Illinois General Primary Election
Tuesday, June 2, 2026 · Election has passed
U.S. House, U.S. Senate, Governor, statewide offices
What’s being decided
A primary election determines which candidates advance to the November general election. Voters in each party select their nominee, and the winners face each other in the fall.
Illinois holds an open primary — any registered voter may participate, regardless of party affiliation.
Candidates
U.S. Senate
Democratic · Incumbent since 2017
Tammy Duckworth has represented Illinois in the U.S. Senate since 2017. A combat veteran who lost both legs in the Iraq War, she served in the U.S. Army for 23 years and previously served in the U.S. House. She sits on the Senate Armed Services and Commerce committees and is the first senator to give birth while in office.
Democratic
Amy McGrath is a retired Marine combat pilot and Democratic candidate for Illinois's open Senate seat created by Senator Dick Durbin's retirement. She previously ran for U.S. Senate in Kentucky in 2020. McGrath lives in the Chicago suburbs and is emphasizing her military background and moderate Democratic positioning.
Republican
Mark Salvi is an Illinois Republican and candidate for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Dick Durbin. A businessman and conservative activist, Salvi has built his campaign around reducing federal spending, border security, and opposition to what he calls government overreach. He previously ran unsuccessfully for Illinois attorney general.
Governor
Democratic · Incumbent since 2019
JB Pritzker has served as Governor of Illinois since 2019 and is running for a third term, which would make him the first Illinois governor elected to three terms since 1982. A member of the Hyatt Hotels heir family and a major Democratic donor before entering politics, he won the 2018 governor's race and was re-elected in 2022 by more than 13 points. Under his tenure Illinois enacted major progressive legislation including expanded abortion protections, LGBTQ rights measures, and a minimum wage increase to $15 per hour.
Republican
Darren Bailey is the 2026 Republican nominee for Governor of Illinois, having won the party's primary. He lost the 2022 governor's race to incumbent JB Pritzker by more than 13 points. A farmer from Xenia in Clay County, he served in the Illinois state legislature and built a conservative political identity centered on opposition to Chicago-centric policies, lower taxes, and social conservatism. He received an endorsement from former President Trump in the 2022 cycle.
Voter information
Registration deadline
Register through Election Day
You can register and vote on Election Day at your polling place.
Source: Illinois Secretary of State