full-term open seats.[5]
| Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, 3 full-term seats Primary Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Barbara McGowan Incumbent |
24.42% | 517,239 |
| Mariyana Spyropoulos Incumbent |
19.99% | 423,313 |
| Josina Morita |
18.36% | 388,766 |
| Joseph Cook | 15.20% | 321,814 |
| Kevin McDevitt | 14.32% | 303,170 |
| R. Cary Capparelli | 7.72% | 163,482 |
| Total Votes | 2,117,784 | |
| Source: Cook County Clerk, "Cook County and The City of Chicago Combined Summary, Primary Election March 15, 2016," accessed November 27, 2016 | ||
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
R. Cary Capparelli completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Capparelli's responses.
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Capparelli is the son of the late Ralph C. Capparelli who served in the Illinois House of Representatives, as a moderate Democrat, for seventeen (17) consecutive terms.
Much of the younger Capparelli’s professional career spanned the globe including organizing the first motorsports competitions between the United States and the former Soviet Union, international boxing matches, international bicycle racing, and also developing a vineyard in Argentina.
“I am not a politician,” stressed Capparelli. “However, I am a hard working individual with the experience and ability to function as an effective ‘America First’ lawmaker.”
The candidate holds four (4) university degrees: BAJ from Drake University, MSJ from Northwestern University, MA in geography from Northeastern Illinois University and a PhD in geography from the University of London.
“Washington has plenty of lawyers but lacks common sense economists, geographers, and those from other important disciplines that form domestic and world opinion,” added Capparelli.
He continues to operate his Chicago-area based management/marketing firm, and has instructed cultural and regional geography courses at South Dakota State University the past eight (8) years.- 'Common-Sense' policies that strengthen both all domestic and world issues.
- 'America First' policies that effect every American economically and socially (fighting crime and support law enforcement).
- And, the absolute 'America First' policy in support of our national defense and protection of global interests.
Globally, the axis of evil, namely the Democratic Republic of North Korea; the Islamic Republic of Iran; North Korea, the Peoples Republic of China; and the Russian Federation as a challenge and threat to American interests.
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
Capparelli's campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
CAPPARELLI'S SENATE PRIORITIES R. Cary Capparelli, Republican primary candidate for the U.S. Senate from Illinois, suggests the last two (2) Democrat presidents (Obama and Biden), and Democrat members in both the Senate and House have failed in their most important responsibilities. Capparelli listed his priorities, in no particular order because ‘things can change from day-to-day, as follows:
Politically, Capparelli was a Public Member of the Illinois Banking and Real Estate Board from 1997 to 1999. Also, he was a Board Member of the Illinois International Port from 2000 to 2009 where he was a Member of the Executive Committee and Chairman of three committees: Homeland Security, Legislative, and Marketing. The candidate, who holds a PhD in Geography, added America needs to be respected more in the United Nations; particularly by its UN Security Council. And, noting Communism is banned in the United States, that the rise of Socialism in America needs to be halted as Socialism and Communism share the same basic concepts. Capparelli concluded, “As a U.S. Senator, I will seek solutions to these problems and all other complications facing America and Americans”. [6] |
” |
| —R. Cary Capparelli's campaign website (2026)[7] | ||
2024
R. Cary Capparelli did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
R. Cary Capparelli did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
R. Cary Capparelli completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Capparelli's responses.
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- Capparelli's views are similar to most constituents in the district
- Experienced in both the private and public sectors
- Anti-Madigan candidate vowing to curb cronyism
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 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 15, 2020
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 30, 2025
- ↑ R. Cary Capparelli's campaign website, "Experience / Qualifications," accessed May 27, 2025
- ↑ Cook County Clerk, "Presidential Primary Election General Information," accessed September 7, 2016
- ↑ Cook County Clerk, "Presidential Primary Election General Information," accessed September 7, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ R. Cary Capparelli's campaign website, “Positions,” accessed XDATEX
