Graphic by Logan McQuaid, Graphic Design Intern

By Jonah Marshall, Staff Writer

The Glacier is committed to providing information on candidates running in the Illinois Primary on March 17, 2026. Our fourth installment focuses on the Illinois General Assembly. We have focused on only the Senate and representative Districts closest to Moraine’s District to keep the length of the article manageable. Like the US Congress, there are two legislative houses – the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate. We hope the series will help our readers prepare for the midterm elections. Early voting locations are now open across the state for those who cannot go to their polling place on Election Day. Mail-in or Absentee ballots must be postmarked by March 17. It is recommended they be mailed a week early due to new post office protocols.

Illinois Senate District 14 Democratic primary

• Emil Jones

Jones is the incumbent and has served since 2009.

No official campaign page could be found, but an official website was found.

Legal trouble: Jones has been put on trial for a second time alleging that Jones agreed to take bribes from a red light camera executive who worked undercover for the Government.

• Ahmed Karrar

Profession: Attorney

Priorities: Universal childcare. Support reproductive rights. Support graduated income tax so the wealthy pay a higher percentage of their income. For more information go to Karrar’s campaign page.

• Kenneth Williams

Profession: Owns Silk N Sonic Classy Hair Trends.

No campaign page could be found that is accessible.

Illinois Senate District 14 Republican Primary

Profession: Union plumber and Village of Trustee member for Crestwood.

Priorities: Lower property taxes and utility bills. A campaign Facebook page was found here.

Illinois Senate District 15 Democratic Primary

• Napoleon Harris

Harris is the incumbent running unopposed. Harris has served since 2013. No official campaign page could be found.

A campaign Facebook page could be found here. An official website could be found here.

Illinois Senate District 15 Republican Primary

No official Republican will be on the ballot. Keneth Henderson qualified as a write-in candidate.

Illinois Senate District 18 Democratic Primary

• Frances Ann Hurley

Hurley is running unopposed. Former State House Representative for District 35. No campaign page could be found.

Hurley’s former House page could be found here.

Illinois Senate District 18 Republican Primary

• Christine McGovern

McGovern previously ran for State House district 36, and is running unopposed.

Priorities: McGovern said she will work to make sure that every student in K-12th grade has a free laptops and tablets free of charge. McGovern has also voiced her opposition to undocumented students receiving aid for school, and taking up space in police stations that she said should help homeless people, not migrants. (She is referring to the time when Texas Governor Greg Abbott was busing migrants from Texas to Illinois, without coordination with Illinois officials. Shelters were over capacity, and police stations were used to house migrants.) For more information go to McGovern’s campaign page.

Illinois Senate District 41 Democratic Primary

• No Democrat is running in this race.

Illinois Senate District 41 Republican Primary

• John Curran

Curran is the Republican incumbent serving since 2017, and is running unopposed

Priorities: Curran according to his campaign page has and will continue to fight for ethics reform and clean air regulations. For more information go to Curran’s campaign page.

Illinois Senate District 49 Democratic Primary

• Maura Hirschauer

Hirschaur is the incumbent and has served since 2021, and is running unopposed.

Priorities: Hold insurance companies accountable for increased premiums, Support red flag laws and mental health funding to help tackle gun violence. For more information go to Hirschauer’s campaign page.

Illinois Senate District 49 Republican Primary

• John Paul Augustynowicz

Augustynowicz is running unopposed for the Republican nomination. No official campaign page could be found.

A campaign Facebook page was found here.

Illinois House District 22 Democratic Primary

• Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar

Cuellar is running unopposed.

No official campaign website was found. An official website was found here.

Illinois House District 22 Republican Primary

No Republican has filed to run for this seat.

Illinois House District 27 Democratic Primary

• Justin Slaughter is the incumbent serving since 2017 and is running unopposed.

Slaughter is the incumbent serving since 2017, and is running unopposed. No campaign page was found but Slaughter’s official website was found here.

Illinois House District 27 Republican Primary

No Republican is running for this seat.

Illinois House District 28 Democratic Primary

• Robert Rita

Rita is the incumbent who has served since 2003, and is running unopposed.

Priorities: Supports reproductive healthcare, ban assault weapons. For more information go to Rita’s campaign page.

Illinois House District 28 Republican Primary

No Republican is running for this seat.

Illinois House District 30 Democratic Primary

• William Davis

Davis is the incumbent and is running unopposed. Davis has served since 2003.No official campaign page could be found. An official website was found here.

Illinois House District 30 Republican Primary

No Republican is running for this seat.

Illinois House District 32 Democratic Primary

• Lisa Davis

Davis is the current incumbent, and is running unopposed. She has held the seat since 2025.

According to Davis’s campaign page, she is fighting for families, women, and affordable healthcare. An official campaign page was found here.

Illinois House District 32 Republican Primary

No Republican is running for this seat.

Illinois House District 35 Democratic Primary

• Mary Gill

Gill is the incumbent and is running unopposed. She has served since 2023.

Priorities: Supported requiring health insurance companies to provide coverage for medically necessary compression sleeves.

Fight for women’s reproductive rights. Supports requiring insurance companies to cover couples therapy with no co-pay. For more information go to Gill’s campaign page.

Illinois House District 35 Republican Primary

• David Dewar

Dewar previously challenged Gill in the 2024 Democratic primary for this seat, and now is running as a Republican.

Profession: Worked in real estate and started his own company.

According to Dewar’s campaign page he is a strong Trump supporter.

Issues: Supports cutting the senior real estate tax. Supports funding to build veteran’s nursing homes. For more information go to Dewer’s campaign page.

• Charles Lay

Lay is an instructor at DeVry University, and helped start Advance Academy, an organization to help get students Associate degrees during high school.

Issues: Rein in reckless spending. Support the police. For more information go to Lay’s campaign page.

Illinois House District 36 Democratic Primary

• Rick Ryan

Ryan is the incumbent and is running unopposed. Ryan has served since 2025. His campaign page can be found here.

Illinois House District 36 Republican Primary

• David Shepard

Profession: Former police chief. Shepard previously ran for the seat in 2022.

Issues: Support law enforcement. Cap property taxes. For more information go to Shepard’s campaign page.

Illinois House District 37 Democratic Primary

There is no Democrat running for this seat.

Illinois House District 37 Republican Primary

• Patrick Sheehan

Sheehan is the incumbent serving since 2024, and is running unopposed. No campaign page was found. An official website was found here.

Illinois House District 38 Democratic Primary

• Debbie Meyers-Martin

Martin is the incumbent and is running unopposed. She has held the seat since 2019. No campaign page could be found. A personal website was found here.

Illinois House District 38 Republican Primary

There is no Republican running for this seat.

For more our coverage on the Primaries, see the links below.

What to know about the 2026 primary races: Governor

What to know about the 2026 Primary races: Statewide officers

What to know about the 2026 Primary races: US Congress