United States Senate election in Illinois, 2026

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2022
U.S. Senate, Illinois
Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge.png
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 Democratic
DDHQ and The Hill: Pending
Inside Elections: Solid Democratic
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Democratic
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026
See also
U.S. Senate, Illinois
U.S. Senate1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th11th12th13th14th15th16th17th
Illinois elections, 2026
U.S. Congress elections, 2026
U.S. Senate elections, 2026
U.S. House elections, 2026

Voters in Illinois will elect one member to the U.S. Senate in the general election on November 3, 2026. The primary is March 17, 2026. The filing deadline is November 3, 2025. The election will fill the Class II Senate seat held by Dick Durbin (D), who first took office in 1997. Durbin announced he would not seek re-election on April 23, 2025, saying, "The decision of whether to run for re-election has not been easy. I truly love the job of being a United States Senator. But in my heart, I know it’s time to pass the torch."[1] The Associated Press' Mary Clare Jalonick and John O'Connor called Durbin's retirement "a generational shift in Senate Democratic leadership where he has long held the No. 2 position."[2] Axios' Justin Kaufman wrote, "The race to replace Durbin will bring a heated primary election to Illinois, while reshaping the state's current congressional delegation."[3]

As of October 3, 2025, noteworthy declared and potential candidates included the following. Click here to view all of the candidates for the seat:

NBC News' Natasha Korecki wrote, "In recent months, Stratton has served as an opposing voice to President Donald Trump's administration, including in advocating for additional funding for education in the state amid announced federal cuts."[5] Pritzker endorsed Stratton.[4]

Announcing her candidacy, Kelly said, "I’ve been an effective leader. I’m a fighter. I’ve been standing up to Donald Trump just in these last three months, with my town hall meetings, with my face-to-face or my teletown hall meetings. I mean, the proof is in the pudding of the work I’ve done."[6]

Announcing his bid for the seat, Krishnamoorthi said in a campaign video, "I’ve made it my mission to fight for families like the ones I grew up with. People who just want a chance to work hard and realize their dreams. So I’ll never be quiet while billionaires like Elon Musk and a convicted felon deny the dreams of the next generation for their own egos and personal profit."[7]

Several Republicans, including Doug Bennett, R. Cary Capparelli, Casey Chlebek, John Goodman, and Pamela Denise Long, are also running. Bennett ran in the 2018 general election for Illinois' 10th Congressional District against U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D), losing 65%-35%. Capparelli is an international businessman and university professor.[8] Chlebek ran in the 2020 and 2022 U.S. Senate elections in Illinois, earning 6% of the vote in the 2020 primary and 11% in the 2022 primary. Goodman is an Air Force veteran and political newcomer.[9] Long was an occupational therapist, political commentator, and doctor of organizational development.[10]

U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R), first elected in 2015, was considered a potential candidate for the U.S. Senate seat.[11] He announced in August 2025 that he would run for re-election to the U.S. House.[12]

Both of Illinois' U.S. Senators—Durbin and Tammy Duckworth—are Democrats. The state's last Republican senator was Mark Kirk, who left office in 2017, following his 2016 defeat to Duckworth.

Illinois voted 54.4% to 43.5% for Kamala Harris (D) over Donald Trump (R) in the 2024 presidential election. For more information about the primaries in this election, click on the links below:

Candidates and election results

Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:

  • Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
  • Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies

General election

The primary will occur on March 17, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. Additional general election candidates will be added here following the primary.

General election for U.S. Senate Illinois

Austin Mink, Tyrone Muhammad, and Anthony Smith are running in the general election for U.S. Senate Illinois on November 3, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Austin Mink
Austin Mink (Independent) Candidate Connection
Tyrone Muhammad (Independent)
Anthony Smith (Independent)

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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Democratic primary election

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 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.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

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 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.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

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.

Image of Austin Mink

WebsiteTwitterYouTube

Party: Independent

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography "My name is Austin James Mink. I’m from Winthrop Harbor Illinois—a small town in Northern Chicagoland. I come from a working-class family, a family of union workers. I am a filmmaker. I’m not the traditional person who would run for US Senate, I come from a modest living not one of wealth, I come from a family that’s struggled, I lost my father when I was only twenty-two years old, who was a tough thing for us as it was all so sudden, I have dealt with a lot of loss in my life, my family has experienced a lot of loss and grief, it changes your perspective on life and I believe it’s made me so much more compassionate and understanding of everyone, it’s made me strive to want to reach out and help as many people as I can, that’s why I’m running for US Senate not for vanity but because of my desire to help others and my commitment to public service. I’m an outsider in this race but that only makes me more determined to get to work to introduce myself and to learn so much more about the state of Illinois, the state I’ve lived in and have loved for all 31 years of my life so far. I’m the youngest person in the race at 31, 33 at swearing-in if elected. I’d also be the first openly bisexual-pansexual US Senator from Illinois if elected which would mark a historic first for the state."


Key Messages

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


The most caring and compassionate. Would be the first to co-sponsor Medicare For All as a US Senator from Illinois. We need universal healthcare. We need compassionate reform. No half measures. No flirting on the edges of a broken system. The healthcare system in America is broken and it desperately needs transformative change and a leader that will fight tirelessly to bring about that change. I believe healthcare is a fundamental human right.


The candidate for anyone skeptical of the establishment. There’s a lot of money in this primary. I believe in ending the flow of dark money in our elections. I believe voters should decide not the oligarchy. I will fight tooth and nail against the oligarchy. I believe in a dynamic progressive wealth tax like in the OLIGARCH ACT that waxes and wanes with respect to where disparities lie. People don’t want another billionaire proxy in the US Senate. Illinois will need a fighter for the working class full stop. I will protect all Illinoisans from oligarchic greed and big money. I believe in fairness, transparency, and equality.


I am a left-libertarian. The candidate that appeals to all political landscapes in Illinois, I’m not just the candidate for democrats, I’m the candidate for independents, moderates, and anti-MAGA Republicans. I believe bipartisanship is important but you shouldn’t abandon your morals and values for the sake of bipartisanship, that’s the opposite of leadership to me. I plan to be a leader as a US Senator but just a follower. I’m not just going to be an empty suit. I plan to go to work to make a difference. We need to end mass warrantless surveillance. We need to repeal bad post-911 laws that have eroded civil liberties such as the PATRIOT ACT. Civil liberties need to be protected now more than ever. I’ll fight against authoritarianism.

Voting information

See also: Voting in Illinois

Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

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.

Expand all | Collapse all

Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AustinMink2025.jpeg

Austin Mink (Independent)

The most caring and compassionate. Would be the first to co-sponsor Medicare For All as a US Senator from Illinois. We need universal healthcare. We need compassionate reform. No half measures. No flirting on the edges of a broken system. The healthcare system in America is broken and it desperately needs transformative change and a leader that will fight tirelessly to bring about that change. I believe healthcare is a fundamental human right.

The candidate for anyone skeptical of the establishment. There’s a lot of money in this primary. I believe in ending the flow of dark money in our elections. I believe voters should decide not the oligarchy. I will fight tooth and nail against the oligarchy. I believe in a dynamic progressive wealth tax like in the OLIGARCH ACT that waxes and wanes with respect to where disparities lie. People don’t want another billionaire proxy in the US Senate. Illinois will need a fighter for the working class full stop. I will protect all Illinoisans from oligarchic greed and big money. I believe in fairness, transparency, and equality.

I am a left-libertarian. The candidate that appeals to all political landscapes in Illinois, I’m not just the candidate for democrats, I’m the candidate for independents, moderates, and anti-MAGA Republicans. I believe bipartisanship is important but you shouldn’t abandon your morals and values for the sake of bipartisanship, that’s the opposite of leadership to me. I plan to be a leader as a US Senator but just a follower. I’m not just going to be an empty suit. I plan to go to work to make a difference. We need to end mass warrantless surveillance. We need to repeal bad post-911 laws that have eroded civil liberties such as the PATRIOT ACT. Civil liberties need to be protected now more than ever. I’ll fight against authoritarianism.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AustinMink2025.jpeg

Austin Mink (Independent)

I am extremely passionate about being a legislator. I have many bills I’d like to introduce if elected, one being repealing the patriot act and Fisa which have eroded civil liberties, a bill enhancing digital privacy laws, and a bill restoring section 230 to its pre-2018 form with alternative trafficking methods to mitigate concerns. Bills ensuring we completely enforce the Leahy Law and that the US doesn’t support gross human rights violations abroad, I will co-sponsor and support an arms embargo against Israel which is using our military assistance for genocidal war crimes in the guise of combating Hamas, its collective punishment period and it must end. I plan to stand up for the rule of law both domestically and abroad.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AustinMink2025.jpeg

Austin Mink (Independent)

I don't want to leave anyone out, there’s so many people I look up to, I don’t want to give a disservice to them so I’ll simply leave it at many.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AustinMink2025.jpeg

Austin Mink (Independent)

Noam Chomsky, read and listen to anything he’s said or written, he has shaped my views a great deal as an influential left libertarian.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AustinMink2025.jpeg

Austin Mink (Independent)

To protect the citizens of the United States of America.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AustinMink2025.jpeg

Austin Mink (Independent)

Someone who’d always fight for what’s right. Someone that would never compromise to lead people willingly to their graves. Someone who was the real deal.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AustinMink2025.jpeg

Austin Mink (Independent)

I was about five when the tragic shooting of Columbine happened and was about seven when 9/11 happened, those are two pretty massive events that shook our nation at its core, both unbelievably tragic, though I don’t remember exact memories of those events such as where I was or doing, I’ve lived through a lot of history, not all of it bad but not all of it good either.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AustinMink2025.jpeg

Austin Mink (Independent)

Personal assistant, was a temporary job position for a summer when I was 19 years old.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AustinMink2025.jpeg

Austin Mink (Independent)

I can’t choose. It’s like asking what your favorite movie is; it has no answer, as answering such a question greatly minimizes the rich tapestry and history of literature and the arts.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AustinMink2025.jpeg

Austin Mink (Independent)

I don’t know off the top of my head so I took a personality quiz and got Jack Dawson from Titanic. Makes sense, I’m a bit of a hopeless romantic.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AustinMink2025.jpeg

Austin Mink (Independent)

Nothing comes to mind at this exact moments but I get songs stuck in my head all the time so one will come around at any moment, ask me on a specific date, it’s a case-by-case basis.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AustinMink2025.jpeg

Austin Mink (Independent)

A lot of struggles that many working people and families go through like worrying about putting food on the table, like many Illinoisans my family has relied on SNAP benefits to help afford food at the end of the day, I understand firsthand on broken our healthcare system is, the issue of lack of prescription affordability, I’ve experienced it, that’s what makes me so much more compassionate and empathic to all Illinoisans because I’m just one of you, I’ve been out the other side and I will protect the other side from people that have never been on that other side themselves.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AustinMink2025.jpeg

Austin Mink (Independent)

Authoritarianism. We’re seeing people introduce legislation to put people in prison for up to twenty years for engaging their First Amendment rights and using the most flimsy of allegations to do so, I’m seeing very slippery slopes, if not rectified we could be heading into a very scary and dangerous place, we need to protect the constitutional rights of all Americans now more than ever. We’re seeing attacks on free speech like never before to appease special interests, interests that aren’t of the interest of the American people, things that are the exact opposite of what’s in the interest of the American people, things that in reality are making us all less safe.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AustinMink2025.jpeg

Austin Mink (Independent)

I support term limits. I will co sponsor the resolution to oppose term limits for Congress; six years (three terms) for the House and twelve years (two terms) for the Senate. That will increase productivity, I don’t believe Congress should be a lifetime appointment, I think it should be about serving your country, being as effective as possible to leave a mark then pass the torch.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AustinMink2025.jpeg

Austin Mink (Independent)

Many. For one, the most important is confirming or denying nominees from the presidential cabinet, sub cabinet, to judicial nominations, that’s what gives the US Senate it’s edge is those additional responsibilities.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AustinMink2025.jpeg

Austin Mink (Independent)

I believe anyone can be a legislator but it takes special talent to be good at it. It’s beneficial absolutely but I don’t believe it’s a requirement especially when there are so many barriers that keep ordinary people from getting into office which is something I hope to break. I believe it’s important to be an outsider, to stand up and say you won’t give up on the country and state you love that you’ll do everything day in and day out to help every Illinoisan from the metropolitan to the rural downstates, everyone should be represented, I believe it’ll take a outsider to win to do the right thing by everyone in this fantastic state of Illinois.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AustinMink2025.jpeg

Austin Mink (Independent)

I’m a pretty big fan of that Bernie Sanders fella. In all seriousness, no, I plan to be my own person in the US Senate, there’s been many great senators who’ve done incredible things but I plan to do my own thing, I don’t have one particular influence or model, I believe you should find your own way, bring your own uniqueness to the table.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AustinMink2025.jpeg

Austin Mink (Independent)

What was the pirate arrested for? ARRRRRRson!

Where do polar bears keep their money? A snowbank.

Bears without Bees are just Ears.

Okay, I’ll show myself out.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AustinMink2025.jpeg

Austin Mink (Independent)

Examine if they’ll serve the American people above all else. That their loyality remains to the citizens of this great nation.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AustinMink2025.jpeg

Austin Mink (Independent)

Legislative relationships based on doing what’s right and what helps every American in this country, what will lift people out of poverty, what will make life less difficult, to ease burdens, to lower costs, to make the environment healthier to ensure the burden doesn’t fall on the future generation.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AustinMink2025.jpeg

Austin Mink (Independent)

Should never compromise if it hurts anyone in this country. We should always fight for what’s right for this country, what keeps our communities safe, I won’t sell out the citizenry of this nation, I won’t abandon protecting the civil liberties of Americans, I won’t sell out the health of our environment, our children’s futures, some things are better with a balanced approach absolutely, but there are things we all agree should be fought for and protected without a ounce of compromise, to me, that’s what it means to be a true leader, what separates leaders from followers. Compromise in policymaking depends on what is being compromised for, it’s a case-by-case basis but on the big picture, no, I don’t think it’s overall favorable if it throws anyone under the bus and where we are as a country right now, we shouldn’t compromise on anything, these are times where we’ll need a fighter to stand up against ever-increasing authoritarianism and billionaires that want to cut programs people rely on to survive for a tax break to their friends in the 1%.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AustinMink2025.jpeg

Austin Mink (Independent)

To weed out corruption full stop all across the board. It’s that simple.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AustinMink2025.jpeg

Austin Mink (Independent)

None yet but we’re actively seeking endorsements from progressive groups and politicians.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AustinMink2025.jpeg

Austin Mink (Independent)

Do they serve the American people over special interests. Will they stand up to protect the constitutional rights of all Americans. Will they work to make the lives of the American people better or will they make it worse, do they have integrity or are they corrupt cronies.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AustinMink2025.jpeg

Austin Mink (Independent)

I aim to be as effective as possible on whatever committees I’m assigned to if elected. Based on my expertise, for speculation only, I think I’d be most effective on the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. All of these are committees I believe I’d thrive in the most and the best fit for representing the interests of Illinois in the United States Senate.


You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:


Campaign finance

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Steve Botsford Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Awisi Bustos Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Jonathan Dean Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Adam Delgado Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Robin Kelly Democratic Party $2,458,390 $253,466 $2,204,924 As of June 30, 2025
Raja Krishnamoorthi Democratic Party $12,666,604 $907,898 $11,758,706 As of June 30, 2025
Stanley Leavell Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Bryan Maxwell Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Robert Palmer Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Adair Rodriquez Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Kevin Ryan Democratic Party $12,801 $6,332 $6,470 As of June 30, 2025
Jump Shepherd Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Juliana Stratton Democratic Party $1,083,703 $417,286 $666,416 As of June 30, 2025
Panagioti Bartzis Republican Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Doug Bennett Republican Party $13,000 $16,090 $1,611 As of June 30, 2025
R. Cary Capparelli Republican Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Casey Chlebek Republican Party $25,000 $11,505 $13,495 As of June 30, 2025
John Goodman Republican Party $27,194 $22,310 $4,884 As of June 30, 2025
Pamela Denise Long Republican Party $8,631 $4,009 $4,623 As of June 30, 2025
Januario Ortega Republican Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Jimmy Lee Tillman II Republican Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Don Tracy Republican Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Austin Mink Independent $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Tyrone Muhammad Independent $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Anthony Smith Independent $0 $0 $0 Data not available***

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.
*** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

General election race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

  • Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
  • Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
  • Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[13]
  • Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[14][15][16]

Race ratings: U.S. Senate election in Illinois, 2026
Race trackerRace ratings
9/30/20259/23/20259/16/20259/9/2025
The Cook Political Report with Amy WalterSolid DemocraticSolid DemocraticSolid DemocraticSolid Democratic
Decision Desk HQ and The HillPendingPendingPendingPending
Inside Elections with Nathan L. GonzalesSolid DemocraticSolid DemocraticSolid DemocraticSolid Democratic
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal BallSafe DemocraticSafe DemocraticSafe DemocraticSafe Democratic
Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week.

Ballot access

This section will contain information on ballot access related to this state's elections when it is available.

Election history

The section below details election results for this state's U.S. Senate elections dating back to 2016.

2022

See also: United States Senate election in Illinois, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. Senate Illinois

Incumbent Tammy Duckworth defeated Kathy Salvi, Bill Redpath, Lowell Seida, and Connor VlaKancic in the general election for U.S. Senate Illinois on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Tammy Duckworth
Tammy Duckworth (D)
 
56.8
 
2,329,136
Image of Kathy Salvi
Kathy Salvi (R)
 
41.5
 
1,701,055
Image of Bill Redpath
Bill Redpath (L) Candidate Connection
 
1.7
 
68,671
Image of Lowell Seida
Lowell Seida (Independent) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
23
Image of Connor VlaKancic
Connor VlaKancic (Independent) (Write-in) Candidate Connection
 
0.0
 
11

Total votes: 4,098,896
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.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Illinois

Incumbent Tammy Duckworth advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Illinois on June 28, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Tammy Duckworth
Tammy Duckworth
 
100.0
 
856,720

Total votes: 856,720
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.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. Senate Illinois

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Illinois on June 28, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Kathy Salvi
Kathy Salvi
 
30.2
 
216,007
Image of Peggy Hubbard
Peggy Hubbard Candidate Connection
 
24.8
 
177,180
Image of Matthew Dubiel
Matthew Dubiel Candidate Connection
 
12.7
 
90,538
Image of Casey Chlebek
Casey Chlebek
 
10.7
 
76,213
Image of Bobby Piton
Bobby Piton
 
9.2
 
65,461
Image of Anthony Williams
Anthony Williams
 
7.4
 
52,890
Image of Jimmy Lee Tillman II
Jimmy Lee Tillman II
 
5.1
 
36,342

Total votes: 714,631
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.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

2020

General election

General election for U.S. Senate Illinois

The following candidates ran in the general election for U.S. Senate Illinois on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Dick Durbin
Dick Durbin (D)
 
54.9
 
3,278,930
Image of Mark Curran
Mark Curran (R) Candidate Connection
 
38.9
 
2,319,870
Image of Willie Wilson
Willie Wilson (Willie Wilson Party)
 
4.0
 
237,699
Image of Danny Malouf
Danny Malouf (L) Candidate Connection
 
1.3
 
75,673
Image of David Black
David Black (G)
 
1.0
 
56,711
Kevin Keely (Independent) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
10
Image of Lowell Seida
Lowell Seida (Independent) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
6
Albert Schaal (Independent) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
2

Total votes: 5,968,901
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Illinois

Incumbent Dick Durbin advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Illinois on March 17, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Dick Durbin
Dick Durbin
 
100.0
 
1,446,118

Total votes: 1,446,118
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. Senate Illinois

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Illinois on March 17, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mark Curran
Mark Curran Candidate Connection
 
41.6
 
205,747
Image of Peggy Hubbard
Peggy Hubbard
 
22.9
 
113,189
Image of Robert Marshall
Robert Marshall
 
15.3
 
75,561
Image of Tom Tarter
Tom Tarter
 
14.7
 
73,009
Image of Casey Chlebek
Casey Chlebek
 
5.6
 
27,655
Richard Mayers (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
7

Total votes: 495,168
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

2016

See also: United States Senate election in Illinois, 2016

The race for Illinois' U.S. Senate seat was one of nine competitive battleground races in 2016. U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D) defeated incumbent Mark Kirk (R)—who was seeking re-election to his second term—Kenton McMillen (L), and Scott Summers (G) in the general election on November 8, 2016.

In her victory speech, Duckworth said, “Tonight, we showed a campaign that respects voters and is focused on practical solutions rather than shopworn slogans can be successful. We showed that a relentless focus on rebuilding Illinois’ middle class and respecting hard worth rather than wealth can be successful, too.”[17]

During his concession speech, Kirk said, "What unites us as Americans is much stronger than what divides us." Kirk also invited Duckworth to have a beer with him as a peace offering. He said, “This beer summit with [sic] show kids across Illinois that opponents can peacfully [sic] bury the hatchet.”[17][18]

Kirk's seat was vulnerable in 2016 due to Illinois' tendency to vote overwhelmingly for Democrats during presidential election cycles. Kirk faced significant opposition from national Democrats who targeted Illinois as an essential seat needed to regain the majority in the U.S. Senate. Democrats picked up two seats in Election Day, but they fell short of the five seats that they needed to take control of the Senate.[19]

U.S. Senate, Illinois General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngTammy Duckworth 54.9% 3,012,940
     Republican Mark Kirk Incumbent 39.8% 2,184,692
     Libertarian Kenton McMillen 3.2% 175,988
     Green Scott Summers 2.1% 117,619
     N/A Write-in 0% 639
Total Votes 5,491,878
Source: Illinois State Board of Elections


U.S. Senate, Illinois Republican Primary, 2016
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngMark Kirk Incumbent 70.6% 931,619
James Marter 29.4% 388,571
Total Votes 1,320,190
Source: Illinois State Board of Elections
U.S. Senate, Illinois Democratic Primary, 2016
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngTammy Duckworth 64.4% 1,220,128
Andrea Zopp 24% 455,729
Napoleon Harris 11.6% 219,286
Total Votes 1,895,143
Source: Illinois State Board of Elections



Election analysis

This section will contain facts and figures related to this state's elections when those are available.

See also

Illinois 2026 primaries 2026 U.S. Congress elections
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External links

Footnotes

  1. X, "Dick Durbin on April 23, 2025," accessed May 2, 2025
  2. Washington Post, "Dick Durbin of Illinois, the Senate’s No. 2 Democrat, won't seek reelection to a sixth term in 2026," April 23, 2025
  3. Axios, "Senate race could set off seismic shift in Illinois politics," May 12, 2025
  4. 4.0 4.1 Fox 32, "Pritzker backs Stratton in Senate race - could it narrow the field?" April 25, 2025
  5. NBC News, "Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton becomes the first to launch a bid for Dick Durbin's Senate seat," April 24, 2025
  6. NBC Chicago, "Rep. Robin Kelly announces run for Senate, making her 2nd candidate to enter race," May 6, 2025
  7. NBC Chicago, "Schaumburg Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi launches U.S. Senate bid," May 7, 2025
  8. Chambana Today, " R. Cary Capparelli announces bid for U.S. Senate as Republican candidate from Illinois," April 28, 2025
  9. John Goodman 2026 campaign website, "Home," accessed May 9, 2025
  10. Pamela Denise Long 206 campaign website, "Home," accessed August 8, 2025
  11. Chicago Tribune, "Who will fill Dick Durbin’s US Senate seat in Illinois? Here are the candidates.," May 12, 2025
  12. WIFR, "LaHood announces re-election campaign for Illinois’ 16th District," August 5, 2025
  13. Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
  14. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
  15. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
  16. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
  17. 17.0 17.1 WTTW.com, "Duckworth Defeats Kirk in Heated US Senate Race," accessed November 15, 2016
  18. CBS Chicago, "Tammy Duckworth Defeats Mark Kirk In U.S. Senate Race," accessed November 15, 2016
  19. Roll Call, "Democrats Could Face Primary Mess in Illinois Senate Race," January 23, 2015


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