Your guide to the March 2026 primary in Kane County

This St. Patrick’s Day, Kane County voters can head to the polls in addition to sampling a green beer.

March 17 marks the 2026 primary, where voters can pull a Democratic or Republican ballot to pick who appears on the ballot come November. All voters, partisan or not, can weigh in on referendum questions.

The deadline for candidates to file was Nov. 3.

Who has filed and how can I learn more about them?

Illinois governor and lieutenant governor: Incumbent JB Pritzker, a Democrat, has filed to run for reelection. He has named Christian Mitchell as his running mate after Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton announced her intention to run for the U.S. Senate.

Conservative research group Wirepoints president Ted Dabrowski, DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick, former state Sen. Darren Bailey and Gold Rush Gaming owner Rick Heidner of Barrington Hills have filed as Republicans.

The only other Democrat to file, Patricia L. Tillman of Chicago, was removed from the ballot following a successful objection as was Republicans Gregg Moore of Broadview and Joseph Severino of Lake Forest. Republican Max Solomon of Hazel Crest withdrew his candidacy.

Illinois attorney general: Incumbent Kwame Raoul, a Democrat, has filed to run for another term. Former Chicago alderman Bob Fioretti has filed to run as a Republican.

Republican Andy Williams Jr. of Darien was removed from the ballot following a successful objection and JoAnne Guillemette of Chicago withdrew after an objection was filed.

Andy Williams Jr.’s candidate questionnaire.

Illinois secretary of state: Alexi Giannoulias, an incumbent Democrat, has filed to run for reelection. Walter Adamczyk of Chicago and Joliet Junior College Trustee Diane M. Harris filed to run as Republicans.

Walter Adamczyk’s candidate questionnaire.
Diane Harris’ candidate questionnaire.

Illinois comptroller: Incumbent Susana Mendoza, a Democrat, is not running again. State Sen. Karina Villa of West Chicago, Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim of Mundelein, state Rep. Margaret Croke of Chicago and state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit of Oswego have filed to run as Democrats and and Bryan Drew of Benton as a Republican.

Champaign County Auditor George Danos, a Democrat, was removed from the ballot following a successful objection.

Holly Kim’s candidate questionnaire.
Margaret Croke’s candidate questionnaire.
Stephanie Kifowit’s candidate questionnaire.
Coverage: “4 Democrats seeking to replace Mendoza as Illinois comptroller”

Illinois treasurer: Incumbent Michael Frerichs, a Democrat, has filed to run for a fourth term.

U.S. Senate: Incumbent Dick Durbin, a Democrat, is not seeking reelection.

Casey Chlebek, former Illinois Republican Party Chair Don Tracy, R. Cary Capparelli of Chicago, Pamela Denise Long of Edwardsville, Jimmy Lee Tillman II of Chicago, John Goodman of Des Plaines and Jeannie Evans of Chicago have filed to run as Republicans.

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton of Chicago, U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg, Kevin Ryan of Chicago, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly of Lynwood, Steve Botsford Jr. of Chicago, Jonathan Dean of Chicago, Sean Brown of Orland Park, Bryan Maxwell of Urbana, Awisi A. Bustos of Springfield and Christopher A. Swann of Chicago as Democrats. Independents Tyrone Muhammad and Austin J. Mink have also said they are running.

Democrats Adam Delgado of Chicago, Anthony Williams of Dolton and Jump Shepherd of North Riverside were removed from the ballot following successful objections as was CaSándra Claiborne of Chicago. Democrat Robert Palmer of Chicago and Republican John Goodman of Des Plaines withdrew as candidates.

Don Tracy’s candidate questionnaire.
R. Cary Capparelli’s candidate questionnaire.
Pamela Denise Long’s candidate questionnaire.
Raja Krishnamoorthi’s candidate questionnaire.
Robin Kelly’s candidate questionnaire.
Steve Botsford Jr.’s candidate questionnaire.
Jonathan Dean’s candidate questionnaire.
Bryan Maxwell’s candidate questionnaire.
Coverage: “Democratic Senate candidates clash on donations, opine on extraterrestrial controversy"
Coverage: “GOP Senate candidates offer contrasting solutions to rising costs and economic challenges”
Coverage: “Ukraine support key for GOP Senate candidates despite cost concerns”
Coverage: “Illinois GOP Senate candidates take stage in first major debate”

U.S. House of Representatives: All 17 members of Congress representing Illinois are up in 2026. To find what district you live in, go to congress.gov/members/find-your-member.

District 8: Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat representing parts of Cook, DuPage and Kane counties, is not seeking reelection and instead running for the U.S. Senate. Neil Khot of Hoffman Estates, Kevin B. Morrison of Mount Prospect, Junaid Ahmed of South Barrington, Ryan Vetticad of South Barrington, Melissa L. Bean of Barrington, Yasmeen Bankole of Hanover Park, Dan Tully of Carol Stream and Sanjyot Dunnug of Des Plaines have filed as Democrats. Mark Rice of Arlington Heights, Jennifer Davis of Huntley, Kevin Ake of Elk Grove Village and Herbert Hebein of Chicago have filed as Republicans.

Neil Khot’s candidate questionnaire.
Junaid Ahmed‘s candidate questionnaire.
Yasmeen Bankole‘s candidate questionnaire.
Dan Tully’s candidate questionnaire.
Sanjyot Dunung’s candidate questionnaire.
Mark Rice’s candidate questionnaire.
Coverage: “8th Congressional District GOP hopefuls debate U.S. immigration policies”
Coverage: “8th Congressional District Democratic candidates debate U.S. policy in Israel and Gaza”

District 11: Bill Foster, a Democrat representing parts of Boone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will, has filed to run for reelection. Elburn Village President Jeff Walter, Michael Pierce of Naperville and Charlie Kim of Aurora have filed as Republicans. Tedora Brown of Palos Park was initially removed from the ballot but an appeals court ordered she be added to the ballot after early voting started in some counties.

Jeff Walter’s candidate questionnaire.
Coverage: “GOP congressional candidates express doubts about Biden’s 2020 White House win”

District 14: Lauren Underwood, a Democrat representing parts of Bureau, DeKalb, Kane, Kendall, La Salle, Putnam and Will counties, has filed to run for reelection. Gary Vician of Naperville and James T. “Jim” Marter of Oswego have filed to run as Republicans. Krystal Dorey also filed as a Republican but as a write-in candidate.

Jim Marter’s candidate questionnaire.
Coverage: “14th District GOP candidates say curbing government spending, overreach are top issues”

Illinois State Senate: Like its federal counterpart, only some of its members are up for reelection this year. In Kane County, that includes:

District 26: Darby A. Hills, a Republican representing Cook, Kane, Lake and McHenry counties, has filed to run for reelection. Hills was appointed in February 2025 to fill out the remainder of Dan McConchie’s term. Nabeela Syed of Inverness has filed as a Democrat.
District 33: Don DeWitte, a Republican representing Kane, DuPage and McHenry counties, is not running for reelection. Michele Clark of Algonquin filed to run as a Democrat and Danielle Penman of St. Charles and Jessica Breugelmans of Geneva as Republicans. Satnaam Singh Mago, a Democrat from Wayne, withdrew his candidacy, and Cody Holt, a Republican from Elgin, was removed from the ballot following a successful objection.
District 35: Dave Syverson, a Republican representing Boone, DeKalb, Kane, McHenry and Winnebago counties, has filed to run for reelection. Sarah B. Mertens of Crystal Lake filed as a Democrat.
District 42: Linda Holmes, a Democrat representing DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will counties, has filed to run for reelection. Edgardo “Eddie” Perez of Aurora filed as a Republican. Democrat Justin H.S. Breaux of Aurora was removed from the ballot following a successful objection.

Illinois House of Representatives: All state representative seats are up every two years. The races in Kane County include:

District 43: Anna Moeller, a Democrat representing Cook and Kane counties, has filed to run for reelection.
District 49: Maura Hirschauer, a Democrat representing Cook, Kane and DuPage counties, has filed to run for reelection. John Paul Augustynowicz of Warrenville has filed as a Republican.
District 50: Barbara Hernandez, a Democrat representing Kane and DuPage counties, has filed to run for reelection.
District 52: Martin McLaughlin, a Republican representing Cook, Kane, Lake and McHenry counties, has filed to run for reelection. Erin Chan Ding of South Barrington and Maria Peterson of North Barrington have filed to run as Democrats.

Martin McLaughlin’s candidate questionnaire.
Maria Peterson’s candidate questionnaire.
Coverage: “52nd House Democratic hopefuls discuss immigration, Illinois TRUST Act”
Coverage: “Candidates spar over which Democrat could oust Republican in state’s District 52″

District 65: Dan Ugaste, a Republican representing DuPage and Kane counties, has filed to run for reelection. Ricky Rivard of St. Charles has filed to run as a Democrat.

Ricky Rivard’s candidate questionnaire.

District 66: Suzanne M. Ness, a Democrat representing Kane and McHenry counties, has filed to run for reelection. Laurie Parman of Sleepy Hollow filed as a Republican.
District 70: Jeff Keicher, a Republican representing DeKalb, Kane and McHenry counties, has filed to run for reelection. Veronica Garcia-Martinez of Cortland has filed to run as a Democrat.

Veronica Garcia-Martinez’s candidate questionnaire.

District 83: Matt Hanson, a Democrat representing Kane and Kendall counties, has filed to run for reelection. Jesse Rodriguez of Aurora has filed to run as a Republican.
District 84: Stephanie A. Kifowit, a Democrat representing DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will counties, is not running for reelection as she is running for comptroller. Saba Haider and Jared Ploger, both of Aurora, have filed to run as Democrats and Brian Scopa of Naperville has filed to run as a Republican.

Saba Haider’s candidate questionnaire.
Jared Ploger’s candidate questionnaire.

What races are up at the county level?

Kane County Clerk: Incumbent John A. “Jack” Cunningham has filed to run again as a Republican and Brian Pollock of Aurora and Brenda Rodgers of Elgin filed as Democrats.

Brenda Rodgers’ candidate questionnaire.
Brian Pollock’s candidate questionnaire.

Sheriff: Incumbent Sheriff Ron Hain, a Democrat, is not seeking reelection. Former Kane County Coroner Rob Russell and Elburn Village Trustee Luis “Lou” Santoyo filed to run as Republicans and Salvador Rodriguez of Sugar Grove and Undersheriff Amy Johnson filed as Democrats. Sheriff’s sergeant Andrew Schwab, a Democrat from Batavia, withdrew his candidacy.

Rob Russell’s candidate questionnaire.
Lou Santoyo’s candidate questionnaire.
Salvador Rodriguez’s candidate questionnaire.
Amy Johnson’s candidate questionnaire.
Coverage: “Kane County Democratic hopefuls take questions in primary race for sheriff”

County Treasurer: Incumbent Chris Lauzen filed to run as a Republican and Penny Wegman of Elgin, Connie Cain of Gilberts and Scott Johansen of St. Charles filed as Democrats.

Chris Lauzen‘s candidate questionnaire.
Penny Wegman’s candidate questionnaire.
Connie Cain’s candidate questionnaire.
Scott Johansen‘s candidate questionnaire.
Coverage: “Kane County Democrat hopefuls field questions about treasurer’s office”

Regional Superintendent: John K. Jonak, a Batavia resident who was appointed this summer to serve the remainder of Patricia Dal Santo’s term, filed to run as a Republican.

County Board:

District 1: Myrna Molina of Aurora filed as a Democrat.
District 2: Ellen Nottke of Batavia, Martha Davidson of North Aurora and Matthew Dingeldein of North Aurora filed as Democrats for an unexpired two-year term. Kimberley M. Young of Batavia is no longer on the ballot.

Ellen Nottke’s candidate questionnaire.
Martha Davidson’s candidate questionnaire.

District 3: Anita Marie Lewis of Aurora filed as a Democrat. Fellow Democrat Danny B. Perez of Aurora is no longer on the ballot.
District 5: Bill Lenert of Sugar Grove led as a Republican and Philip Silagi of Aurora as a Democrat.
District 7: Alex Arroyo of Aurora filed as a Democrat.
District 9: Jeffrey R. Magnussen and Jennifer Abbatacola, both of Hampshire, filed as Republicans and Marc A. Guttke of Hampshire as a Democrat.

Jeffrey Magnussen’s candidate questionnaire.

District 11: Julie Forbes of Geneva and Leslie N. Juby of Geneva filed as Democrats.

Leslie Juby’s candidate questionnaire.

District 13: Ryan Deniz of Geneva and Anthony Louis Catella of St. Charles filed as Republicans and Nicolas G. “Nico” Jimenez of Geneva and Michael Linder of St. Charles as Democrats.

Ryan Deniz’s candidate questionnaire.
Anthony Catella’s candidate questionnaire.
Nicolas Jimenez’s candidate questionnaire.

District 15: David Young of Elgin filed as a Republican and Kate Monteleone of St. Charles as a Democrat.
District 17: Deborah Willis of Elgin and Deborah Allan of Elgin filed as Democrats.
District 19: Steve Serafin of Elgin filed as a Republican and Mohammad “Mo” Iqbal of Elgin as a Democrat.
District 21: Clifford Surges of Gilberts filed as a Republican and Deborah Chabi of Dundee as a Democrat.
District 23: Emmanuel Thomas of Algonquin filed as a Republican and Christopher W. Kious of Algonquinas a Democrat.

What judicial races will I get to vote on?

Three vacancies are up at the Illinois appellate court level but none in the district that includes Kane County, according to an Illinois State Board of Elections list as of Sept. 3. Voters will also get to vote on retentions.

Where can I vote?

Early voting started Feb. 5 at the Kane County Clerk’s Office, 719 S. Batavia Ave., Building B, in Geneva, and the Aurora Satellite Office, 5 E. Downer Place. Voters may vote at these locations 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Hours will also be offered on weekends: 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 7; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 8; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 14; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 15.

All early voting sites are open to all Kane County voters.

Grace period registration begins Wednesday, Feb. 18, at the Geneva and Aurora offices. Those registering during the grace period must vote at the time of registration.

Early voting will expand to additional sites on March 2.

Voting will be available at the Kane County Branch Court, Carpentersville Fire Station No. 93, Elgin Township, Gail Borden Library, and Vaughan Athletic Center at the following times:

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, March 2 to 6 (Kane County Branch Court opens at 8:30 a.m.);
9 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 7;
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 8;
9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, March 9 to 13 (Kane County Branch Court opens at 8:30 a.m.);
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 14;
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 15; and
9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday, March 16.

Additional hours are available at the Campton Community Center, Batavia City Hall, Elgin City Hall, Del Webb Sun City, Hampshire Township, Sugar Grove Library, Town and Country Library, and West Dundee Village Hall. For those hours, click here.

Important Dates

Feb. 5: Early voting starts and county clerks begin mailing vote-by-mail ballots.

March 1: Last day to register to vote online through the State Board of Elections’ website. Grace period registration and voting continues through Election Day.

March 17: Election Day for the 2026 primary. Polls close at 7 p.m. Voters can request a partisan ballot with either Democratic or Republican candidates listed or a non-partisan ballot, which includes any referendums.