Illinois voters are set to decide three closely watched contests on election night, including the first open US Senate race in decades, a gubernatorial rematch and Chicago’s first fully elected school board.
The Senate contest will determine who succeeds Democrat Dick Durbin, who is retiring after representing Illinois in the chamber since 1997. Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton is facing Republican Don Tracy, a former chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, with independent candidate Whitfield Harrington also on the ballot.
The race has drawn particular attention because Durbin’s departure ends a long period of Democratic incumbency. Illinois has not elected a Republican senator since Mark Kirk lost his seat in 2016.
Governor JB Pritzker is seeking another term against Republican Darren Bailey, who previously challenged Pritzker in the 2022 election. The contest is being watched as a test of Democratic strength in a state where the party currently holds every statewide executive office.
Chicago school board election marks a new era
Chicago voters will also elect the city’s full Board of Education for the first time, replacing the previous system in which members were appointed by the mayor.
The new board will consist of 20 elected members alongside a citywide president. Voters will choose a president and a representative for their local school board subdistrict.
Three candidates are competing for the presidency: Jessica Biggs, a former Chicago Public Schools principal; Hilario Dominguez, a former teacher and Chicago Teachers Union official; and Victor Henderson, an attorney and certified public accountant.
The result will give the elected board responsibility for overseeing one of the country’s largest public school systems, including decisions on leadership, finances and the district’s wider direction.
With the Senate, governor’s office and school board all on the ballot, Illinois election night is expected to offer an early indication of the state’s political direction and the balance of influence in Chicago’s schools.
