Primary Races To Watch In Illinois Today

Today is a primary election day in Illinois, the day when candidates who have met ballot access standards have the right challenge others in their political party for the right to stand in the general election in November. The following races are those where primary contests exist today:

For U.S. Senate, the incumbent, Roland Burris, is retiring. Four candidates are competing for the Democratic nomination. Six candidates are competing for the Republican nomination.

In the 1st district, Harold Bailey, JoAnne Guillemette and Fred Smith are challenging incumbent Bobby Rush for the Democratic nomination to a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. There is also an unopposed Green candidate, Jeff Adams. There are no Republicans running for this seat this year.

In the 2nd district, Michael Mayden and Anthony Williams are competing for the Green Party nomination.

In the 3rd district, Jorge Mujica is challenging incumbent Democrat Dan Lipinski.

In the 5th district, Ashvin Lad, Rosanna Pulido and David Ratowitz are competing for the Republican nomination to take on Democratic freshman incumbent Mike Quigley. Terrence Gilhooly, Matt Reichel and Andy Williams are all seeking the Green Party nomination.

In the 7th district, Democratic incumbent Danny Davis is being challenged by Jim Ascot and Darlena Burnett.

In the 8th district, incumbent Democrat Melissa Bean is not being challenged. However, there is a Republican primary contest with six contenders: Dirk Beveridge, John Dawson, Chris Geissler, Greg Jacobs, Maria Rodriguez and Joe Walsh.

In the 9th district, Republicans Susanne Atanus and Joel Pollak are in competition, as are Greens Simon Ribeiro and Moe Shanfield.

In the 10th district, Republican incumbent Mark Kirk is running for the U.S. Senate rather than attempting re-election. Elizabeth Coulson, Bob Dold, Arie Friedman, Dick Green and Paul Hamann are seeking the Republican nomination to replace him. Three Democrats – Julie Hamos, Elliot Richardson and Dan Seals – are competing for their party’s nomination.

In the 11th district, Deborah Halvorson will compete against one of four Republicans seeking to win today’s primary election: Adam Kinzinger, David McAloon, Henry Meers Jr. and Darrel Miller.

In the 12th district Jerry Costello, the incumbent Democrat, has no primary challenger. There are two Republicans, however, in competition today: Theresa Kormos and Teri Davis Newman.

In the 14th district, either Ethan Hastert or Randy Hultgren will emerge as the Republican nominee to face Democratic incumbent Bill Foster in the general election.

In the 18th district, D.K. Hirner and Carl Ray are seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Aaron Schock, the Republican incumbent.

In the 19th district, incumbent John Shimkus is being challenged by fellow Republican Mike Firsching.