2026 Illinois gubernatorial election

2026 Illinois gubernatorial election
	November 3, 2026
Incumbent Governor; JB Pritzker; Democratic	; ;

The 2026 Illinois gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the Governor of Illinois. Incumbent governor JB Pritzker is running for re-election to a third term in office.^[1] However, Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, who ran with Pritzker in both 2018 and 2022, is running for U.S. Senate.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

JB Pritzker, incumbent governor (2019–present)^[1]
- Running mate: Christian Mitchell, former Deputy Governor (2019–2023) and former state representative (2013–2019)^[2]
Patricia Tillman, former candidate for Chicago City Council^[3]
- Running mate: Joseph Mosley^[3]

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Darren Bailey, former state senator from the 55th district (2021–2023), nominee for governor in 2022 and candidate for Illinois's 12th congressional district in 2024^[4]
- Running mate: Aaron Del Mar, Palatine Township Highway Commissioner, chair of the Cook County Republican Party, and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2022^[4]
Ted Dabrowski, conservative news website president^[5]
- Running mate: Carrie Mendoza, leader of FAIR In Medicine^[6]
Rick Heidner, real estate developer and founder of Gold Rush Gaming^[7]
- Running mate: Christina Neitzke-Troike, Homer Glen mayor^[7]
James Mendrick, DuPage County Sheriff (2018–present)^[8]
- Running mate: Robert Renteria, author and businessman^[9]
Joseph Severino, capital management professional, nominee for Illinois's 10th congressional district in 2022 and independent candidate for in 2024^[10]
- Running mate: Rantch Isquith, bank examiner
Max Solomon, attorney and candidate for governor in 2022^[11]
- Running mate: Geno Young, candidate for Illinois's 1st congressional district in 2022

Potential

Mary Miller, U.S. representative from Illinois's 15th congressional district (2021–present)^[12]

Withdrawn

Phil Perez, member of the Posen Park District Commission^[13]

Declined

Scott Gartner, mayor of Antioch (2021–present)^[14]^[11]
Jeanne Ives, former state representative from the 42nd district (2013–2019), candidate for governor in 2018, and nominee for Illinois's 6th congressional district in 2020^[13] (endorsed Dabrowski)^[15]
Darin LaHood, U.S. representative from Illinois's 16th congressional district (2015–present) (running for re-election)^[16]
Dan Ugaste, state representative from the 65th district (2019–present) (running for re-election)^[17]

References

1 2 Armentrout, Mitchell (June 26, 2025). "Gov. JB Pritzker announces run for 3rd term to protect Illinois from 'chaos and craziness' of Trump". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
↑ Cherone, Heather (July 1, 2025). "Pritzker Taps Former Deputy Gov. Christian Mitchell as Running Mate". WTTW. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
1 2 Ackerman, Tom (November 5, 2025). "Pritzker among 9 candidates running for Illinois governor. Meet the candidates". The State Journal-Register. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
1 2 Ahern, MaryAnn (September 8, 2025). "Darren Bailey to seek Republican gubernatorial nomination". WMAQ-TV. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
↑ Szalinski, Ben (August 14, 2025). "New Republican to run for Illinois governor as election season begins". Capitol News Illinois. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
↑ Miller, Rich (September 12, 2025). "A quick briefing on Ted Dabrowski's running mate". Capitol Fax. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
1 2 Kapos, Shia (October 21, 2025). "GOP governor's race heats up". Politico. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
↑ "DuPage Co. Sheriff James Mendrick to run for governor of Illinois". WLS-TV. February 27, 2025. Archived from the original on March 10, 2025. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
↑ Palermo, Gregg (June 30, 2025). "Pritzker on Lt. Gov. choice: 'You'll know who my pick is sometime soon'". Spectrum News. Retrieved July 2, 2025. The only declared Republican candidate for governor, DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick, has selected author and activist Dr. Robert Renteria as his candidate for Lt. Gov.
↑ Rice, Max (April 18, 2025). "Republican Joseph Severino Enters the Governor's Race". Illinois Record. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
1 2 Szalinski, Ben (October 16, 2025). "Dabrowski sets fundraising bar at $1.5M in GOP primary for governor". Capitol News Illinois. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
↑ Kaufmann, Justin (June 20, 2025). "Miller and Pritzker's clash at House hearing could be preview for 2026". Axios. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
1 2 Kapos, Shia (July 14, 2025). "Republicans lining up against Pritzker". Politico. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
↑ "Antioch Mayor "strongly considering" run for Illinois Governor". Lake and McHenry County Scanner. September 7, 2025. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
↑ Talamonti, Jim (September 29, 2025). "WATCH: Former state lawmakers endorse, donors support GOP candidate Dabrowski". The Center Square. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
↑ Ahern, Mary Ann (August 4, 2025). "Darin LaHood won't run for Illinois governor, will focus on reelection to Congress". WMAQ-TV. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
↑ Schory, Brenda (July 10, 2025). "Geneva's Dan Ugaste a no-go for governor after all". Shaw Local. Retrieved July 10, 2025.

[chaos-1] 1 2 Armentrout, Mitchell (June 26, 2025). "Gov. JB Pritzker announces run for 3rd term to protect Illinois from 'chaos and craziness' of Trump". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved June 26, 2025.

[2] Cherone, Heather (July 1, 2025). "Pritzker Taps Former Deputy Gov. Christian Mitchell as Running Mate". WTTW. Retrieved July 1, 2025.

[filedeadline-3] 1 2 Ackerman, Tom (November 5, 2025). "Pritzker among 9 candidates running for Illinois governor. Meet the candidates". The State Journal-Register. Retrieved 7 November 2025.

[bailey-4] 1 2 Ahern, MaryAnn (September 8, 2025). "Darren Bailey to seek Republican gubernatorial nomination". WMAQ-TV. Retrieved September 9, 2025.

[5] Szalinski, Ben (August 14, 2025). "New Republican to run for Illinois governor as election season begins". Capitol News Illinois. Retrieved August 28, 2025.

[6] Miller, Rich (September 12, 2025). "A quick briefing on Ted Dabrowski's running mate". Capitol Fax. Retrieved September 15, 2025.

[GOPHeatsUp-7] 1 2 Kapos, Shia (October 21, 2025). "GOP governor's race heats up". Politico. Retrieved October 21, 2025.

[8] "DuPage Co. Sheriff James Mendrick to run for governor of Illinois". WLS-TV. February 27, 2025. Archived from the original on March 10, 2025. Retrieved February 27, 2025.

[9] Palermo, Gregg (June 30, 2025). "Pritzker on Lt. Gov. choice: 'You'll know who my pick is sometime soon'". Spectrum News. Retrieved July 2, 2025. The only declared Republican candidate for governor, DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick, has selected author and activist Dr. Robert Renteria as his candidate for Lt. Gov.

[10] Rice, Max (April 18, 2025). "Republican Joseph Severino Enters the Governor's Race". Illinois Record. Retrieved April 22, 2025.

[FundraisBar-11] 1 2 Szalinski, Ben (October 16, 2025). "Dabrowski sets fundraising bar at $1.5M in GOP primary for governor". Capitol News Illinois. Retrieved October 21, 2025.

[12] Kaufmann, Justin (June 20, 2025). "Miller and Pritzker's clash at House hearing could be preview for 2026". Axios. Retrieved June 20, 2025.

[Lining-13] 1 2 Kapos, Shia (July 14, 2025). "Republicans lining up against Pritzker". Politico. Retrieved July 14, 2025.

[14] "Antioch Mayor "strongly considering" run for Illinois Governor". Lake and McHenry County Scanner. September 7, 2025. Retrieved October 21, 2025.

[Lawmakers-15] Talamonti, Jim (September 29, 2025). "WATCH: Former state lawmakers endorse, donors support GOP candidate Dabrowski". The Center Square. Retrieved September 29, 2025.

[16] Ahern, Mary Ann (August 4, 2025). "Darin LaHood won't run for Illinois governor, will focus on reelection to Congress". WMAQ-TV. Retrieved August 5, 2025.

[17] Schory, Brenda (July 10, 2025). "Geneva's Dan Ugaste a no-go for governor after all". Shaw Local. Retrieved July 10, 2025.

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