Legislative Primary and General Election Races Emerge
Rep. Charlie Meier (R-Okawville) faces two potential primary challengers in 2026.
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Senate:
Environmentalist Patrick Hanley of Winnetka and Rachel Ruttenberg of Evanston, a recent Deputy Chief of Staff to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle are seeking to replace Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview). Fine is running for Congress.
Republican Tom McIntosh of St. Charles has filed campaign finance documents for a potential challenge to Sen. Don DeWitte (R-St. Charles). DeWitte hasn’t announced that he’s running for re-election yet, but most in the Senate GOP expect him to.
Democrat Joseph Berning of Galena is running against Sen. Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport). President Trump won the district by 21 points last year. Darren Bailey won the Governor’s race in the district by 22 points in 2022.
House:
Democrat Sunjay Kumar of Chicago has filed campaign finance documents to replace Rep. Hoan Huynh (D-Chicago). Huynh is running for Congress.
Stephanie Trussell of Lisle, the GOP nominee for Lt. Governor in 2022, has filed finance documents to challenge Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-Glen Ellyn) next year. Kamala Harris won the district by around 21 points last year. Governor Pritzker won it by around 22 points last year.
Republican Tedora Brown of Oak Brook Terrace has filed campaign finance paperwork to challenge Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock (D-Villa Park). Brown has also filed paperwork for a congressional campaign. Kamala Harris won the district by 10 points last year. Governor Pritzker won it by 17 points in 2022.
Democrat Maria Peterson is back for another run at Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills). McLaughlin won re-election by just 47 votes last year. Two other Democrats, school board member Erin Chan Ding and former Barrington Village Board candidate Jesse Rojo have announced they’re running, too. McLaughlin has said publicly he’s considering a primary to appointed Sen. Darby Hills (R-Barrington Hills), but was non-committal of his plans when contacted by The Illinoize last week.
Pharmacist Tina Durrant of Beach Park has filed campaign finance documents to challenge Rep. Joyce Mason (D-Gurnee). Kamala Harris won the district by around 14 points last year. Governor Pritzker won it by around 16 points in 2022.
Republican Crystal Loughran of Peru has filed campaign finance documents to run in the 76th House District. She lost the primary last year to Liz Bishop, who lost a close race to Rep. Amy Murri Briel (D-Ottawa).
Two Republicans have filed campaign campaign finance documents to primary Rep. Charlie Meier (R-Okawville). Dakota Driemeyer of Pocahontas, a senior at the University of Southern California and Zachary Meyer of Aviston, an attorney, appear set to challenge Meier. Former Attorney General nominee Tom DeVore has made it clear he intends to find a challenger for Meier, but it isn’t clear if either challenger has DeVore’s blessing.
Republican Franklin County Treasurer Steve Vercellino of West Frankfort has filed paperwork hoping to primary Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis) next year.
Democrat Chip Markel of Carbondale, who has previously run for Congress, is hoping to challenge Rep. Paul Jacobs (R-Paloma). President Trump won the district by around 16 points last year. Darren Bailey won the district by 20 points in 2022.
