2022 Illinois Primary Election Preview

May 17, 2022

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Information updated as of May 12, 2022.

The 2022 Illinois primary election will occur on June 28. All six statewide offices are up for election in 2022, including an open race for secretary of state after long-time incumbent Jesse White announced his retirement and a competitive Republican primary for the opportunity to challenge Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Additionally, redistricting of state House, state Senate and U.S. congressional maps led to several retirements and competitive primaries.

Below is a list of all competitive primaries. Any races not mentioned below have only one candidate, or no candidates, in the June primary election.

Statewide Officials

GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR: Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton face a Democratic primary challenge from Beverly Miles, a nurse and U.S. Army veteran from Chicago. Miles criticized the rollout of minority-owned cannabis dispensaries under Pritzker, but otherwise believes Pritzker has done a great job as governor. She will challenge Pritzker from the left with a platform that includes Medicare for all and reparations for descendants of slaves. Miles’ running mate is Karla Shaw. The billionaire governor has a massive funding and name recognition advantage in this primary race.

Six Republicans filed to run for governor: former state Sen. Paul Schimpf, Sen. Darren Bailey, Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, suburban businessman Gary Rabine, Max Solomon and downstate venture capitalist Jesse Sullivan. Irvin has the backing of Citadel CEO and Illinois Republican donor Ken Griffin and his statewide Republican slate of candidates. As a Black, big-city mayor from the Chicago area who previously voted in Democratic primaries, Irvin must prove his conservative credentials. His running mate is Rep. Avery Bourne, a downstate representative from an agricultural background. Bailey is running a far-right-wing campaign and has the financial backing of Dick Uihlein of shipping company Uline.

ATTORNEY GENERAL: Incumbent Attorney General Kwame Raoul does not have a Democratic primary challenger. On the Republican side, Deerfield international business lawyer Steve Kim, downstate attorney Thomas DeVore, and attorney and author David Shestokas filed for the opportunity to take on Raoul in the general. Kim has the backing of Ken Griffin’s statewide Republican slate. However, DeVore recently made a name for himself successfully challenging Gov. Pritzker’s executive authority in the pandemic.

SECRETARY OF STATE: Incumbent Secretary of State Jesse White is retiring, creating the first open election since 1998. Former State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia are the two Democratic frontrunners to succeed White. Giannoulias has the support and financial backing of organized labor. He is endorsed by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, U.S. Rep. Chuy Garcia, U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, U.S Rep. Mike Quigley, and retiring U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush. Valencia is endorsed by Jesse White, Gov. Pritzker, U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, and U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood. Chicago Alderman David Moore and Big Box Charities Executive Director Sidney Moore also filed to run in the Democratic primary.

On the Republican side, former U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois John Milhiser has the backing of Ken Griffin and the statewide Republican slate. House Deputy Republican Leader Dan Brady will challenge Milhiser for the Republican nomination.

U.S. Senate

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth will not have a Democratic primary challenger, but eight candidates are running for the Republican nomination: Peggy Hubard, Casey Chlebek, Robert Piton, Jimmy Lee Tilman, Anthony Williams, Kathy Salvi and Mathew Dubiel. Republicans face a tough test against the incumbent Duckworth. However, Republican Mark Kirk held this seat from 2010 to 2017.

U.S. Representatives

1st CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: After U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush announced his retirement, 17 Democrats and four Republicans filed to run for his seat. Notably, state Sen. Jaqueline Collins is not running for reelection in the 16th District, and Chicago Alderman Pat Dowell dropped out of the race for secretary of state to instead run for Rush’s seat. A Black man has held the seat since 1929, but Rush hopes that a Black woman will replace him. Rush endorsed Karen Norington-Reaves, who has led the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership for the past decade but has never held elected office. The other Democrats who filed to run are Jonathan Swain, Nykea Pippion McGriff, Jahmal Cole,Ameena Matthews, Charise A. Williams, Steven DeJoie, Kirby Birgans, Robert Palmer, Terre Layng Rosner, Michael Thompson, Marcus Lewis, Chris Butler, Jonathan L. Jackson and Cassandra Goodrum. Republicans who filed to run are Geno Young, Jeffery T. Regnier, Philanise White and Eric Carlson.

2nd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: Incumbent Rep. Robin Kelly will not have a Democratic primary challenger. Republicans Thomas Lynch, Shane Cultra and Ashley Ramos filed to run in this heavily Democratic district.

3rd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: In this newly created Latinx-majority district, state Rep. Delia Ramirez and Chicago Alderman Gilbert Villegas are the two Democratic frontrunners. With no incumbent, this primary will be a test of how progressive the new district is. Ramirez is a progressive candidate backed by the Working Families Party, whereas Villegas is more of a centrist. In a recent poll, Ramirez is up 19% to 11% over Villegas. However, 66% of the survey population remains undecided, so it is way too early to call. Other Democrats in the primary are Iymen Chehade and Juan Enrique Aguirre. This is a strong Democratic district and only one Republican, Justin Burau, filed to run.

5th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: Incumbent Rep. Mike Quigley will not have a Democratic primary challenger. Malgorzata McGonigal and Tommy Hanson filed to run in the Republican primary. This remains a heavily Democratic district despite taking in more suburban Chicago areas than under the previous map.

6th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: This is the only congressional district in which two Democratic incumbents, Rep. Marie Newman and Rep. Sean Casten, face off for the Democratic nomination. Newman is facing an ethics probe regarding payments to Iymen Chahade, who is now running for the 3rd U.S. Congressional District seat. Casten has a significant fundraising advantage, with Newman forced to pay legal fees using campaign funds. However, the progressive Newman beat out more-moderate incumbent Rep. Dan Lipinski in the 2020 election. Charles Hughes is another Democrat in this primary. Republicans view the moderate-suburban 6th District as a potential pickup opportunity in 2022. Former Oak Lawn school board member Rob Cruz, Catherine O’Shea, Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau, Niki Conforti, Scott Kaspar, and Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso filed to run in the Republican primary.

7th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: Incumbent Rep. Danny Davis has a Democratic primary challenge from anti-gun violence and criminal justice reform advocate Kina Collins. Collins outraised Davis in Q4 of 2021, but Davis still has significantly more cash on hand. Edward Ward and Denarvis C. Mendenhall also filed to run in the Democratic primary.

8th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: Incumbent Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi has a Democratic primary challenge from Junaid Ahmed. Chris Dargis, Karen Kolodzie, Phillip Owen Wood, Peter Kopsaftis and Chad Koopie filed to run in the Republican primary. This is another suburban district that Republicans believe could be competitive in 2022.

11th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: Six Republicans filed on the primary ballot to go against Democratic Rep. Bill Foster in the November election. Much of this district in the far west suburbs of Chicago was taken from Rep. Lauren Underwood’s district under the old map. Although these areas have been trending more Democratic in recent elections, Republicans are optimistic about their chances for a pickup in the 11th Congressional District in 2022. Cassandra Tanner Miller, Mark Joseph Carrol, Susan Hathaway-Altman, Catalina Lauf, Andrea Heeg and Jerry Evans filed to run in this hotly contested Republican primary.

12th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: Incumbent Rep. Mike Bost does not have a Republican primary challenger. Joshua Qualls and Chip Markel filed in the Democratic primary for this district encompassing southern Illinois.

13th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: The new 13th District combines a number of downstate cities to create a Democratic-leaning district. The district is currently held by Republican Rep. Rodney Davis, who decided to run in the more-favorable 15th District after the remap. Nikki Budzinski, a former staffer for the Pritzker and Biden administrations, is largely viewed as the frontrunner in the Democratic primary. The only other Democrat who filed to run is David Palmer. Terry Martin, Matt Hausman, Regan Deering and Jesse Reising filed to run in the Republican primary.

14th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: Five Republicans filed on the primary ballot to go against Democratic incumbent Rep. Lauren Underwood. Jack Lombardi II, Mike Koolidge, Scott R. Gryder, Jamie Milton and Jim Marter filed for the Republican primary. This district takes in a number of areas from Rep. Bill Foster’s district in the old map and could be a competitive race in 2022. However, it remains favorable for Democrats, and Rep. Underwood has a history of winning in historically Republican areas.

15th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: Incumbent Reps. Rodney Davis and Mary Miller will compete for the Republican nomination in this central Illinois district. Davis, who is more of a mainstream Republican, maintains a strong fundraising advantage. Miller’s support from the far-right-wing Trump base could prove to be pivotal in this heavily Republican district.

16th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: Incumbent Rep. Darin LaHood faces three Republican primary challengers. Michael Rebresh, JoAnne Guillmette and Walt Peters filed to run against LaHood in the Republican primary.

17th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: With Rep. Cheri Bustos not seeking reelection, a crowded field of Democrats hope to replace her in this toss-up Western Illinois district. Jonathan Klarer Logemann, Jacqueline McGowan, Marsha Williams, Linda McNeely, Eric Sorenson, Angie Normoyle and Litesa Wallace filed to run in this competitive Democratic primary. On the Republican side, Esther Joy King and Charlie William Helmick filed on the primary ballot. Republicans hope for a pickup in this competitive district in 2022.

State Senate

2nd SENATE DISTRICT: Incumbent Senate Majority Whip Omar Aquino has two Democratic primary challengers. Wilson Vazquez of the Chicago Department of Aviation and Wilmer A. Maldonado filed on the Democratic primary ballot.

10th SENATE DISTRICT: Incumbent Sen. Robert Martwick has a Democratic primary challenge from Chicago Police detective Erin Elizabeth Jones. Despite running as a Democrat, Jones is a member of the Northwest Side GOP Club. This race is a top target for the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police, who strongly oppose Sen. Martwick.

12th SENATE DISTRICT: Incumbent Sen. Celina Villanueva has a Democratic primary challenge from Chicago Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez’s chief of staff, Javier Yanez.

16th SENATE DISTRICT: With incumbent Sen. Jacqueline Collins opting to run for Bobby Rush’s 1st U.S. Congressional District seat instead of running for reelection, this is an open race. The Democratic primary will feature Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry’s chief of staff, Lamont Raymond Williams, and Willie Preston, who unsuccessfully ran for the 31st Senate District in 2018.

27th SENATE DISTRICT: Bill Robertson, a former member of Township High School District 211, and Joshua Alvarado, founder of Illinois Standing Against Tyranny, filed on the Republican primary ballot. Incumbent Sen. Ann Gillespie does not have a Democratic primary challenger.

31st SENATE DISTRICT: Incumbent Sen. Melinda Bush announced she will not run for reelection. Rep. Sam Yingling and former Rep. Mary Edly-Allen filed in a competitive Democratic primary. Edly-Allen lost to Rep. Chris Bos in the 2020 election after serving one term in the House. She now serves as a teacher in Libertyville. Lake County Democrats Chair Lauren Beth Gash supports Yingling, whereas president of Lake County Democratic Women and current Sen. Melinda Bush is backing Edly-Allen to replace her.

35th SENATE DISTRICT: Incumbent Sen. Dave Syverson faces a Republican primary challenge from chairman of the Winnebago County Republican Central Committee and former county board member Eli Nicolosi.

36th SENATE DISTRICT: Rock Island Mayor Mike Thomas has a Republican primary challenge from Glen Evans, who previously ran for public office as a Democrat. Rep. Michael Halpin is running for this Senate seat and does not have a Democratic primary opponent.

37th SENATE DISTRICT: Incumbent Sen. Win Stoller faces a Republican primary challenge from Trinity Insurance and Financial Services owner Brett Nicklaus.

40th SENATE DISTRICT: Real estate agent Krystyna Vela and veteran and mitigation specialist Philip Nagel filed to run in the Republican primary. Incumbent Sen. Patrick Joyce does not have a Democratic primary challenger.

43rd SENATE DISTRICT: Incumbent Sen. John Connor is not running for reelection, leaving an open seat. Will County Board member Rachel Ventura and Joliet firefighter Eric Mattson filed to run in the Democratic primary. Mattson was appointed to finish out the remainder of Sen. Conner’s term on May 6. On the Republican side, Joliet Junior College Board member Michelle Lee and vice chair of the Joliet Township Republican Organization Diane Harris filed to run. Harris previously ran for state House and U.S. Congress.

49th SENATE DISTRICT: Pastor and member of the Kingdom Conservative Party Felicity Joy Solomon, healthcare worker Stacey Keagle and James Lawson filed to run in the Republican primary. Incumbent Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel does not have a Democratic primary opponent.

54th SENATE DISTRICT: Incumbent Sen. Steve McClure faces a Republican primary challenge from accountant Donald Debolt.

State House

4th HOUSE DISTRICT: Incumbent Rep. Delia Ramirez is running for the new Latinx-majority 3rd Congressional District. Hector Villafuerte of the Chicago Park District, Lilian Jimenez of the Department of Human Services Office of Immigrant & Refugee Services, and Manuel Jimenez filed to replace Ramirez in the Democratic primary.

6th HOUSE DISTRICT: Incumbent Rep. Sonya Harper faces Chicago police officer Carolynn Denise Crump in the Democratic primary.

13th HOUSE DISTRICT: House Majority Leader Greg Harris is not seeking reelection. Andy Peters, State Farm agent Joe Struck, social worker Eileen Dordek, community organization and nonprofit investor Hoan Huynh, and former principal at Roberte Clemente Community Academy Sergio Mojica all filed in the Democratic primary to replace Harris.

15th HOUSE DISTRICT: Incumbent Rep. Michael Kelly, who was appointed to succeed former Rep. John D’Amico in 2021, faces a Democratic primary challenge from Michael Patrick Rabbitt.

16th HOUSE DISTRICT: Incumbent Rep. Denyse Wang Stoneback faces payroll manager and law school student Kevin Olickal in the Democratic primary.

19th HOUSE DISTRICT: Incumbent Rep. Lindsey LaPointe faces real estate broker Tina Wallace in the Democratic primary.

21st HOUSE DISTRICT: Incumbent Rep. Michael J. Zalewski faces a Democratic primary challenge from Abdelnasser Rashid of Democracy Partners.

25th HOUSE DISTRICT: Incumbent Rep. Curtis Tarver has a Democratic primary challenge from Josef Michael Carr, who has a background in nonprofits.

27th HOUSE DISTRICT: Incumbent Rep. Justin Slaughter has a Democratic primary challenge from Jasimone Ward.

29th HOUSE DISTRICT: Incumbent Rep. Thaddeus Jones has a Democratic primary challenge from Monet Wilson.

36th HOUSE DISTRICT: Retired workers’ compensation specialist Robbie Katherine Segina and police officer and U.S. Navy veteran David Sheppard filed to run in the Republican primary. Incumbent Rep. Frances Ann Hurley does not have a Democratic primary challenger.

51st HOUSE DISTRICT: Digital consultant Nabeela Syed and drug awareness consultant Chelsea Laliberte Barnes filed to run in the Democratic primary. Incumbent Rep. Chris Bos does not face a Republican primary opponent.

62nd HOUSE DISTRICT: Incumbent Rep. Sam Yingling is running for state Senate, leaving an open seat. Grayslake village trustee Laura Faver Dias, Waukegan Government Operations Director Thomas Mailard, and Lake County Board member Terry Wilke filed to run in the Democratic primary.

66th HOUSE DISTRICT: Former Dundee Township Supervisor Arin Thrower and accountant Connie Cain filed in the Republican primary. Incumbent Rep. Suzanne Ness does not have a Democratic primary challenger.

71st HOUSE DISTRICT: Incumbent Rep. Dan Swanson has a Republican primary challenge from marketing and industrial design worker Matthew Rauschert.

72nd HOUSE DISTRICT: Incumbent Rep. Mike Halpin is running for state Senate, leaving an open seat. Rock Island County Board member Jeffrey Deppe, former corrections officer and 2018 Senate candidate Gregg Johnson and community college educator Thurgood Brooks filed to run in the Democratic primary.

74th HOUSE DISTRICT: With Rep. Dan Swanson now running in the 71st District, this is an open seat. Farmer Bradley Fritts and Dixon Mayor Li Arellano filed to run in the Republican primary.

75th HOUSE DISTRICT: Incumbent House Republican Conference Chair David Welter faces a Republican primary challenge from Parkview Christian Academy President Jed Davis.

77th HOUSE DISTRICT: Incumbent Rep. Kathleen Willis has a Democratic primary challenge from Norma Hernandez, an urban planner for University of Illinois-Chicago and trustee on the Triton College Board.

79th HOUSE DISTRICT: Park Forest village trustee Erin Slone and Kankakee County Board member Robert Ellington-Snipes filed to run in the Democratic primary. Incumbent Rep. Jackie Haas does not have a Republican primary opponent.

83rd HOUSE DISTRICT: Former Kane County Board member Matt Hansen and Geneva Public Library District trustee Arad Boxenbaum filed to run in the Democratic primary. Incumbent Assistant House Republican Leader Keith Wheeler does not have a primary opponent.

86th HOUSE DISTRICT: Scott Greene, Dinora Ruiz and former Joliet City Council candidate James Lanham filed to run in the Republican primary. Incumbent Rep. Larry Walsh does not have a Democratic primary opponent.

87th HOUSE DISTRICT: With Rep. Tim Butler now running in the 95th District, this an open seat. Dr. William Hauter and Tazewell County Treasurer Marry Burress filed to run in the Republican primary.

89th HOUSE DISTRICT: Incumbent Rep. Tony McCombie faces a Republican primary challenge from former police officer Victoria Onorato.

90th HOUSE DISTRICT: Incumbent Deputy House Republican Leader Tom Demmer is running for state treasurer, leaving an open seat. Former state Rep. John Cabello and Roscoe Village President Mark Szula filed to run in the Republican primary. Cabello lost the 2020 election to Democratic Rep. Dave Vella.

91st HOUSE DISTRICT: With Rep. Mark Luft now running in the 93rd District, this is an open seat. Normal Town Council member Scott Preston and former State Farm representative James Fisher filed to run in the Republican primary. Karla Bailey-Smith and Sharon Chung filed for the Democratic primary for this open seat.

93rd HOUSE DISTRICT: Incumbent Rep. Mark Luft has a Republican primary challenge from former strategic business planning manager for Caterpillar Travis Weaver.

95th HOUSE DISTRICT: Incumbent Assistant House Republican Leader Tim Butler has a Republican primary challenge from Kent Gray of Leland Grove.

96th HOUSE DISTRICT: Nurse practitioner Lisa Smith and U.S. Marine Corps veteran and entrepreneur Prescott Paulin filed to run in the Republican primary. Incumbent Rep. Sue Scherer does not have a primary opponent.

98th HOUSE DISTRICT: Incumbent Assistant House Majority Leader Natalie Manley has a Democratic primary challenge from Barry Haywood.

105th HOUSE DISTRICT: Incumbent House Deputy Republican Leader Dan Brady announced he would be running for secretary of state rather than seeking reelection in the House, where he has served for the past 20 years. This leaves the district open for a competitive Republican primary between former Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council CEO Kyle Ham, Livingston County Board member Mike Kirkton, Woodford County Chief Deputy Sheriff Dennis Tipsword, and Benson Fire Protection District President Donald Ray Rients.

112th HOUSE DISTRICT: Illinois Republican Party Communications Director Joe Hackler and former social worker Jennifer Korte filed to run in the Republican primary. Incumbent Rep. Katie Stuart does not have a Democratic primary opponent.

114th HOUSE DISTRICT: Estate planning and probate attorney Kevin Dawson and chiropractic business owner Kevin Schmidt filed to run in the Republican primary. Incumbent House Democratic Conference Chair LaToya Greenwood does not have a Democratic primary opponent.

117th HOUSE DISTRICT: Incumbent Rep. Patrick Windhorst has a Republican primary challenge from former Marion Commissioner Ron Ellis.

118th HOUSE DISTRICT: Incumbent Rep. Paul Jacobs will meet a Republican primary challenge from teacher, coach and business owner Aaron Robert Smith of Marion.