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, has 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. Primary elections will be held on March 17, 2026.
On April 23, 2025, incumbent Senator Dick Durbin, who has served in the seat since 1997, announced that he would not seek re-election.[1] One day later, Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton declared her candidacy, becoming the first to do so; she received the immediate endorsement of Governor JB Pritzker.[2]
On May 1, NBC 5 Chicago reported that Pritzker and his allies were attempting to dissuade other prominent Democrats from entering the primary, in particular U.S. Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi, Robin Kelly and Lauren Underwood. Krishnamoorthi had already raised $19 million by then while Underwood led in some polls.[3] Pritzker denied this report.[4] On May 6, Kelly announced her campaign.[5] The next day, Krishnamoorthi entered the race.[6] Underwood would ultimately decline to run in the primary on 19 May, opting instead to run for re-election to the House.[7]
By July, Krishnamoorthi had amassed the largest war chest of about $21 million. The three most notable candidates have earned numerous high-level endorsements as well; Stratton received the endorsements of many suburban Democrats and leaders in the State House along with figures like Senator Tammy Duckworth, Krishnamoorthi has garnered primarily local support from suburban towns, while Kelly was endorsed by much of the Congressional Black Caucus as well as gun violence prevention and LGBT advocacy groups.[8]
Krishnamoorthi argued that his experience on the House Intelligence Committee would allow him to effectively engage in foreign policy matters, such as issues with China, while in the Senate. He has also sought to prioritize economic mobility as a main issue, seeking to appeal to middle-class voters.[9] Stratton has received the financial backing of Pritzker and other members of his family.[10] Stratton has stated that she will not accept Corporate PAC donations while Krishnamoorthi and Kelly have received such donations.[11][12]
↑ "Who will fill Dick Durbin's US Senate seat in Illinois? Here are the candidates". Chicago Tribune. May 15, 2025. Retrieved May 16, 2025. Others who have filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission stating their interest in running for the Senate seat were Democrats Christopher Alexander Swann, Stanley Leavell and Austin James Mink; Republicans John Goodman, Casimer Chlebek and Douglas Bennett; independent Anthony Smith and Joseph David Schilling.
↑ Cowan, Richard (April 23, 2025). "Democratic US Senator Dick Durbin to retire, sparking competitive Illinois primary". Reuters. Retrieved May 16, 2025. Republicans who so far have announced their candidacy include Doug Bennett, who has held a local government position and is a former candidate for a U.S. House seat; and John Goodman, an Air Force veteran who has worked in law enforcement.
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