2018 Illinois Secretary of State election

2018 Illinois Secretary of State election

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Turnout	56.44%
Nominee Jesse White Jason Helland Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 3,120,207 1,336,079 Percentage 68.3% 29.2%
County results Congressional district results Precinct results White:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Helland:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Tie:     40–50%     50–60%
Secretary of State before election Jesse White Democratic Elected Secretary of State Jesse White Democratic

The 2018 Illinois Secretary of State election was held on November 6, 2018, to elect the next Illinois Secretary of State. Incumbent Democratic secretary of state Jesse White, who had been in office since 1999, initially announced in August 2015 that he would retire. ^[1] On August 17, 2017, White reversed this decision and announced that he would run for re-election to a sixth term. ^[2] Governing magazine projected the race as "safe Democratic". ^[3]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jesse White, incumbent secretary of state ^[2]

Withdrew

• Mike Hastings, state senator ^{[4] [5]}

Declined

• Walter Burnett Jr., alderman for Chicago's 27th ward ^[4]

Results

Democratic primary results ^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jesse White (incumbent)	1,209,978	100.0
Total votes			1,209,978	100.0

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jason Helland, Grundy County State's Attorney ^{[7] [8]}

Declined

• J.C. Griffin, Iraq War veteran ^[9]

Results

Republican primary results ^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jason Helland	609,190	100.0
Total votes			609,190	100.0

General election

Endorsements

Steve Dutner (L)

Newspapers

• State Journal Register ^[10]

Jason Helland (R)

Newspapers

• Daily Herald ^[11]

Jesse White (D)

Newspapers

• Chicago Sun-Times ^[12]
• Chicago Tribune ^[13]

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Governing [14]	Safe D	October 11, 2018

Results

2018 Illinois Secretary of State election ^[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jesse White (incumbent)	3,120,207	68.26%	+2.56%
	Republican	Jason Helland	1,336,079	29.23%	−2.16%
	Libertarian	Steve Dutner	114,556	2.51%	−0.38%
Total votes			4,570,842	100.0%	N/A
	Democratic hold

By congressional district

White won 17 of 18 congressional districts, including four that elected Republicans. ^[16]

District	White	Helland	Representative
1st	83%	15%	Bobby Rush
2nd	85%	13%	Robin Kelly
3rd	71%	26%	Dan Lipinski
4th	88%	9%	Chuy García
5th	79%	18%	Mike Quigley
6th	63%	35%	Sean Casten
7th	89%	9%	Danny Davis
8th	69%	28%	Raja Krishnamoorthi
9th	78%	19%	Jan Schakowsky
10th	71%	27%	Brad Schneider
11th	70%	27%	Bill Foster
12th	57%	41%	Mike Bost
13th	62%	35%	Rodney Davis
14th	60%	37%	Lauren Underwood
15th	45%	53%	John Shimkus
16th	55%	42%	Adam Kinzinger
17th	62%	36%	Cheri Bustos
18th	53%	45%	Darin LaHood

See also

• 2018 Illinois elections

References

1. Schlikerman, Becky (August 20, 2015). "Secretary of State Jesse White won't seek re-election". Chicago Sun-Times . Retrieved July 19, 2016.
2. Garcia, Monique (August 17, 2017). "Secretary of State Jesse White says he'll run for a record sixth term". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved August 17, 2017.
3. Jacobson, Louis (June 4, 2018). "Secretary of State Races Are More Competitive and Important Than Ever". Governing. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
4. Miller, Rich (September 20, 2017). "Hastings circulating petitions for SoS and AG as Ald. Burnett declares he's not circulating". Capitol Fax . Retrieved September 20, 2017.
5. Candidate Detail, Illinois State Board of Elections, Retrieved January 12, 2018.
6. "2018 GENERAL PRIMARY - Election Results". Illinois State Board of Elections.
7. Miller, Rich (October 5, 2017). "Rauner candidate emerges for secretary of state". Capitol Fax . Retrieved October 5, 2017.
8. "Rauner faces war on two fronts as Republican challenger Ives attacks", Chicago Tribune , December 4, 2017. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
9. Maxwell, Mark (July 20, 2017). "Iraq war vet could challenge Jesse White". WCIA . Retrieved August 17, 2017.
10. "SJ-R Endorses Libertarian For Secretary Of State". www.wmay.com. WMAY. October 18, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
11. Board, Daily Herald Editorial (October 10, 2018). "Endorsement: Daily Herald backs Jason Helland over Jesse White for secretary of state". Daily Herald. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
12. "ENDORSEMENT: Jesse White for Illinois secretary of state". Chicago Sun-Times. October 10, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
13. "Chicago Tribune Editorial Board endorsements in the 2018 Illinois midterm election". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. October 12, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
14. Jacobson, Louis (October 11, 2018). "Democrats Maintain the Edge in Secretary of State Races" . Retrieved October 20, 2025.
15. "2018 GENERAL ELECTION - Election Results". Illinois State Board of Elections.
16. "DRA 2020". Dave's Redistricting . Retrieved November 12, 2025.