2026 Cook County, Illinois, elections

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2026 Cook County, Illinois, elections
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November 3, 2026
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The Cook County, Illinois, general elections will be held on November 3, 2026. Primaries will be held on March 17, 2026.

Contents

Elections will be held for assessor, clerk, sheriff, treasurer, president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, all 17 seats of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, two seats of the Cook County Board of Review, four seats on the Water Reclamation District Board, and judgeships on the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Assessor

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared
Withdrawn

Endorsements

Pat Hynes
U.S. representatives
Statewide officials
State legislators
Local officials
Labor unions
Organizations
Fritz Kaegi
U.S. senators
U.S. representatives
State legislators
Local officials
Labor unions
Organizations
Declined to endorse
Organizations

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Fritz
Kaegi		Pat
Hynes		OtherUndecided
Impact Research (D) [21] [A] October 31 – November 5, 2025600 (LV)± 4.0%31%24%–45%
Change Research [22] [B] June 24 – July 2, 20251,052 (LV)± 3.1%19%6%15% [b] 60%

Results

2026 Cook County Assessor Democratic primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Pat Hynes
Democratic Fritz Kaegi (incumbent)
Total votes100.0

Republican primary

No candidate ran in the Republican primary.

Clerk

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared
  • Monica Gordon, incumbent clerk [23]

Endorsements

Results

2026 Cook County Clerk Democratic primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Monica Gordon (incumbent)
Total votes100.0

Republican primary

No candidate ran in the Republican primary.

Sheriff

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Endorsements

Tom Dart
Organizations

Results

2026 Cook County Sheriff Democratic primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Tom Dart (incumbent)
Total votes100.0

Republican primary

No candidate ran in the Republican primary.

Treasurer

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Endorsements

Maria Pappas
Labor unions
Organizations

Results

2026 Cook County Treasurer Democratic primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Maria Pappas (incumbent)
Total votes100.0

Republican primary

No candidate ran in the Republican primary.

President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared
Declined

Endorsements

Brendan Reilly
Local officials
Individuals
Labor unions
Newspapers

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Toni
Preckwinkle		Brendan
Reilly		Undecided
Tulchin Research [34] [C] October 27 – November 2, 2025500 (LV)± 4.4%53%22%25%
Hypothetical polling
Toni Preckwinkle vs. "Someone Else"
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Toni
Preckwinkle		Someone
Else		Undecided
Tulchin Research [35] [C] February 20–25, 2025500 (LV)± 4.4%58%29%13%

Results

2026 President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners Democratic primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Toni Preckwinkle (incumbent)
Democratic Brendan Reilly
Total votes100.0

Republican primary

No candidate ran in the Republican primary.

Cook County Board of Commissioners

The 2026 Cook County Board of Commissioners election will see all 17 seats of the Cook County Board of Commissioners up for election to four-year terms.

Cook County Board of Review

In the 2026 Cook County Board of Review election, two seats, both of which are Democratic-held, are up for reelection.

1st district

Democratic primary

Candidates
Declared
Endorsements
George Cardenas
Local officials
Organizations
Juanita Irizarry
U.S. representatives
Labor unions
Organizations
Declined to endorse
Labor unions
Organizations
Results
2026 Cook County Board of Review 1st district Democratic primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic George Cardenas (incumbent)
Democratic Juanita Irizarry
Total votes100.0

Republican primary

No candidate ran in the Republican primary.

2nd district

Democratic primary

Candidates
Declared
Endorsements
Liz Nicholson
U.S. representatives
Statewide officials
State legislators
Local officials
Organizations
Declined to endorse
Labor unions
Organizations
Results
2026 Cook County Board of Review 2nd district Democratic primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Liz Nicholson
Democratic Samantha Steele (incumbent)
Total votes100.0

Republican primary

No candidate ran in the Republican primary.

Water Reclamation District Board

In the 2026 Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago election, three six-year term seats were up for a regularly scheduled election and an additional seat was upon for election to a partial term in a special election.

Regular election

Three seats with six-year terms were up for election in the regular election, with voters able to vote for up to three candidates. In both the primaries and general election, the top-three finishers were the winners.

Democratic primary

Candidates
Declared
  • Precious Brady-Davis, incumbent commissioner [23]
  • Sarah Bury, attorney [23]
  • Beth McElroy Kirkwood, incumbent commissioner [23]
  • Eira Corral Sepúlveda, incumbent commissioner [23]
Endorsements
Precious Brady-Davis
Labor unions
Organizations
Sarah Bury
Organizations
Beth McElroy Kirkwood
Labor unions
Organizations
Eira Corral Sepúlveda
Labor unions
Organizations
Results
2026 Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago regular election Democratic primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Precious Brady-Davis (incumbent)
Democratic Sarah Bury
Democratic Beth McElroy Kirkwood (incumbent)
Democratic Eira Corral Sepúlveda (incumbent)
Total votes100.0

Republican primary

No candidate ran in the Republican primary.

Special election

A seat with a partial unexpired term was up for election.

Democratic primary

Candidates
Declared
Endorsements
Cam Davis
Labor unions
Organizations
Declined to endorse
Labor unions
Results
2026 Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago special election Democratic primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Cam Davis (incumbent)
Total votes100.0

Republican primary

No candidate ran in the Republican primary.

Circuit Court of Cook County

Judicial elections to the Circuit Court of Cook County will also be held.

Other elections

Coinciding with the primaries, elections will be held to elect both the Democratic and Republican committeepeople for the suburban townships.

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ↑ "Would not vote" with 6%; Steele with 5%; Pointer and Burruss with 2%

Partisan clients

  1. ↑ This poll was sponsored by Hynes's campiagn
  2. ↑ This poll was sponsored by Kaegi's campiagn
  3. 1 2 This poll was sponsored by Preckwinkle's campiagn

References

  1. ↑ Kapos, Shia (July 11, 2025). "Pritzker's Carolina calling". Politico . Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  2. ↑ Kapos, Shia (March 7, 2025). "Duckworth, Bost and a tale of two veterans". Politico . Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  3. ↑ Kapos, Shia (July 10, 2025). "A sanctuary showdown". Politico . Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  4. ↑ Kapos, Shia (February 3, 2026). "Illinois joins WHO network". Politico . Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  5. ↑ Kapos, Shia (December 19, 2025). "The Gift List!". Politico . Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Endorsing Pat Hynes for Cook County Assessor". Politico . September 5, 2025. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  7. ↑ Kapos, Shia (January 9, 2026). "'Undecided' dominates new poll". Politico . Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  8. ↑ Kapos, Shia (November 21, 2025). "Ballot brawls heat up". Politico . Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  9. ↑ Kapos, Shia (December 3, 2025). "Obama center to open in June". Politico . Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  10. ↑ Kapos, Shia (December 11, 2025). "Chicago budget mutiny tests the mayor". Politico . Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  11. 1 2 Kapos, Shia (November 20, 2025). "Clergy sue ICE over access". Politico . Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  12. ↑ Kapos, Shia (December 17, 2025). "Border patrol returns, tensions rise". Politico . Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Cook County Democratic Party Slate – 2026 Primary". July 18, 2025. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Fritz Kaegi for Cook County Assessor Congressional Endorsements". Politico . December 3, 2025. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Fritz Kaegi Endorsements". Politico . October 7, 2025. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  16. ↑ Kapos, Shia (January 22, 2026). "Illinois House Dems torch Trump". Politico . Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "AFSCME PEOPLE Endorsements: March 17 Primary Election". January 27, 2026. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "2026 Endorsements" . Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  19. 1 2 3 4 "Equality Illinois makes 72 pro-equality, pro-family endorsements for 2026 primary election". Windy City Times . January 15, 2026. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "2026 Democratic Primary Endorsements". January 25, 2026. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Findings From a Poll of Democratic Primary Voters in Cook County". Politico . December 1, 2025. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  22. ↑ h "Cook County Assessor's Race is Wide-Open, Majorities Undecided". Politico . July 11, 2025. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "View All Candidates" . Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "March 17, 2026 Primary Election Endorsed Candidates" (PDF). Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  25. ↑ Kapos, Shia; Nguyen, Danny (March 17, 2025). "Preckwinkle is running". Politico . Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  26. ↑ Kapos, Shia (September 11, 2025). "Friends worried about Charlie Kirk's safety". Politico . Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  27. ↑ Quig, A.D. (July 21, 2025). "Bridget Degnen joins exodus from Cook County Board". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  28. ↑ Kapos, Shia (July 29, 2025). "Don Tracy considers governor bid". Politico . Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  29. ↑ Kapos, Shia (June 24, 2025). "Preckwinkle's got Pritzker and a poll". Politico . Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  30. ↑ Kapos, Shia (January 28, 2026). "Jesse Jackson Jr. testing voters". Politico . Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  31. ↑ Kapos, Shia (December 9, 2025). "Rekindling the council wars". Politico . Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  32. ↑ "Illinois FOP Endorsements for 2026 Primary". Politico . January 29, 2026. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Editorial: Brendan Reilly for Cook County Board president". Chicago Tribune . January 31, 2026. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Poll: Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle Strongly Favored Over Primary Opponent Brendan Reilly". Politico . November 30, 2025. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Poll: Democrats Back Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle for Re-Election". Politico . July 17, 2025. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  36. 1 2 3 Kapos, Shia (October 17, 2025). "Mayor's budget targets tech, Trump". Politico . Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  37. ↑ Kapos, Shia (January 29, 2026). "Johnson on running Chicago under Trump". Politico . Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  38. 1 2 Kapos, Shia (January 26, 2026). "Minnesota shooting puts Illinois politics on edge". Politico . Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  39. ↑ Kapos, Shia (February 2, 2026). "Pritzker, Quigley and money moves". Politico . Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  40. ↑ Kapos, Shia (January 15, 2026). "Mental health funding fumble". Politico . Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  41. ↑ Kapos, Shia (February 24, 2025). "How Pritzker's speech was written". Politico . Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  42. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 "Endorsing Liz Nicholson for the Board of Review (2nd District)". Politico . October 2, 2025. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  43. 1 2 3 4 "Early Endorsements for the March 17, 2026 Primary Election". December 3, 2025. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  44. 1 2 3 "BREAKING: SEIU Illinois State Council Endorses Candidates Who Will Fight for Working Families". November 12, 2025. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  45. ↑ "LGBTQ+ Victory Fund endorses 36 new candidates for 2026 campaigns". January 29, 2026. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
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