Five Illinois Democrats — Jan Schakowsky, Robin Kelly, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Jesus "Chuy" Garcia and Danny Davis — are retiring from the U.S. House in 2026, triggering competitive primaries across the state. Kelly and Krishnamoorthi are also running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Dick Durbin. Key contests include a crowded race in the 9th District to replace Schakowsky, Melissa Bean's bid in the 8th, and a large field in the 7th after Davis' retirement. Follow Decision Desk HQ for live returns and precinct updates.
Live: Illinois House Primaries — Five Democrats Retire, Crowded Races Unfold
Five Illinois Democratic members of the U.S. House — Jan Schakowsky, Robin Kelly, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Jesus "Chuy" Garcia and Danny Davis — are stepping down in 2026, setting up competitive primary contests on Tuesday to determine the party’s nominees for several open seats.
Primary Races To Watch
9th Congressional District: More than a dozen Democrats are competing to succeed Jan Schakowsky. Notable contenders include Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, social media personality Kat Abughazaleh and State Senator Laura Fine, making this one of the year's most closely watched primaries.
8th Congressional District: Former Rep. Melissa Bean is seeking to reclaim the seat vacated by Raja Krishnamoorthi, adding name recognition and experience to a competitive field.
7th Congressional District: With Rep. Danny Davis retiring after nearly three decades of service, the Democratic primary is crowded with hopefuls aiming to represent Chicago-area voters.
2nd Congressional District: Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is among a large group of Democrats vying to replace Robin Kelly, who is leaving the House and running for U.S. Senate.
Senate Contenders
Both Rep. Robin Kelly and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi are running this year for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Dick Durbin (D), a move that contributed to several open House races.
Incumbents Seeking Re-Election
Several Democratic incumbents are on the ballot seeking another term: Jonathan Jackson (1st District), Delia Ramirez (3rd), Mike Quigley (5th), Sean Casten (6th), Brad Schneider (10th), Bill Foster (11th), Nikki Budzinski (13th), Lauren Underwood (14th) and Eric Sorensen (17th).
Republican representatives also appear on primary ballots Tuesday, including Mike Bost (12th District), Mary Miller (15th District) and Darin LaHood (16th District), each running to retain their party’s support.
Follow Live Results
Follow Decision Desk HQ’s live results below for up-to-the-minute returns and precinct updates as winners emerge and the new lines for November begin to take shape.
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