ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois voters will head to the polls Nov. 3 to decide a wide range of races that could shape the future of Illinois for years to come.

Among the races at the top of the ballot are contests for an open U.S. Senate seat, governor, attorney general and secretary of state, along with congressional, state legislative and other statewide offices across Illinois.

Here's what you need to know as you fill out your ballot.

Illinois Governor

The 2026 governor's race is a rematch of the 2022 contest, when Gov. J.B. Pritzker defeated Republican challenger Darren Bailey with nearly 55% of the vote. Four years later, the two are facing off again in one of Illinois' highest-profile races.

J.B. Pritzker (Democrat)

Governor J.B. Pritzker first became governor of Illinois in 2018, defeating Republican governor Bruce Rauner in a campaign dominated by a budget crisis. His family owns the Hyatt hotel brand, and he previously ran for a U.S. House seat in 1998.

During his time in office, Illinois legalized recreational marijuana, increased the state minimum wage to $15 an hour, launched major infrastructure projects through the Rebuild Illinois program and received a series of credit rating upgrades. He has also become a vocal critic of President Donald Trump and has led several state initiatives in response to federal actions.

According to his campaign, his priorities include addressing affordability, creating jobs, growing the state's economy and protecting individual rights.

After Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton decided to run for the U.S. Senate, Gov. J.B. Pritzker selected Christian Mitchell as his running mate. Mitchell highlighted his support for progressive policies during his time in the General Assembly, including protecting abortion access, increasing equitable funding for schools and banning certain semiautomatic firearms.

Pritzker is supported by several labor organizations and advocacy groups across Illinois, including the Illinois AFL-CIO and the Human Rights Campaign. He also received the endorsement of former Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin.

Darren Bailey (Republican)

Darren Bailey is a farmer from southern Illinois who previously represented the 109th District in the Illinois House. He and his wife co-founded a private Christian school and served for 17 years on a local board of education, including 12 years as board president. Bailey was elected to the General Assembly in 2018 and became the Republican nominee for governor in 2022.

According to his campaign, Bailey's priorities include lowering the cost of living, improving education, reducing property taxes and strengthening public safety through partnerships with law enforcement.

Bailey's running mate is Aaron Del Mar, a Palatine businessman and former member of Palatine's village council. According to the campaign, Del Mar became Palatine's youngest council member and has experience in local government, business leadership and community organizations.

In September, Bailey received an endorsement from Donald Trump, who called him a "very good candidate."

Collin Corbett (Independent)

Independent candidate Collin Corbett, a Palatine political consultant and former Republican strategist, is also on the ballot for governor. Corbett left the Republican Party earlier this year and launched an independent campaign, arguing that many Illinois voters feel unrepresented by the state's two major parties.

Running alongside lieutenant governor candidate Carolyn Schofield, Corbett has focused his campaign on lowering property taxes, reducing the cost of living, reforming school funding and increasing government accountability while positioning himself as a centrist alternative to both Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Republican challenger Darren Bailey.

U.S. Senate

After longtime U.S. Senator Dick Durbin announced last April that he would be stepping down at the end of his term, three candidates are vying to succeed him in one of Illinois' highest-profile races on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Juliana Stratton (Democrat)

Juliana Stratton became the first African American woman to serve as Lieutenant Governor of Illinois in 2018. Before her election, she served in the Illinois House, representing parts of Chicago in the 5th District.

As Lt. Governor, Stratton supported initiatives, including her Birth Equity Initiative, which, according to her campaign website, ensures that midwives, doulas, and lactation consultants are covered by private or public insurance and addresses challenges in Black maternal health.

According to her campaign, Stratton's top priorities include establishing a universal health care system, raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $25 an hour and reducing the influence of corporate PACs in politics.

Don Tracy (Republican)

Don Tracy is an attorney based in Central Illinois. He is a Senior Counsel at Brown, Hay & Stephens, which his campaign website says is the oldest law firm in the state and where Abraham Lincoln practiced law. He also served as chair of the Illinois Republican Party and the Illinois Gaming Board.

Tracy was born in Urbana and was raised in Mt. Sterling. He holds a bachelor’s degree in general business administration from Arizona State University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Memphis.

According to his campaign, Tracy's top priorities include lowering the cost of living, promoting what he describes as common-sense solutions and representing all of Illinois in the U.S. Senate.

Whitfield Harrington Jr. (American Center Party)

Whitfield Harrington Jr. is the American Center Party candidate for U.S. Senate. Harrington, a pastor, former insurance professional and Mississippi native who now lives in Illinois, says he launched his campaign to offer voters an alternative to the Democratic and Republican parties.

His platform focuses on economic affordability, health care reform and immigration changes, and he has argued that both major parties have moved too far toward ideological extremes.

Harrington has also advocated for expanding direct primary care options and has emphasized reducing costs for working families while promoting what he describes as a more centrist approach to governing.

Attorney General

Illinois' race for attorney general pits incumbent Democrat Kwame Raoul against Republican challenger Bob Fioretti.

Kawame Raoul (Democrat)

Democrat Kwame Raoul has served as Illinois attorney general since 2019 and is seeking another term. Born in Chicago to Haitian immigrant parents, Raoul previously served as a Cook County prosecutor, senior staff attorney for the City Colleges of Chicago and a partner at private law firms. He also served 14 years in the Illinois Senate before being elected attorney general.

As attorney general, Raoul has defended Illinois' assault weapons ban, supported reproductive health care protections, and worked to combat organized retail theft. His office also investigated clergy sex abuse allegations and participated in legal actions against drug manufacturers related to the opioid epidemic.

Nationally, Raoul has joined other Democratic attorneys general in a number of lawsuits challenging policies enacted by the Trump administration, including lawsuits involving tariffs, immigration policies and federal funding disputes.

Bob Fioretti (Republican)

Bob Fioretti is a Chicago attorney and a former Chicago alderman. He previously served as a special assistant Illinois attorney general and special assistant state's attorney. According to his campaign, he has practiced law for more than three decades.

His campaign highlighted work on civil rights litigation, representing a wrongfully convicted man who was later exonerated and advocating for changes to Illinois adoption laws following a high-profile custody case.

As attorney general, Fioretti says he would focus on combating fraud and scams, increasing government transparency and accountability, protecting civil rights, supporting law enforcement and addressing crime, and ensuring equal access to education.

Secretary of State

The Illinois Secretary of State oversees one of the state's most frequently used agencies, managing driver's licenses and state IDs, vehicle registrations and titles, business services, and the Illinois State Archives.

Alexi Giannoulias (Democrat)

Alexi Giannoulias was elected Secretary of State in 2022, replacing longtime Secretary Jesse White. He previously served as State Treasurer from 2007 to 2011 and became the country's youngest state treasurer at the time. After leaving office, he chaired the Illinois Community College System and served on several nonprofit boards.

As Illinois Secretary of State, Giannoulias has said his administration has focused on improving customer service, modernizing state services and increasing government transparency. He has also advocated for voting-rights protections and supported legislation prohibiting public libraries from removing books based on partisan or ideological objections.

In August, Alexi Giannoulias announced his candidacy for mayor of Chicago. His mayoral campaign is focused on improving government operations, addressing affordability and public safety concerns, growing the economy, managing the city's fiscal challenges, and rebuilding trust between residents and City Hall.

Diane M. Harris (Republican)

Diane Harris is a former ComEd employee with 32 years of experience in the electric utility industry. She also worked as an IBEW steward, insurance agent and small-business owner and currently serves as a notary public and substitute teacher. Harris has served as a trustee of Joliet Junior College, her alma mater, and is secretary of the Joliet Township Republicans.

According to her campaign, Harris would prioritize improving customer service, expanding access to driver's services kiosks and increasing the availability of mobile DMV units across Illinois. She also says she would modernize technology systems, strengthen cybersecurity protections, review agency spending for waste and fraud, reduce fees for seniors, veterans and other customers, and promote election integrity through voter roll maintenance and secure registration systems.

State Comptroller

State Comptroller Susana Mendoza announced in July 2025 that she would not seek re-election, and later, in June 2026, announced her intent to run for Mayor of Chicago. She leaves the office after almost a decade as comptroller, having been elected in 2016. Two candidates are hoping to succeed her.

Bryan Drew (Republican)

Bryan Drew is a Southern Illinois attorney and small-business owner who operates Café Bloom in Benton with his wife. He has practiced law for more than 25 years and previously served as president of the Franklin County Bar Association and chairman of the board of trustees for Rend Lake College.

His campaign priorities include identifying wasteful spending, rooting out fraud, improving public access to state financial records and serving as an independent check on government finances. His campaign argues that increased oversight of state spending could help reduce costs for Illinois taxpayers and working families.

Margaret Croke (Democrat)

Margaret Croke currently serves as a state representative in the Chicago area. She also serves as a Democratic State Central Committeeperson for Illinois' 5th Congressional District and is involved with the Economic Club of Chicago, the Lincoln Park Zoo Women's Board and Governor Pritzker’s Think Big America.

Her campaign says she would focus on transparency, financial oversight and balanced budgets as comptroller, while supporting economic development and public investment programs. She would also focus on enforcing the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, which requires contractors and subcontractors to pay workers on public works projects at least the general prevailing wage rate.

State Treasurer

The State Treasurer manages and invests state funds, safeguards public assets and oversees programs aimed at expanding financial opportunity and economic growth throughout Illinois.

Michael "Mike" Frerichs (Democrat)

Mike Frerichs was first elected state treasurer in 2015, after serving as a downstate state senator from 2007 to 2015. As a state senator, he led efforts to increase financial assistance for farmers and ensure equitable school funding.

His campaign highlights investment returns for taxpayers, expansion of the I-Cash unclaimed property program, improvements to college and retirement savings programs, support for Illinois farmers and expanded financial tools for people with disabilities.

According to his campaign, Frerichs' priorities include overseeing state investments, expanding financial programs for Illinois residents and increasing accountability within the financial sector.

Max Solomon (Republican)

Max Solomon is an attorney who practices in Illinois and Indiana and teaches political science and law at South Suburban Community College in South Holland, near the Illinois-Indiana state line. He was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and immigrated to the United States in 1992.

According to his campaign, Max Solomon would create a public dashboard to track state spending, modernize Illinois' investment strategy, strengthen college savings programs, and direct more state deposits to local banks and credit unions.

Election Day is Nov. 3, but voters can also vote early or by mail. Click here for more information on voting options, registration deadlines and polling locations.

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