The 2026 election season officially kicked off on Monday in Illinois with hundreds of candidates filing their petitions at the Illinois State Board of Elections. Capitol News Illinois reports candidates lined up early this morning to turn in their signatures to appear on the ballot.
The upcoming election includes races for governor, Congress, the Illinois General Assembly and more. Illinois Senate President Don Harmon says 2026 has a different feeling than past elections.
Candidates who were in line by 8 a.m. will have their names put into a lottery to appear first on the ballot. The Democratic and Republican primaries will be on March 17, 2026.
