2026 United States Senate election in Illinois

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 2026 United States Senate election in Illinois

| country = Illinois

| type = presidential

| ongoing = yes

| previous_election = 2020 United States Senate election in Illinois

| previous_year = 2020

| election_date = November 3, 2026

| next_election = 2032 United States Senate election in Illinois

| next_year = 2032

| turnout =

| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)

| party2 = Republican Party (United States)

| title = U.S. senator

| before_election = Dick Durbin

| before_party = Democratic Party (United States)

| after_election =

| after_party =

}}

The 2026 United States Senate election in Illinois will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Illinois. Incumbent Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, who was re-elected in 2020 with 54.9% of the vote, declined to seek a sixth term in office. This will be the first open Senate seat race in Illinois since 2010 and the first for this Class II seat since 1996, when Durbin was first elected.

Democratic primary

= Candidates =

== Declared ==

Juliana Stratton, Lieutenant Governor of Illinois (2019–present){{cite news |last1=Sfondeles |first1=Tina |title=Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton becomes first major Democrat to launch Senate bid to replace Durbin |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2025/04/23/lt-gov-juliana-stratton-candidacy-us-senate-dick-durbin-seat |access-date=April 24, 2025 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=April 24, 2025 |language=en}}

== Formed exploratory committee==

Meredith Shiner, communications consultant{{Cite magazine|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/190922/primary-every-democrat-trump-durbin|title=Primary Every Democrat|last=Shiner|first=Meredith|date=2025-02-03|magazine=The New Republic|access-date=2025-02-06|issn=0028-6583|quote=Today, it brings me no pleasure to announce that I am launching an exploratory committee for a Senate run to replace the senior senator from my home state, Dick Durbin.}}

== Publicly expressed interest ==

Mike Frerichs, Illinois State Treasurer (2015–present){{cite news |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=April 25, 2025 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/23/us-sen-dick-durbins-retirement-opens-the-floodgates-for-a-number-of-potential-successors/ |date=April 23, 2025 |quote=State Treasurer Michael Frerichs said he is weighing a bid for Durbin's seat and other Democrats have floated the names of first-term Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, state Sen. Robert Peters of Chicago and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel |author=Pearson, Rick |title=US Sen. Dick Durbin's retirement opens the floodgates for a number of potential successors}}
Robin Kelly, U.S. Representative from {{ushr|IL|2}} (2013–present){{cite news |work=Homewood-Flossmoor Chronicle |date=April 24, 2024 |access-date=April 29, 2024 |author=Crump, Eric |url=https://www.hfchronicle.com/2025/04/24/kelly-expected-to-explore-run-for-durbins-u-s-senate-seat/ |title=Kelly expected to explore run for Durbin's U.S. Senate seat}}
Raja Krishnamoorthi, U.S. Representative from {{ushr|IL|8}} (2017–present){{Cite web |last=Vakil |first=Caroline |date=April 25, 2025 |title=Krishnamoorthi teases potential run for Durbin Senate seat |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5268121-rajah-krishnamoorthi-senate-announcement/ |url-status=live |access-date=April 26, 2025 |website=The Hill}}
Lauren Underwood, U.S. Representative from {{ushr|IL|14}} (2019–present){{cite news |last1=Sivak |first1=David |title=Underwood fundraising on poll results showing she’d lead the race for Durbin’s seat |url=https://capitolfax.com/2025/04/08/underwood-fundraising-on-poll-results-showing-she%e2%80%99d-lead-the-race-for-durbin%e2%80%99s-seat/ |access-date=April 8, 2025 |work=Capitol Fax |date=April 8, 2025}}
Christopher Swann, nonprofit executive{{cite news |last1=Carney |first1=Jordain |title=Generational change could be coming fast for Senate Democrats |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/15/senate-democrats-generational-change-dick-durbin-00290434|access-date=April 15, 2025 |work=Politico |date=April 15, 2025}}

== Potential ==

Daniel Biss, Mayor of Evanston (2021–present) {{Cite web |last=Eadie |first=Matthew |date=2025-04-24 |title=Will Daniel Biss run for Congress? |url=https://evanstonnow.com/will-daniel-biss-run-for-congress/ |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=Evanston Now |language=en-US}}
Rahm Emanuel, former U.S. Ambassador to Japan (2022–2025) and former mayor of Chicago (2011–2019){{cite news |last1=Sweet |first1=Lynn |title=What's next for Rahm Emanuel? |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2024/11/21/rahm-emanuel-japan-ambassador-democratic-national-committee-chair-durbin-pritzker |access-date=2 December 2024 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=23 November 2024}}
Alexi Giannoulias, Illinois Secretary of State (2023–present), former Illinois State Treasurer (2007–2011), and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2010
Robert Peters, state senator from the 13th district (2019–present)

== Declined ==

Nikki Budzinski, U.S. Representative from {{ushr|IL|13}} (2023–present){{cite news |last1=Huiskes |first1=Helen |title=The Race for Dick Durbin's Senate Seat Has Already Begun |url=https://www.notus.org/senate/illinois-dick-durbin-senate |access-date=January 27, 2025 |work=NOTUS |date=January 27, 2025}}
Sean Casten, U.S. Representative from {{ushr|IL|6}} (2019–present)
Danny Davis, U.S. Representative from {{ushr|IL|7}} (1997–present)
Dick Durbin, incumbent U.S. Senator (1997–present){{cite news |last1=Kulse |first1=Carl |title= Durbin, No. 2 Senate Democrat, to Retire After 44 Years in Congress |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/23/us/dick-durbin-retires-senate.html |access-date=23 April 2025 |work=New York Times |date=23 April 2025}}
Bill Foster, U.S. Representative from {{ushr|IL|11}} (2013–present)
Chuy García, U.S. Representative from {{ushr|IL|4}} (2019–present)
Jonathan Jackson, U.S. Representative from {{ushr|IL|1}} (2023–present)
JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois (2019–present) (endorsed Stratton)
Mike Quigley, U.S. Representative from {{ushr|IL|5}} (2009–present)
Delia Ramirez, U.S. Representative from {{ushr|IL|3}} (2023–present){{cite news |last1=Kapos |first1=Shia |title=Dominoes if Durbin doesn't run |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2025/03/24/dominoes-if-durbin-doesnt-run-00244530 |access-date=March 24, 2025 |work=Politico |date=March 24, 2025 |language=en}}
Kwame Raoul, Illinois Attorney General (2019–present){{cite news |last1=Hancock |first1=Peter |title=Raoul says 'I do not want to go to Washington,' rules out bid for U.S. Senate |url=https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/raoul-says-i-do-not-want-to-go-to-washington-rules-out-bid-for-u-s-senate/ |access-date=April 1, 2025 |work=Capitol News Illinois |date=April 1, 2025}}
Jan Schakowsky, U.S. Representative from {{ushr|IL|9}} (1999–present)
Brad Schneider, U.S. Representative from {{ushr|IL|10}} (2017–present)
Eric Sorensen, U.S. Representative from {{ushr|IL|17}} (2023–present)

= Endorsements =

{{Endorsements box

|title=Juliana Stratton

|list=

;U.S. senators

Tammy Duckworth, U.S. senator from Illinois (2017–present){{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/28/duckworth-stratton-illinois-senate-endorsement-00312121|title=Tammy Duckworth backs Juliana Stratton for Dick Durbin’s Illinois Senate seat|last1=Kapos|last2=Mutnick|first1=Shia|first2=Ally|date=April 28, 2025|access-date=April 28, 2025|website=Politico}}

;Statewide officials

JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois (2019–present){{cite news |title=Governor JB Pritzker endorses Juliana Stratton for Senate |url=https://abc7chicago.com/post/illinois-governor-jb-pritzker-endorse-lieutenant-juliana-stratton-senate/16246500/ |access-date=April 25, 2025 |work=WLS-TV |date=April 25, 2025 |language=en|author1=Piekos, Christina|author2=Wall, Craig}}

}}

{{Endorsements box

|title=Declined to endorse

|list=

;U.S. senators

Dick Durbin, U.S. senator from Illinois (1997–present){{cite web |last1=McKinney |first1=Dave |title=Longtime Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin won’t seek reelection |url=https://www.wbez.org/politics/2025/04/23/senator-dick-durbin-illinois-reelection-decision-sixth-term |website=WBEZ |language=en |date=23 April 2025 |quote=Durbin said he does not intend to endorse a candidate in the primary — unless he thinks something emerges that “is serious and I need to address it.”}}

}}

= Polling =

{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=Hypothetical polling|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;text-align:center;"

valign=bottom

! Poll source

! Date(s)
administered

! Sample
size{{efn|name="Key"|Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear}}

! Margin
of error

! style="width:100px;"| Robin
Kelly

! style="width:100px;"| Raja
Krishnamoorthi

! style="width:100px;"| Juliana
Stratton

! style="width:100px;"| Lauren
Underwood

! Undecided

style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"|314 Action (D){{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000196-132e-d874-a5f7-bf7e9b480000|title=NEW POLL: Representative Lauren Underwood Leads Illinois Senate Primary if Durbin Retires|website=Politico|date=April 8, 2025|access-date=April 29, 2025}}

|rowspan="2"|March 24–27, 2025

|rowspan="2"|773 (LV)

|rowspan="2"|± 3.5%

|10%

|30%

|16%

|{{party shading/Democratic}}|33%

|10%

–

|32%

|19%

|{{party shading/Democratic}}|39%

|10%

Republican primary

= Candidates =

== Declared ==

R. Cary Capparelli, former member of the Illinois International Port District board (2000–2009) and perennial candidate{{cite news|author=WAND Digital Team|title=Capparelli to seek Republican Senate nomination|date=April 28, 2025|newspaper=WAND-TV|access-date=April 28, 2025|url=https://www.wandtv.com/news/capparelli-to-seek-republican-senate-nomination/article_81ebcf0c-d0d6-47c4-9d33-90f5820031f2.html}}{{cite news|last=Placek|first=Christopher|title= Longtime lawmaker's son could face Stephens for state House seat|date=August 13, 2019|newspaper=Daily Herald|access-date=April 28, 2025|url-status=live|url=https://www.dailyherald.com/20190813/news/longtime-lawmakers-son-could-face-stephens-for-state-house-seat/|archive-date=April 28, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250428201909/https://www.dailyherald.com/20190813/news/longtime-lawmakers-son-could-face-stephens-for-state-house-seat/}}
John Goodman, former police officer.{{cite web |access-date=April 13, 2025 |work=JFeed |title=John Goodman: The warrior for Israel running for Senate in Illinois – Is he on his way to conversion? |author=Gotthelf, Eli |url=https://www.jfeed.com/the-interviews/stdkco |date=March 19, 2025}}

== Publicly expressed interest ==

Tom Demmer, former state representative from the 90th district (2013–2023) and nominee for state treasurer in 2022{{cite news |last1=Kapos |first1=Shia |title=Juliana Stratton jumps in the Senate race |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2025/04/24/juliana-stratton-jumps-in-the-senate-race-00307242 |access-date=April 24, 2025 |work=Politico |date=April 24, 2025 |language=en}}

== Potential ==

Jim Durkin, former minority leader of the Illinois House of Representatives (2013–2023) from the 82nd district (2006–2023) and 44th district (1995–2003){{cite news |last1=Kaufmann |first1=Justin |title=Sen. Dick Durbin announces he won't seek reelection in 2026 |url=https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/04/23/senator-dick-durbin-announces-wont-seek-reelection-2026 |access-date=April 23, 2025 |work=Axios |date=April 23, 2025 |language=en}}
Mary Miller, U.S. Representative from {{ushr|IL|15}} (2021–present)
Rod Blagojevich, former Governor of Illinois (2003-2009) and former U.S. Representative from Illinois's 5th Congressional District (1997-2003){{Cite web |last=McCue |first=Cullen |date=2025-04-26 |title=NEW: Former Dem Governor Turned Trump Ally Hints At Republican Senate Bid |url=https://trendingpoliticsnews.com/rod-blagojevich-hints-at-new-run-for-office-as-pro-trump-republican-never-say-never-cmc/?utm_source=ElWiz&utm_medium=twitter |access-date=2025-04-28 |language=en-US}}

== Declined ==

Mike Bost, U.S. Representative from {{ushr|IL|12}} (2015–present)
Rodney Davis, former U.S. representative from {{ushr|IL|13}} (2013–2023){{cite news |last1=Solender |first1=Andrew |title=Inside Democrats' potentially bitter primary fight to replace Dick Durbin |url=https://www.axios.com/2025/04/23/durbin-primary-underwood-krishnamoorthi-kelly |access-date=April 23, 2025 |work=Axios |date=April 23, 2025 |language=en}}
Darin LaHood, U.S. Representative from {{ushr|IL|16}} (2015–present) (running for re-election){{cite news |title=Paul Nolley looks to unseat LaHood with bid to represent Illinois' 16th District |url=https://www.wifr.com/2025/04/29/paul-nolley-announces-bid-represent-illinois-16th-district-wants-unseat-lahood/ |access-date=April 29, 2025 |work=WIFR-LD |date=April 29, 2025 |language=en |quote=During an interview with WIFR on Tuesday, April 29, LaHood says he "absolutely" plans to re-run for the seat. }}

=Fundraising=

colspan=4 \|Campaign finance reports as of March 31, 2025
class="wikitable sortable"
style="text-align:center;" !Candidate !Raised !Spent !Cash on hand
{{party shading/Republican}}\|John Goodman (R) \|$8,791 \|$4,655 \|$4,135
colspan="4" \|Source: Federal Election Commission{{cite web \|title=2026 Election United States Senate - Illinois \|url=https://www.fec.gov/data/elections/senate/IL/2026/ \|website=fec.gov \|publisher=Federal Election Commission \|access-date=April 23, 2025}}

Independents

= Candidates =

== Filed paperwork ==

Austin Mink, writer{{Cite web |date=2025-01-22 |title=Statement Of Candidacy |url=https://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/610/202501229747708610/202501229747708610.pdf}}

General election

= Predictions =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!Source

!Ranking

!As of

align="left" |The Cook Political Report{{Cite web |title=2026 CPR Senate Race Ratings|url=https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings |access-date=February 11, 2025 |website=Cook Political Report }}

| {{USRaceRating|Solid|D}}

|February 13, 2025

align="left" |Inside Elections{{Cite web |title=Senate Ratings |url=https://www.insideelections.com/ratings/senate |access-date=January 14, 2025 |website=Inside Elections |language=en}}

| {{USRaceRating|Solid|D}}

|February 20, 2025

align="left"|Sabato's Crystal Ball{{cite web |title=2026 Senate ratings |url=https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2026-senate/ |website=Sabato's Crystal Ball |access-date=February 13, 2025}}

| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}

|March 12, 2025

align="left"|[https://www.racetothewh.com/senate/26 Race To The WH]{{Cite web |title=2026 Senate Forecast |url=https://www.racetothewh.com/senate/26 |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=Race to the WH |language=en-US}}

| {{USRaceRating|Likely|D}}

|April 27, 2025

Notes

Partisan clients

References

External links

[https://www.julianastratton.com/ Juliana Stratton (D) for Senate]

Illinois

United States Senate

Category:United States Senate elections in Illinois