Illinois: who should earn your vote for Congress in 2026

Opinion · The paper’s scorecard

Illinois: every race for Congress on the 3 November 2026 ballot, and how the candidates measure up against our standards.

Sitting and former members are scored on the same key votes, read from the official House and Senate roll calls; each vote links to the record. Candidates who have never served in Congress have no votes to score, and outside the battlegrounds we have not researched them, so they are marked as not scored. Where only one candidate could be measured, the mark rates that record on its own; it is not a verdict on the opponent. How the marks work · All states

U.S. Senate D+6

No mark

Dick Durbin (D): incumbent retiring.

Juliana Stratton

Democrat

No congressional voting record; not scored

Don Tracy

Republican

No congressional voting record; not scored

District 1 D+18

No mark

Jonathan Jackson

Democrat · incumbent

Scored on 21 key votes · total -1

✗Smaller government
✗Small business over giants
?Live and let live
✓Light touch on tech
✓Free speech
✓No surveillance state
✓Home first, open trade
✗Checks on power
✗Right to bear arms
✗Hard on violent crime

With us (11)

Voted for the CLARITY Act, a light-touch rulebook for digital assets. Source
Voted against the 2024 law forcing TikTok's sale or ban. Source
Voted against the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which civil-liberties groups opposed as a limit on campus speech. Source

Against us (10)

Voted against the Limit, Save, Grow Act tying the 2023 debt-limit increase to spending cuts. Source
Voted against the 2025 package cancelling about $9 billion in approved spending. Source
Voted against a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution. Source

Christian Maxwell

Republican

No congressional voting record; not scored

District 2 D+18

No mark

Robin Kelly (D): incumbent retiring to run for u.

Donna Miller

Democrat

No congressional voting record; not scored

Michael Noack

Republican

No congressional voting record; not scored

District 3 D+17

No mark

Angel Oakley

Republican

No congressional voting record; not scored

Delia Ramirez

Democrat · incumbent

Scored on 21 key votes · total -3

✗Smaller government
✗Small business over giants
?Live and let live
✗Light touch on tech
✓Free speech
✓No surveillance state
✓Home first, open trade
✗Checks on power
✗Right to bear arms
✗Hard on violent crime

With us (10)

Voted against the 2024 law forcing TikTok's sale or ban. Source
Voted against the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which civil-liberties groups opposed as a limit on campus speech. Source
Voted for the amendment requiring a warrant to search Americans' communications under FISA Section 702 (it failed 212-212). Source

Against us (11)

Voted against the Limit, Save, Grow Act tying the 2023 debt-limit increase to spending cuts. Source
Voted against the 2025 package cancelling about $9 billion in approved spending. Source
Voted against a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution. Source

District 4 D+17

No mark

Lupe Castillo

Republican

No congressional voting record; not scored

Patty Garcia

Democrat

No congressional voting record; not scored

District 5 D+19

No mark

Tommy Hanson

Republican

No congressional voting record; not scored

Mike Quigley

Democrat · incumbent

Scored on 25 key votes · total -3

✗Smaller government
~Small business over giants
✓Live and let live
✗Light touch on tech
✗Free speech
✗No surveillance state
✓Home first, open trade
✓Checks on power
✗Right to bear arms
✗Hard on violent crime

With us (7)

Voted for the 2022 antitrust package funding merger enforcement with fees on the largest deals. Source
Voted for the Respect for Marriage Act. Source
Voted for ending the emergency behind the tariffs on Canada. Source

Against us (18)

Voted against the Limit, Save, Grow Act tying the 2023 debt-limit increase to spending cuts. Source
Voted against the 2025 package cancelling about $9 billion in approved spending. Source
Voted against a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution. Source

District 6 D+3

No mark

Sean Casten

Democrat · incumbent

Scored on 26 key votes · total -3

✗Smaller government
~Small business over giants
✓Live and let live
✗Light touch on tech
~Free speech
✗No surveillance state
✓Home first, open trade
~Checks on power
✗Right to bear arms
✗Hard on violent crime

With us (9)

Voted for the 2022 antitrust package funding merger enforcement with fees on the largest deals. Source
Voted for the Respect for Marriage Act. Source
Voted against the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which civil-liberties groups opposed as a limit on campus speech. Source

Against us (17)

Voted against the Limit, Save, Grow Act tying the 2023 debt-limit increase to spending cuts. Source
Voted against the 2025 package cancelling about $9 billion in approved spending. Source
Voted against a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution. Source

Niki Conforti

Republican

No congressional voting record; not scored

District 7 D+34

No mark

Danny Davis (D): incumbent retiring.

La Shawn Ford

Democrat

No congressional voting record; not scored

Chad Koppie

Republican

No congressional voting record; not scored

District 8 D+5

No mark

Raja Krishnamoorthi (D): incumbent retiring to run for u.

Melissa Bean

Democrat

No congressional voting record; not scored

Jennifer Davis

Republican

No congressional voting record; not scored

District 9 D+19

No mark

Jan Schakowsky (D): incumbent retiring.

Daniel Biss

Democrat

No congressional voting record; not scored

John Elleson

Republican

No congressional voting record; not scored

District 10 D+12

No mark

Carl Lambrecht

Republican

No congressional voting record; not scored

Brad Schneider

Democrat · incumbent

Scored on 27 key votes · total -2

✗Smaller government
~Small business over giants
✓Live and let live
✓Light touch on tech
✗Free speech
✗No surveillance state
✓Home first, open trade
~Checks on power
✗Right to bear arms
✗Hard on violent crime

With us (9)

Voted for the 2022 antitrust package funding merger enforcement with fees on the largest deals. Source
Voted for the Respect for Marriage Act. Source
Voted for the CLARITY Act, a light-touch rulebook for digital assets. Source

Against us (18)

Voted against the Limit, Save, Grow Act tying the 2023 debt-limit increase to spending cuts. Source
Voted against the 2025 package cancelling about $9 billion in approved spending. Source
Voted against a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution. Source

District 11 D+6

No mark

Bill Foster

Democrat · incumbent

Scored on 27 key votes · total -2

✗Smaller government
~Small business over giants
✓Live and let live
✗Light touch on tech
~Free speech
~No surveillance state
✓Home first, open trade
~Checks on power
✗Right to bear arms
✗Hard on violent crime

With us (10)

Voted for the 2022 antitrust package funding merger enforcement with fees on the largest deals. Source
Voted for the Respect for Marriage Act. Source
Voted against the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which civil-liberties groups opposed as a limit on campus speech. Source

Against us (17)

Voted against the Limit, Save, Grow Act tying the 2023 debt-limit increase to spending cuts. Source
Voted against the 2025 package cancelling about $9 billion in approved spending. Source
Voted against a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution. Source

Jeff Walter

Republican

No congressional voting record; not scored

District 12 R+22

✓ Meets our standards: Mike Bost

Meets our standards

Mike Bost

Republican · incumbent

Scored on 27 key votes · total +2

✓Smaller government
~Small business over giants
✗Live and let live
✓Light touch on tech
✗Free speech
✓No surveillance state
✗Home first, open trade
~Checks on power
✓Right to bear arms
✓Hard on violent crime

With us (17)

Voted for the Limit, Save, Grow Act tying the 2023 debt-limit increase to spending cuts. Source
Voted for the 2025 package cancelling about $9 billion in approved spending. Source
Voted for a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution. Source

Against us (10)

Voted against the 2022 antitrust package funding merger enforcement with fees on the largest deals. Source
Voted against the Respect for Marriage Act. Source
Voted for the 2024 law forcing TikTok's sale or ban. Source

Julie Fortier

Democrat

No congressional voting record; not scored

District 13 D+5

No mark

Nikki Budzinski

Democrat · incumbent

Scored on 21 key votes · total -5

✗Smaller government
✗Small business over giants
?Live and let live
✓Light touch on tech
✗Free speech
✗No surveillance state
✓Home first, open trade
✗Checks on power
✗Right to bear arms
✗Hard on violent crime

With us (7)

Voted for the CLARITY Act, a light-touch rulebook for digital assets. Source
Voted against a further clean extension of FISA surveillance authorities in 2026. Source
Voted for ending the emergency behind the tariffs on Canada. Source

Against us (14)

Voted against the Limit, Save, Grow Act tying the 2023 debt-limit increase to spending cuts. Source
Voted against the 2025 package cancelling about $9 billion in approved spending. Source
Voted against a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution. Source

Jeff Wilson

Republican

No congressional voting record; not scored

District 14 D+3

No mark

James Marter

Republican

No congressional voting record; not scored

Lauren Underwood

Democrat · incumbent

Scored on 26 key votes · total -3

✗Smaller government
~Small business over giants
✓Live and let live
✗Light touch on tech
~Free speech
✗No surveillance state
✓Home first, open trade
~Checks on power
✗Right to bear arms
✗Hard on violent crime

With us (9)

Voted for the 2022 antitrust package funding merger enforcement with fees on the largest deals. Source
Voted for the Respect for Marriage Act. Source
Voted against the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which civil-liberties groups opposed as a limit on campus speech. Source

Against us (17)

Voted against the Limit, Save, Grow Act tying the 2023 debt-limit increase to spending cuts. Source
Voted against the 2025 package cancelling about $9 billion in approved spending. Source
Voted against a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution. Source

District 15 R+20

✓ Meets our standards: Mary Miller

Meets our standards

Mary Miller

Republican · incumbent

Scored on 27 key votes · total +3

✓Smaller government
✓Small business over giants
✗Live and let live
✓Light touch on tech
✗Free speech
✓No surveillance state
✗Home first, open trade
~Checks on power
✓Right to bear arms
✓Hard on violent crime

With us (18)

Voted for the Limit, Save, Grow Act tying the 2023 debt-limit increase to spending cuts. Source
Voted for the 2025 package cancelling about $9 billion in approved spending. Source
Voted for a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution. Source

Against us (9)

Voted against the Respect for Marriage Act. Source
Voted for the 2024 law forcing TikTok's sale or ban. Source
Voted for the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which civil-liberties groups opposed as a limit on campus speech. Source

Jennifer Todd

Democrat

No congressional voting record; not scored

District 16 R+11

Leans our way: Darin LaHood

Leans our way

Darin LaHood

Republican · incumbent

Scored on 27 key votes · total +1

✓Smaller government
~Small business over giants
✗Live and let live
✓Light touch on tech
✗Free speech
✗No surveillance state
✗Home first, open trade
✓Checks on power
✓Right to bear arms
✓Hard on violent crime

With us (15)

Voted for the Limit, Save, Grow Act tying the 2023 debt-limit increase to spending cuts. Source
Voted for the 2025 package cancelling about $9 billion in approved spending. Source
Voted for a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution. Source

Against us (12)

Voted against the 2022 antitrust package funding merger enforcement with fees on the largest deals. Source
Voted against the Respect for Marriage Act. Source
Voted for the 2024 law forcing TikTok's sale or ban. Source

Paul Nolley

Democrat

No congressional voting record; not scored

District 17 D+3

No mark

Eric Sorensen

Democrat · incumbent

Scored on 21 key votes · total -3

✗Smaller government
✗Small business over giants
?Live and let live
✓Light touch on tech
✗Free speech
✗No surveillance state
✓Home first, open trade
✗Checks on power
✗Right to bear arms
✓Hard on violent crime

With us (8)

Voted for the CLARITY Act, a light-touch rulebook for digital assets. Source
Voted against a further clean extension of FISA surveillance authorities in 2026. Source
Voted for ending the emergency behind the tariffs on Canada. Source

Against us (13)

Voted against the Limit, Save, Grow Act tying the 2023 debt-limit increase to spending cuts. Source
Voted against the 2025 package cancelling about $9 billion in approved spending. Source
Voted against a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution. Source

Dillan Vancil

Republican

No congressional voting record; not scored

Photo credits. Official congressional portraits are works of the U.S. government and in the public domain.