MOLINE, Ill. — Polls in Illinois close at 7 p.m. Tuesday night. Click/tap here for election results.
The 2022 midterms are approaching rapidly, and voters are preparing to decide who gets their vote in this critical election.
Some voters may be unfamiliar with many candidates in down-ballot state elections that don't get as much advertising or attention from the media.
Here are the state-level candidates Illinoisans will see on their ballots this election.
Find all race results for Illinois below
Attorney general
The Race: Raoul is the incumbent Attorney General. The Chicago native, DePaul University graduate and former Cook County State Attorney's Office prosecutor was elected to the seat in 2018. He runs on a platform of protecting women's right to choose, protecting voting rights, supporting victims of violence, and fighting for affordable healthcare.
He is challenged by Republican Thomas DeVore, a private practice lawyer and a first-time political candidate who runs on a platform of standing with law enforcement, ending corruption, and fighting COVID-19 regulations, and Libertarian Daniel Robin, a 45-year practicing attorney running on a platform of tax cuts, election reform, ending the war on drugs, and greater parental choice in education.
Secretary of State
The Race: With long-time and widely popular Secretary of State Jesse White declining to run for his seventh term, the race is a three-way contest between candidates seeking to become the first new officeholder since 1999.
Republican Dan Brady, a Southern Illinois and St. Ambrose graduate and current Illinois 105th District Rep., is running on a platform of streamlining Secretary of State services, increasing organ and tissue donor registration, providing better drivers' education, and prioritizing the development of local libraries.
Democrat Alexi Giannoulias, a former Illinois State Treasurer, is running on a platform of modernizing the Secretary of State's Office, increasing voter rights and registration access, strengthening ethics laws, enhancing libraries, and giving ex-offenders second chances.
Libertarian Jon Stewert, a former professional wrestler, car dealership president and Bachelor of Psychology graduate, also joins the race, running on a platform of streamlining DMV services.
Treasurer
- Michael Frerichs (D)
- Tom Demmer (R)
- Preston Nelson (L)
The Race: Frerichs, a Champaign native and Yale University, is the incumbent Illinois Treasurer and has served in the seat since 2014. He is challenged by University of Dayton graduate and current 90th District Rep. Tom Demmer and Preston Nelson, a Centralia native, Rend Lake College graduate, who has previously worked as a medical device inventor, wireless network technician, and teacher.
Comptroller
The Race: Mendoza is the incumbent Comptroller, having held the seat since 2016 after a long career in Illinois politics, including ten years serving as the representative for the Illinois House 1st District and five years as the Chicago city clerk.
She is challenged by Shannon Teresi, a lifelong Henry County resident currently serving as its Auditor, bringing more than 15 years of private and public accounting experience to the office, as well as Deirdre McCloskey, an economist, author and the Distinguished Professor of Economics, History, English, and Communication at the University of Illinois at Chicago
State Senate District 36
News 8 has previously covered this race in a long-form roundtable interview series. You can find more information on the candidates and their values by clicking/tapping here.
State Senate District 45
The Race: Andrew Chesney, a self-described "unapologetic conservative voice", currently represents Illinois 89th District, running on a platform of stern support for anti-abortion policies, gun rights, law enforcement and greater parental choice in decisions related to their children.
He is opposed by Gerald Podraza, a small business owner who advanced to the candidacy after winning the primary as a write-in. He runs on a campaign supporting rights for workers, women and the LGBTQ+ community, clean energy and environmental protection, and a personal cause of securing funding for a Dubuque-Chicago rail line.
State House District 71
- Dan Swanson (R)
- Christopher Demink (D)
The Race: Daniel Swanson, a lifelong Republican, Woodhull native, Western Illinois University graduate and retired Illinois National Guard Lieutenant Colonel, currently represents Illinois's 74th District. He runs on an archetypal conservative platform; including support of gun rights and rural communities and opposition to abortion rights and tax increases.
He is challenged by Christopher Demink, a retired electrician with more than 30 years of municipal political experience, most recently serving as a precinct committeeman in Mercer County.
State House District 72
News 8 has previously covered this race in a long-form roundtable interview series. You can find more information on the candidates and their values by clicking/tapping here.
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