Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington), left, and Democrat Alexi Giannoulias, right, are running for secretary of state.

For the first time in over 20 years, the race for Illinois secretary of state features two new candidates in Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington) who hopes to advance his political career and Democrat Alexi Giannoulias who is running for office for the first time in 12 years.