While some states will be headed to the polls for general elections in 2025, Illinois voters will have the fall to regroup before the new election season begins.

Democrat and Republican candidates seeking office began to file paperwork for the 2026 Illinois primary. Candidates have one week to turn in their signatures. This morning in Springfield, Governor JB Pritzker stood next to his running mate former Deputy Governor Christian Mitchell to file his petition for a third term.

Political candidates in Illinois lined up early Monday morning as the official opening date for petition filing for the 2026 primary election arrived.

In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop highlights some of the candidates that filed for ballot access for the March Democrat and Republican primary elections,

Candidates hoping for a spot on the 2026 primary election ballots are expected to line up Monday outside the Illinois State Board of Elections in Springfield. Monday is the first day of the filing period for Democrats and Republicans seeking state and federal offices in Illinois.

Candidates in Illinois’ gubernatorial race submitted petitions to officially nominate themselves for the primary election, with Governor JB Pritzker filing for a third term and Darren Bailey

Illinois could be the next state in line to redraw its congressional maps before the midterm elections next year.

More than 400 potential candidates filed to run for public office on Monday, the official kickoff to the 2026 election season.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is among his fellow Democrats who believe President Donald Trump will try and “steal” the 2026 election.

SPRINGFIELD U.S. Representative Mike Bost’s campaign filed for re-election Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, at the Illinois State Board of Elections headquarters

Group criticizes elections board vote A government integrity and accountability group says Democratic members of the Illinois State Board of Elections rescued state Senate President Don Harmon from having to pay a nearly $10 million penalty for alleged campaign finance violations.

The board, which is split along party lines, is grappling with how and when campaign contribution limits apply to big-money Illinois campaigns.