Candidates look for higher office during, after 2026 Illinois primary election

The 2026 Illinois primary election is a unique one, as dozens of candidates are eyeing up higher offices in state and federal governments.

Naturally, most voters would be looking at the very top of the ticket, as Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is seeking reelection while the subject of rumblings that he could try to run for president in 2028.

While Pritzker has not commented on whether he is mulling a White House bid, there is at least one candidate on the 2026 primary ballot who has already said he will seek another office, as Rep. Mike Quigley has said he will run for Chicago mayor after his bid for reelection to Congress wraps up.

Another candidate for statewide office also potentially has his eyes on City Hall, as Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is running for reelection but could quickly pivot to a mayoral run in 2027.

His fellow statewide official, Comptroller Susana Mendoza, isn’t running for reelection, but she too may run for Chicago mayor in 2027.

Aside from uncertain future bids by candidates currently on the ballot, there are plenty of contenders that are already aiming to move higher in the political pecking order.

That list again starts with the governor’s race, as DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick isn’t running for reelection, and is instead seeking the Republican nomination for governor.

In the U.S. Senate race, the top three Democrats in the field are all leaving their current positions to seek higher office. That list includes Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, along with Robin Kelly and Raja Krishnamoorthi, both of whom are passing on reelection bids to Congress to try earning a shot at Sen. Dick Durbin’s seat.

A pair of candidates in the Illinois comptroller primary are also skipping reelection bids for their current roles, as Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim and Illinois State Rep. Margaret Croke are vying for that job.

Illinois State Sen. Karina Villa, whose seat is not up for reelection, is also in the running for comptroller.

A slew of elected officials are running for the five Congressional seats being vacated by retirement in this election cycle, including a pair of state senators, as Robert Peters and Willie Preston are both running for the 2^nd district seat being vacated by Kelly.

Current Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller is also running for the seat, and is not running for reelection in her district.

Current Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin and Illinois State Rep. La Shawn Ford are both running for Congress in the 7^th district, with Rep. Danny Davis retiring after his term.

Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison is also skipping a reelection bid as he aims to replace Krishnamoorthi in the 8^th district in Illinois.

In the 9^th district, Illinois State Sen. Laura Fine and Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss are running in the Democratic primary.

All of these races will be decided in Illinois’ primary election, which is set for March 17.