Graphic by Logan McQuaid, Graphic Design Intern
By Jonah Marshall, Staff Writer
Last week, The Glacier launched a series on the offices that have elections in 2026, and focused on the Governor’s race. This week, we turn to other statewide offices that work in tandem with the Governor’s office.
What does AG do:
The Attorney General (AG) of Illinois is the highest ranking legal officer and enforces state laws, represents the state in legal battles, and prosecutes violations of Illinois state law.
Attorney General – Democratic Primary
- Kwame Raoul
Incumbent Kwame Raoul is running unopposed for a third term and is the presumptive Democratic nominee.
Issues: Raoul has championed the creation of the “Organized Retail Crime Task Force” to help investigate smash-and-grab crimes with police. Raoul also sued gun manufacturers for making “cheap guns” that led to violence from the buyers.
He also established “Crime Gun Connect,” a database used to collect illegal guns. Raoul made the “Know Your Rights” guide to confirm that abortion is still legal in Illinois after Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2023
He increased funding for the “Violent Crimes Assistant Program” which provides financial assistance to those who are victims and witnesses of violent crimes.
Along with other Attorneys General, Raoul sued the Trump administration for the firing of federal workers and the deployment of National Guard troops to Illinois to allegedly quell crime in Chicago.
The above information is from the Raoul campaign website.
There is only one candidate running for Illinois Attorney General who will appear on the ballot. According to ballotpedia.org, Andy Williams will appear as a write-in candidate.
Graphic by Logan McQuaid, Graphic Design Intern
Attorney General – Republican Primary
- Bob Fioretti
Fioretti is a civil rights attorney and former two-term City of Chicago alderman, and was the Republican nominee for Cook County State’s Attorney in 2024, the Republican nominee for Cook County Board of Commissioners President in 2022, and ran as an Independent for Chicago mayor in 2019.
Fioretti, a former Democrat, switched parties because he said the Democratic party “abandoned family, faith, and fiscal responsibility.” He has voiced his opposition to giving money to illegal migrants, and allowing transgender people to play in sports.
Fioretti was involved in the Illinois “Baby Tamia” case which resulted in all adoption agencies having to be licensed and banned unlicensed groups from testifying. He has championed his work on the “Operation Safe Passage” to help children get to schools safely.
In economic develeopment, he was instrumental in attracting a Pete’s Fresh Market to the West Side. Fioretti advocated for the relocation of United Airlines to The Loop, and expanded Rush Medical Center redevelopment which added 500 jobs.
Issues: Protecting families from fraud, safeguarding civil rights, and championing education.
The information was gleaned from Fioretti’s campaign website.
What does the Secretary of State do?
The Secretary of State serves as the state’s chief record holder, maintains the state’s records such as Driver’s Licenses and State IDs, certifies election results, registers lobbyist groups, and oversees campaign finance laws. The office is also responsioble for enforcing driving laws and licenses, and revokes driver’s licenses when necessary.
Democratic Primary for Secretary of State
Incumbent Democrat Alexi Giannoulias is running unopposed for a second term.
- Alexi Giannoulias
Ginnoulias has a goal to increase voter turnout by giving 16 and 17-year-olds the ability to pre-register to vote with the goal of having them automatically registered to vote when they turn 18. He wants to expand the role of Inspectors General to help end corruption at all levels of government in Illinois. He also intends to require elected officials to report on their Economic Interest Report any outside income, business relationships, and amount of money they earn that could apear to be conflict of interest to their official duties.
He has implemented “skip the line” programs that allow people to register for appointments at every Secretary of State’s local office in Illinois to speed up wait times for obtaining and renewing a driver’s license. Seniors and people with disabilities now receive priority help with registration. He has advocated for allowing digital driver’s licenses in Illinois, and for no longer taking away driver’s licenses for people who can not afford them.
For more information go to Giannoulias’ campaign page.
Republican Primary for Secretary of State
- Walter Adamczyk
Platform policies: Giving all honorably discharged veterans free license plates, and bringing back express lanes to prioritize veterans at the DMV.
Find more information on Adamczyk’s campaign page.
- Diane Harris
An official campaign page has not been found for Harris.
According to a WJOL: currently Harris is a trustee for Joliet’s public library and Joliet Junior College, former Republican nominee for State Senate district 43 in Illinois 2022, and the Republican nominee for State House District 86 in 2014.
According to the website Harris will strengthen cybersecurity to fight fraud.
What is a Comptroller:
The Comptroller is the Senior Executive who oversees accounting operations and oversees state funds for the Illinois Government. The position makes sure the bills are paid, and income tax refunds are distributed. Money flows out of this office.
Democratic Primary for Comptroller
The Rainbow PUSH Coalition sponsored a candidate forum for Democratic primary in December 2025. View it at Candidate forum.
Current Democratic Comptroller Susana Mendoza has chosen to not seek re-election. Mendoza has served since 2016.
- Margaret Croke
Since 2021, Croke served in the Illinois House of Representatives serving District 12.
Croke is committed to carrying on Susanna Mendoza’s initiative to protect the “Illinois’ Prevailing Wage Act” (An act that establishes how, where, and when workers get paid. As well as prohibits taking money from someone’s paycheck without informing the employee.) Croke said she will with hold wages to workers who do not pay their workers. Croke said she will work with the Department of Labor to lead investigations into illegal wage activity.
For more information visit Croke’s campaign website.
- Stephanie Kifowit
Since 2013, Kifowit has served in the Illinois House of Representatives representing District 84 since 2013.
Kifowit wants to cut wasteful spending that benefits big cooperations and the wealthy.
Backlash: In 2018, Kifowit made a comment regarding former former Rep. Peter Breen. Breen opposed a piece of legislation sponsored by Kifowit that would offer compensation to victims of Legionnaire’s disease (a type of pneumonia) outbreak in a veterans home. Kifowit said, “I would like to make him a broth of Legionella and pump it into the water system of his loved ones, so that they can be infected, they can be mistreated, they can sit and suffer by getting aspirin instead of being properly treated and ultimately die. And we are talking about our nation’s heroes.” Kifowit later apologized.
- Holly Kim
Current Lake County Treasurer since 2018.
On her campaign website, Kim said she was pictured walking in the “No King’s” protests to oppose Donald Trump’s presidency. Kim said she is commited to protecting Illinoisan’s data and preventing “MAGA overreach.”
- Karina Villa
Current State Senator for District 25 since 2020, and served in the Illinois House from 2018 – 2020 serving District 49. Villa flipped both seats from Republican to Democrat. Villa has been a fierce critic of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) operations in Illinois. Villa, according to her campaign page, says she wants to act as a watchdog for Illinois.
For more information go to Villa’s campaign page.
Republican Primary for Comptroller
- Bryan Drew
Drew is an attorney and small business owner of a café called “Café Bloom.”
Drew’s campaign said he will focus on restoring public trust and transparency.
For more information go to Drew’s campaign page.
What is a State Treasurer
The States Treasurere is the chief investment and banker officer. Te office oversees investment, debt and savings, as well as oversees state and local deposits and investments. Money flows into this office from things like state income taxes, property taxes, sales tax, and gasoline taxes.
Democratic Primary for Treasurer
- Mike Frerichs
Incumbent Mike Frerichs is running unopposed. Frerichs has served since 2015 as Treasurer. Frerichs served as a state Senator from 2007 – 2015. Frerichs has championed his improvement of the 529 college savings program and expanding secure choice programs and ABLE programs.
For more information go to Frerichs campaign page.
Republican Primary for Treasurer
*No Republican candidate filed official paperwork to run for Treasurer of Illinois.
- Max Solomon
Solomon is running as a write-in candidate for Treasurer. Solomon previously ran for Illinois State Senate for District 19, losing in the Republican primary. He also previously ran for Governor in 2022 losing in the Republican primary. In 2020, Solomon won the Republican nomination unopposed for Illinois House District 38, losing in the general election. Solomon also ran as a Democrat for Illinois House District 38, losing in the primary in 2018. Solomon was also defeated in the Democratic primary for Illinois Senate District 19 in 2016.
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