Illinois’ 8th Congressional District House Race 2026

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.

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.

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.

Alexandros Paporakis, 19, of Palatine, Illinois, was arrested Sunday after a coworker at a Taco Bell in Arlington Heights alerted authorities to disturbing messages, including a video of an AR-style rifle and a photo of him in tactical gear. A search of his apartment turned up the rifle with no serial number, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, body armor, a gas can, and items bearing Nazi symbolism.

Prosecutors say Paporakis wrote an eight-page manifesto, referencing the Aurora, Colorado theater shooter, describing himself as a "sociopathic white supremacist Neo-Nazi" and expressing intent to kill as many minorities as possible before dying himself. He had allegedly been planning the attack for two years, targeting a Hindu place of worship in Aurora, Illinois, around October 11. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi later revealed he and his family were worshiping at that temple at the time of the alleged plot. He faces felony charges of making a terrorist threat and unlawful weapon possession and was ordered detained, with his next court date set for October 30. Officials including Krishnamoorthi and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned the alleged plot amid concerns over rising anti-South Asian and anti-Hindu extremism.

Illinois voters will choose a successor to retiring Sen. Dick Durbin, who is stepping down after three decades in office. Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, a Democrat who defeated Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi in a contentious primary, faces former Illinois GOP chairman Don Tracy in the general election. Independent candidate Whitfield Harrington Jr. is also on the ballot. The winner will join Sen. Tammy Duckworth in representing the blue-leaning state.

The candidates offer a sharp ideological contrast. Stratton is campaigning on progressive priorities including abolishing ICE, Medicare for All, restoring federal abortion protections, stronger gun restrictions, and opposition to President Trump's agenda. Tracy, a Springfield attorney and former chair of the Illinois Gaming Board, favors stronger border enforcement, market-based health care reforms, Second Amendment protections, and has defended parts of Trump's agenda while saying he won't be a "rubber stamp" for either party. Tracy has criticized Stratton for skipping several debates and forums. The two are scheduled to appear together Oct. 20 for a WTTW forum, their only planned joint appearance before Election Day.

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.

Project 50, a political group founded by Illinois abortion-rights veterans including former state Sen. Heather Steans and ex-HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, is working to replicate Illinois' decades-old shift toward abortion access by targeting state legislative races in conservative states with bans or heavy restrictions. After early setbacks in Arizona, the group refocused on culturally conservative states in 2023, winning three races in its first three years and four more in 2025, including in Virginia. It has raised over $3.7 million from donors such as Michael Bloomberg and Gov. JB Pritzker. Organizers say the strategy targets voters uneasy with total abortion bans, not broad support for unrestricted access. Abortion-rights opponents call its electoral impact limited so far.

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.

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.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has requested a presidential major disaster declaration from FEMA for eight counties — Champaign, Cook, Ford, Fulton, McLean, Tazewell, Vermilion and Will — hit by tornadoes, high winds and flooding in mid-August. The state also extended its disaster proclamation for another month. A preliminary damage assessment found the destruction exceeds what Illinois can handle on its own, following an Aug. 11 storm with tornadoes and near-100 mph winds, additional wind damage on Aug. 13, and flooding on Aug. 14.

Approval is not guaranteed. An earlier analysis found Democrat-led states had a much lower FEMA request approval rate under the current administration compared to Republican-led states, and Illinois' two most recent FEMA requests in 2025 were denied. Illinois leads the nation with 210 confirmed tornadoes this year but had not previously sought FEMA help, instead relying on Small Business Administration assistance. If approved, FEMA aid would fund individual housing and repair grants and public infrastructure reimbursements. The request also drew political criticism from Pritzker's gubernatorial rival, Darren Bailey.