This St. Patrick’s Day, Will 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.

Will County Board

Eight of 11 county board districts will be on the ballot in the March primary and again in November.

Voters choose up to two from each party to run in the November election, when two board members are elected from each district.

• District 1: Incumbent Member Katie Deanne Schottman, R-Joliet and Debbie Militello are seeking the two Republican spots in the primary. Incumbent Joe Van Duyne, D-Wilmington, is the only Democrat in the primary.

• District 2: Neil “Muggsy” Gallagher of Manhattan is seeking one of the two spots in the Republican primary along with incumbents Judy Ogalla, R-Monee, and Frankie Pretzel, R-New Lenox. Bob Howard is the lone candidate in the Democratic primary.

• District 3: Incumbent Sherry Newquist, D-Steger and Marc McKirdle are running in the Democratic primary. Incumbent Daniel Butler, R-Frankort, is running in the Republican primary.

• District 4: Both primaries are contested. Republican incumbents Stephen Balich, R-Homer Glen and James Richmond, R-Mokena, face challenges from Michael Lepore and Pawel J. Tyrala in the Republican primary. Three Democrats are running: William Pratt, Sherri Boniecki-Cooling and Kevin Koukol.

• District 5: The Republican primary is contested with incumbent David Oxley, R-Lockport, James “JJ” Balonek and David Palya in the race. In the Democratic primary, incumbent Sherry Williams, D-Crest Hill, and Karen Johnson are running.

• District 8: This primary is uncontested. Two Democrats, incumbent Mica Freeman, D-Plainfield, and Michael Crowner are running in that primary. Incumbent Mark V. Reavis, R-Plainfield, is the only Republican running.

• District 9: Also uncontested, incumbent Destinee Ortiz, D-Romeoville and Alex Zapien are the two Democratic candidates, while incumbent Raquel M. Mitchell, R-Bolingbrook, is the only Republican running.

• District 11: Four candidates are running in the Democratic primary. They are incumbent Jacqueline L. Traynere, D-Bolingbrook, Tyler Giacalone, Sheldon L. Watts and Barbara Ann Parker. The one Republican in that primary is Steven Smith.

Will County clerk

Incumbent Republican Annette Parker and Democrat Michelle Stiff have filed for the primary. Both are unopposed in their party races.

Will County sheriff

Sheriff Mike Kelley is not seeing another term.

In the Democratic primary, Dan Jungles, deputy chief in the sheriff’s office, will face Patrick Jones, a sergeant in the department.

Three candidates are running in the Republican primary.

Jim Reilly, a sheriff’s deputy who twice ran unsuccessfully against Kelley, is in the Republican primary along with Justin Fialko and Brian Conser.

Raj Pillai, who was the Republican candidate for treasurer in 2022, will face Carmen Maurella III, the Homer Township assessor, in the Republican primary.

Regional Superintendent of Schools

Theresa Rouse, who recently announced plans to retire as superintendent from Joliet Grade School District 86, is running as a Democrat.

Incumbent Superintendent Elizabeth Caparelli-Ruff is a Republican. She was the one Republican to be elected to a countywide office in 2022.

Both are unopposed in their party primary races.

Statewide offices

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, Gregg Moore of Broadview, Gold Rush Gaming owner Rick Heidner of Barrington Hills, Max Solomon of Hazel Crest and Joseph Severino of Lake Forest have filed as Republicans. Patricia L. Tillman of Chicago has filed as a Democrat.

Illinois attorney general: Incumbent Kwame Raoul, a Democrat, has filed to run for another term. Former Chicago alderman Bob Fioretti and Andy Williams Jr. of Darien have filed to run as Republicans.

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.

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, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit of Oswego and Champaign County Auditor George Danos have filed to run as Democrats and and Bryan Drew of Benton as a Republican. Former state Sen. Rickey Hendon has also said he is running as a Democrat.

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, CaSándra Claiborne of Chicago, Pamela Denise Long of Edwardsville, Jimmy Lee Tillman II of Chicago, Jeannie Evans of Chicago and John Goodman of Des Plaines 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, Jump Shepherd of North Riverside, Jonathan Dean of Chicago, Sean Brown of Orland Park, Bryan Maxwell of Urbana, Adam Delgado of Chicago, Anthony W. Williams of Dolton, Awisi A. Bustos of Springfield, Robert Palmer of Chicago and Christopher A. Swann of Chicago as Democrats. Independents Tyrone Muhammad and Austin J. Mink have also said they are running.

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 1: Jonathan Jackson, a Democrat representing parts of Cook, Kankakee and Will counties, has filed to run for reelection. Marcus Lewis of Matteson and Christian Maxwell of Chicago have filed as Republicans.
• District 2: Robin Kelly, a Democrat representing parts of Champaign, Cook, Ford, Iroquois, Kankakee, Livingston, Vermilion and Will counties, is not seeking reelection and instead running for the U.S. Senate. Robert Peters of Chicago, Eric France of Lynwood, Donna Miller of Lynwood, Yumeka Brown of Matteson, Willie Preston of Chicago, Jesse Louis Jackson Jr. of Chicago, Patrick J. “PJK” Keating of Flossmoor, Toni C. Brown of Chicago Heights, Sidney Moore of Calumet City and Adal Regis of Chicago have filed to run as Democrats and Ashley Ramos of Clifton and Michael Scott Noack of Bonfield as Republicans.
• 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, Charlie Kim of Aurora and Tedora Brown of Palos Park have filed as Republicans.
• 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.

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

• District 14: Emil Jones III, a Democrat representing Cook and Will counties, has filed to run for reelection. Ahmed Karrar of Orland Park and Kenny Williams of Chicago also filed to run as Democrats and Brian Skala of Crestwood as a Republican.
• District 15: Napoleon Harris III, a Democrat representing Cook, Kankakee and Will counties, has filed to run for reelection. Kenneth “Ken” Henderson of Dixmoor filed to run as a Republican.
• District 17: Elgie R. Sims Jr., a Democrat representing Cook, Kankakee and Will counties, has filed to run for reelection. Frederick L. Walls of Crete filed to run as a Republican.
• District 21: Laura Ellman, a Democrat representing DuPage and Will counties, has filed to run for reelection. Julie Berkowicz of Naperville has filed to run as a Republican.
• District 38: Sue Rezin, a Republican representing Bureau, DeKalb, Grundy, Kendall, La Salle and Will counties, has filed to run for reelection. Ernie R. Marcelain of Yorkville has filed to run as a Democrat.
• District 41: Senate Minority Leader John F. Curran, a Republican representing Cook, DuPage and Will counties, has filed to run for reelection.
• District 42: Linda Holmes, a Democrat representing DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will counties, has filed to run for reelection. Justin H.S. Breaux of Aurora also filed as a Democrat and Edgardo “Eddie” Perez of Aurora filed as a Republican.
• District 53: Chris Balkema, a Republican representing Bureau, Grundy, La Salle, Livingston, Putnam and Will counties, among others, has filed to run again.

Illinois House of Representatives: All state representative seats are up every two years. Among the races in Will County are:

• District 27: Justin Slaughter, a Democrat representing Cook and Will counties, has filed to run for reelection
• District 29: Thaddeus Jones, a Democrat representing Cook, Kankakee and Will counties, has filed to run for reelection.
• District 34: Nicholas K. Smith, a Democrat representing Cook, Kankakee and Will counties, is not running for reelection. Cleopatra “Cleo” Cowley of Chicago and Aja Kearney of Chicago, and Antwon T. Russell of Burnham filed to run as Democrats.
• District 37: Patrick Sheehan, a Republican representing Cook and Will counties, has filed to run for reelection.
• District 38: Debbie Meyers-Martin, a Democrat representing Cook and Will counties, has filed to run for reelection.
• District 41: Janet Yang Rohr, a Democrat representing DuPage and Will counties, has filed to run for reelection.
• District 75: Jed Davis, a Republican representing DeKalb, Grundy, Kendall, La Salle and Will counties, has filed to run for reelection. Caroline McCree of Yorkville has filed to run as a Democrat.
• District 79: Jackie Haas, a Republican representing Cook, Grundy, Kankakee and Will counties, has filed to run for reelection. Robert S. Ellington-Snipes of Kankakee has filed to run as a Democrat.
• District 80: Anthony DeLuca, a Democrat representing Cook and Will counties, has filed to run for reelection. Adam M. Beaty of Braidwood 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.
• District 85: Dagmara “Dee” Avelar, a Democrat representing DuPage and Will counties, has filed to run for reelection. Chris Metcalfe of Bolingbrook has filed as a Republican.
• District 86: Lawrence “Larry” Walsh Jr., a Democrat representing Will County, has filed to run for reelection.
• District 97: Harry Benton, a Democrat representing Kendall and Will counties, has filed to run for reelection. Gabby Shanahan of Joliet has filed as a Republican.
• District 98: Natalie A. Manley, a Democrat representing Will County, has filed to run for reelection. Nona Parker of Joliet filed to run as a Republican.
• District 106: Jason R. Bunting, a Republican representing Grundy, La Salle, Livingston and Will, among other counties, has filed to run for reelection.

County-level races: Also on the ballot will be County Board members, county clerks, treasurers, sheriffs, assessors, and regional superintendents. Some counties also elect their Boards of Review, sanitary districts, and forest preserve district commissioners and president

What judicial races will I get to vote on?

Three vacancies are up at the Illinois appellate court level, according to an Illinois State Board of Elections list as of Sept. 3. Voters will also get to vote on retentions.

The appellate vacancies include a seat on the Third Appellate District. The district sits in Ottawa and includes Bureau, La Salle, DuPage, Will, Grundy, Kankakee, and Iroquois counties. Margaret “Peggy” O’Connell of Lisle and John Pavich of Frankfort has filed to run as Democrats and Jason A. Helland of Mazon and Mark Senak of Glen Ellyn has filed as Republicans.

Three vacancies are also up in Will County’s 12th Circuit, one each in the 1st, 3rd and 5th subcircuits.

John Paul Ivec of Plainfield has filed to run a Republican for the Carlson vacancy in the 1st Subcircuit and Amy Christiansen of Aurora as a Democrat for that vacancy. Sonni Choi Williams of Lockport filed to run as a Democrat for the Anderson vacancy on the 3rd Subcircuit. Erin O’Brien of Frankford and Art Smigielski of Homer Glen filed as Republicans for the Petrungaro vacancy in the 5th Subcircuit.

Important Dates

Oct. 27 to Nov. 3, 2025: Candidates in established parties can file the necessary documents either at the Springfield office for state-level candidates or at the County Clerk’s Office in the county where they’re running.

Among the paperwork required is a statement of candidacy and petitions signed by registered voters. The number of signatures required varies by office.

Nov. 10: Last day for objections challenging whether candidates can appear on the ballot to be filed.

Nov. 17 to 24: Filing period for candidates seeking to fill judicial vacancies.

Dec. 3: Deadline to file objections in judicial vacancy races.

Dec. 15: Deadline to file petitions for referendums to appear on the March ballot. This does not include referendum questions authorized by local governments, just ones submitted through voter-signed petitions.

Dec. 17: First day to apply for a vote-by-mail ballot.

Dec. 22: Deadline to file objections on referendum questions.

Dec. 29: Deadline for local government boards – like school boards and city councils – to adopt a resolution or ordinance for a binding referendum.

Jan. 8, 2026: Last day for a candidate to withdraw from the race.

Jan. 15: Last day for a candidate to file as a write-in.

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.