As some members of the Illinois Congressional delegation retire and others seek higher office, the state is set for a political shakeup from local offices to federal ones. 

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) announced in April that he would not seek reelection, creating an open U.S. Senate seat for the first time since 2010. Shortly after, U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky announced she’d be retiring from Congress, leaving Illinois’ Ninth Congressional District open for the first time since 1999.  

The retirement of two of Illinois’ longest- serving political figures has created a domino effect that’s seen local, state and federal officials throw their hats into other races.  

U.S. Senate 

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton was the first to announce her candidacy for the open U.S. Senate seat. Strattons has been Illinois’ lieutenant governor since 2019, when she and Gov. JB Pritzker were first sworn into office.  

She’s been endorsed by Pritzker and U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.). 

U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) has served Illinois’ eigth Congressional District since 2017. Krishnamoorthi was previously special assistant attorney general under former Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and deputy state treasurer under then-Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias.  

He’s been endorsed by the Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders Rising & Empowering Political Action Committee and more than 20 Illinois mayors from across the state.  

U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) has represented Illinois’ Second Congressional District since 2013. She previously served in the Illinois House from 2003 to 2007 and has worked in the Illinois Treasurer’s office and the Office of the Cook County President.  

IL-2 

With Kelly running for the Senate, her seat in the House is open.  

Cook County Comm. Donna Miller (D-6) announced Wednesday she will be running for the seat. Miller has represented the Sixth District on the Cook County Board of Commissioners since 2018.  

State Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago) announced his candidacy in May. Peters has represented Illinois’ 13th State Senate District since 2019. He is not up for reelection in 2026, meaning he can run for the seat without losing his current office. He has been endorsed by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and gun control activist and former Democratic National Committee co-Vice Chair David Hogg.  

Yumeka Brown, commissioner of Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, also announced her candidacy in May. Brown has been commissioner since 2022. 

Businessman Eric France is also throwing his hat in the ring. France is president of The France Group, which provides consulting services to public and private sector organizations. Adal Regis, director of strategy at Elevate, is also running for the seat. Regis is a former district representative for Kelly.  

Jesse Jackson Jr. is also considering returning to the seat he once held, as reported by Politico. Jackson, the son of Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. and the brother of U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-Ill.) represented the Second District from 1995 until 2012, when he stepped down due to health reasons.  

He and his then-wife, former Chicago Ald. Sandi Jackson, were convicted of federal campaign finance violations in 2013.  

IL-8 

Similar to the Second Congressional District, Krishnamoorthi’s candidacy for Senate leaves his Eighth District seat open.  

Cook County Comm. Kevin Morrison (D-15) is seeking to fill it. Morrison was elected to the Cook County Board of Commissioners in 2018, becoming the board’s first openly LGBTQ member. He’s been endorsed by U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.), eight Illinois state lawmakers and 10 of his fellow commissioners.  

Hanover Park Trustee Yasmeen Bankole is also running for the seat. Bankole is a former congressional aide for Krishnamoorthi. She’s been endorsed by State Reps. Terra Costa Howard (D-Lombard) and Marti Deuter (D-Westmont), three Illinois mayors and former State Sen. Diane Pappas.  

Former attorney advisor of the U.S. Department of Commerce and judge advocate in the United States Army Reserve Dan Tully is also running.  

IL-9 

The race to replace Schakowsky is already a crowded one. Former journalist and social media activist Kat Abughazaleh was the first to announce her candidacy, doing so back in March.  

Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss announced his candidacy in May. He’s been endorsed by U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.), five state lawmakers and five members of the Evanston City Council.  

State Sens. Laura Fine (D-Glenview) and Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) are running for the seat, with Simmons announcing his candidacy Tuesday.  

Fine has served in the Illinois Senate since 2019. She’s been endorsed by 10 of her fellow Illinois lawmakers and Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering.  

Fine’s candidacy leaves her seat in the Illinois Senate up for grabs. Rachel Ruttenberg, who most recently was deputy chief of staff for policy for Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, has announced her candidacy for Fine’s seat.  

Simmons has served in the Illinois Senate since 2021. He is not up for reelection in 2026 so, like Peters, he does not risk losing his seat.  

State Rep. Hoan Huynh (D-Chicago) also announced his candidacy last week. Huynh has served in the Illinois House since 2023. Huynh’s candidacy leaves his seat in 13th Illinois House District open.  

Justin Ford, an environmental health and safety professional, Skokie District 73.5 Board of Education member Bushra Amiwala, Evanston activist Miracle Jenkins and Howard Rosenblum, an attorney and disability rights activist, are also running for the seat.  

Statehouse  

State Sens. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) and Mike Halpin (D-Galesburg) have announced reelection bids.  

City of Chicago Policy Analyst Nick Uniejewski is running for Illinois’ Sixth Senate District, a seat currently held by State Sen. Sara Feigenholtz.  

Linda Polacek, a commissioner on the Board of the York Center Park District, is running as a potential Republican challenger to State Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Oakbrook Terrace).  

In the Illinois House, State Reps. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) and Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) have announced their reelection bids.   

Petition-circulating for candidates wishing to appear on the Illinois ballot begins Aug. 5. Candidate filing will open Oct. 27.