Illinois Senate Primary Begins as Voters Choose Successor
Voting has commenced today, March 17 in the highly competitive U.S. Senate primary to replace retiring Senator Richard "Dick" Durbin after more than three decades of service across Chicago and surrounding areas. Ten Democratic candidates are on ballot as voters decide their choice for governor alongside several historic open House seats that have not been contested since recent elections.
Key Points
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1The March 17 primary elections are underway across Illinois, with voting currently active throughout Chicago.
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2Voters must choose among ten candidates to fill U.S. Senate seat Dick Durbin's after he retired following over three decades in office.
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3This is the first time since the early 1990s that a retiring senator has not been on an election ballot for his or her state senate race.
Developments
Perspectives
Voters are participating today, March 17 to decide their candidates for governor and several U.S. House seats that haven't been open in decades.
— [Mar 17, 05:45] Live Illinois election results: U.S. Senate Primary 2026 (Nbcchicago)The Democratic primary to replace Sen. Richard Durbin was always going to be competitive but has become messier than expected.
— [Mar 17, 13:54] TODAY Illinois holds the first round of voting for a special election in which voters will choose who replaces Senator Dick Durbin (MSNBC)Sen. Richard Durbin decided to retire after more than thirty years as senator and is no longer on this year's ballot.
— [Mar 17, 05:46] Live Illinois Senate primary results for the special election in which voters will choose who replaces Senator Dick Durbin (NBC Chicago)The race to replace Sen. Richard Durbin has reignited old feuds and drawn millions of dollars.
— [Mar 17, 05:46] Live Illinois Senate primary results for the special election in which voters will choose who replaces Senator Dick Durbin (NBC Chicago)On March 17 in Illinois primary elections for governor, Senate seats (including Dick Durbin's), U.S. House races with long-closed districts opening up again due retirements and incumbents running elsewhere like Jesse Jackson Jr., La Shawn Ford faced a voting error at his polling place where he was initially denied access to the ballot after being told he had already voted before receiving one later on challenge by campaign officials, while polls ran from 6 am till evening across Chicago area.
Senators Dick Durbin's retirement after 30 years in office triggered an intense primary race featuring ten Democratic candidates, including Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly against Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton; the Republican field includes former Illinois Chairman Don Tracy competing with five other contenders for nomination on Election Day this year (2026).