Illinois’ 3rd Congressional District House Race 2026

Illinois Rep. Delia Ramirez has introduced the "Reimagining Safety Act," legislation that would abolish the Department of Homeland Security and ICE, replacing DHS with a new Department of Community Safety. The move follows a federal raid on Rep. Ilhan Omar's Washington home, where Homeland Security Investigations agents searched the property early Monday as part of a Justice Department probe into decades-old paperwork, seizing her phone and issuing subpoenas to relatives. Omar called the raid an "outrageous abuse of power"; President Trump denied involvement.

Ramirez's 71-page bill would shift immigration enforcement to the Justice Department, customs to Treasury, and TSA/Coast Guard to Transportation, while redirecting DHS funds toward Medicare for All, housing, and education. It has fewer than seven co-sponsors and faces long odds in the Republican-controlled Congress. Republicans have called the proposal "utterly insane," while some moderate Democrats also oppose abolishing ICE. Separately, Ramirez joined advocacy groups to unveil a broader immigration reform platform with 19 congressional co-sponsors and backing from 54 civil rights organizations.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has rejected Illinois' request for a major disaster declaration following severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds and tornadoes that struck the state in August. FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton said federal assistance was "not warranted," affecting Champaign, Cook, Ford, Fulton, McLean, Tazewell, Vermilion and Will counties. Gov. JB Pritzker's office says the state will appeal, citing extensive damage to homes, infrastructure and widespread power outages. Pritzker accused Trump of playing politics with disaster relief, a charge echoed by Illinois Democrats including Sen. Dick Durbin and Rep. Robin Kelly, while Republican Rep. Darin LaHood also urged approval of the declaration.

The denial follows renewed attacks by Trump on Chicago over crime and comes amid separate reporting that Trump approved disaster aid for Ohio ahead of a campaign rally while leaving other states' requests pending. Trump has also approved aid for Hawaii and New Hampshire, complicating claims of a partisan pattern. The White House denies any political motive behind its disaster aid decisions.

Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-OR) introduced the ICE Shootings Transparency Act on Friday alongside Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL), legislation that would require the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Attorney General to share evidence with local law enforcement after officer-involved shootings and other use-of-force incidents involving ICE or CBP agents.

Salinas said the federal government has repeatedly withheld evidence from local investigators since the start of the current Trump administration. The bill follows the January 2026 death of Renee Good, shot by ICE in Minneapolis, after which Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said it was removed from a joint investigation with the FBI. Months later, ICE agents fatally shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Texas under similar circumstances, with federal agencies again declining to cooperate with state and local authorities.

Ramirez used the announcement to renew calls to abolish ICE and dismantle DHS. CBP referred comment to DHS, which did not respond; DHS, ICE, and the Justice Department declined to comment. The bill has several Democratic cosponsors in the House.

With Election Day a week away, Illinois Democrats are campaigning beyond state lines to aid party allies nationally. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi backed Texas Railroad Commissioner candidate Jon Rosenthal; Sen. Tammy Duckworth campaigned for Sherrod Brown in Ohio; Rahm Emanuel canvassed in New Hampshire; and Rep. Danny Davis and successor nominee La Shawn Ford campaigned for Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate David Crowley. Gov. JB Pritzker is focused on his own reelection, holding a large cash advantage and backing fellow Democrats financially.

Big money is also flowing into Illinois races, including Chicago school board contests, with GOP megadonors Dick and Elizabeth Uihlein and wealthy Democratic-aligned groups both spending heavily to shape outcomes from Springfield to Chicago.

Former U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean, a centrist Democrat, is seeking a political comeback in Illinois' 8th Congressional District, facing Republican newcomer Jennifer Davis in the Nov. 3 general election. The seat is open after Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who has endorsed Bean, left to run unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate. An independent write-in candidate, Christopher Krumpac, is also running.

The district, which stretches from the northwest Chicago suburbs to Elgin and the Fox River Valley, leans solidly Democratic. Bean, who first won the seat in 2004 and served until 2011, has outraised Davis, aided in part by a super PAC tied to AIPAC that drew progressive criticism during the primary. Davis, a tech entrepreneur making her first run for office, has loaned her own campaign $1 million to stay competitive.

The candidates diverge sharply on abortion, immigration, and Trump-era policies, with Bean casting the race as a check on the administration and Davis positioning herself as a political outsider focused on small business and economic concerns.

Illinois Democrats are split on strategy ahead of potential midterm gains that could hand their party control of the House and possibly the Senate. Some, like Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who is running for Senate, favor confrontation, including refusing to confirm Trump nominees or fund ICE and potentially ending the filibuster. Others, including Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Rep. Bill Foster, favor combining aggressive oversight of Trump officials and businesses with legislative wins, while downplaying quick impeachment. Republicans, including Speaker Mike Johnson and Trump himself, warn that a Democratic majority would mean relentless investigations and a renewed impeachment push.

The debate reflects broader uncertainty over Democratic strategy and control of Congress following the November midterms, a key variable for prediction markets tracking the 2026 elections and any renewed impeachment proceedings.

Illinois Democrats gathered at the state fair in Springfield for their annual Democrats' Day, with Gov. JB Pritzker, Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren delivering anti-Trump speeches while downplaying ideological rifts roiling the national party. Warren praised Senate candidate Juliana Stratton for standing up to AIPAC and corporate PACs, touching on divisions over Israel-Gaza policy and campaign finance that have proven more combustible elsewhere. But the celebratory tone was clouded by House Speaker Chris Welch's handling of a sexual harassment scandal involving former Rep. Harry Benton, and the recent indictment of Rep. Carol Ammons and her husband on fraud charges. Welch skipped the main event; three House Democrats have refused to join his working group on the harassment issue, calling its formation flawed.

A day later, Republicans held their own fairground rally, with Gov. candidate Darren Bailey and running mate Aaron Del Mar attacking Pritzker over cost of living, public safety and schools while avoiding mention of Trump. Senate candidate Don Tracy branded Stratton and Democratic Socialist allies as extreme, and House GOP leader Tony McCombie renewed criticism of Welch. Separately, the DNC narrowed its 2028 convention host shortlist to Boston, Denver and Philadelphia, excluding Chicago, which hosted in 2024 and remains in contention for 2032. Pritzker's campaign also launched a TV ad branding Bailey as extreme ahead of November.

Chicago mayoral candidate William J. Quinlan has filed a lawsuit against fellow contenders Alexi Giannoulias, Mike Quigley and Maria Pappas, arguing they cannot legally run for mayor while also seeking reelection to their current offices. Quinlan's suit cites the Illinois Election Code, which requires candidates seeking two "incompatible" offices to withdraw from all but one if they could not serve in both simultaneously. Quinlan is asking for an expedited hearing and ruling before October 18.

The three defendants are up for reelection this November to their existing posts — secretary of state, Congress, and Cook County treasurer, respectively — while the Chicago mayoral race takes place next year, meaning none currently holds a city office. The Quigley campaign has dismissed the suit as frivolous, while a Giannoulias spokesperson said he remains focused on Chicago issues rather than the litigation. Candidate Willie Wilson has separately raised ethical objections to the practice. The stakes are especially notable for Giannoulias, who has built a roughly $22 million campaign fund. Courts will now decide whether the rivals can remain on ballots for both their current offices and mayor.

Illinois voters head to the polls Nov. 3 to fill an open U.S. Senate seat and decide contests for governor, attorney general, secretary of state, comptroller and treasurer. Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton faces Republican Don Tracy for the Senate seat being vacated by Dick Durbin. Gov. J.B. Pritzker, running with new lieutenant governor pick Christian Mitchell, seeks a third term in a rematch against Darren Bailey, who has Donald Trump's endorsement and running mate Aaron Del Mar.

Incumbent Attorney General Kwame Raoul faces Republican Bob Fioretti, while Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, now also running for Chicago mayor, is challenged by Republican Diane Harris. With Comptroller Susana Mendoza not seeking re-election amid her own mayoral bid, Democrat Margaret Croke and Republican Bryan Drew are competing for that office. Treasurer Mike Frerichs seeks re-election against Republican Max Solomon. The races will shape state policy on taxes, spending oversight, abortion access and Illinois' relationship with the Trump administration, with early and mail voting available ahead of Election Day.