Cook County Assessor Faces Challenger in 2026 Primary

Incumbent Fritz Kaegi running for third term against former employee Pat Hynes

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi is running for a third term in the 2026 primary elections, facing a challenge from former employee Pat Hynes. Kaegi's office has faced criticism over rising property tax bills, particularly in low-income neighborhoods, as the tax burden has shifted away from commercial properties downtown. Hynes has accused Kaegi of failing to use complete data to determine fair property values, while Kaegi has blamed the Cook County Board of Review for reducing commercial assessments.

Why it matters

The Cook County Assessor's office plays a key role in determining individual property owners' tax burdens, making this a high-stakes race with major implications for residents across Chicago and Cook County. The outcome could significantly impact the distribution of the property tax burden going forward.

The details

Kaegi's office has said one big factor in the rise in residential property tax bills was a major drop in assessed values for commercial properties downtown, shifting the tax burden to homeowners. Hynes has accused Kaegi's office of ignoring building permit data that would provide information on new construction or renovations that could significantly change property values. Kaegi has argued his assessments are based on the most up-to-date market data, and has blamed the Cook County Board of Review for reducing commercial assessments.

  • The 2026 Cook County Assessor primary election will be held on March 17, 2026.

The players

Fritz Kaegi

The incumbent Cook County Assessor, running for a third term. Kaegi was first elected in 2018 after previously working as a financial analyst and mutual fund portfolio manager.

Pat Hynes

The Lyons Township Assessor and a former employee of the Cook County Assessor's Office, challenging Kaegi in the 2026 primary.

Nico Tsatsoulis

A Libertarian candidate running for Cook County Assessor, who previously ran for the office in 2022 and the Cook County Board of Review in 2024.

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What they’re saying

“Assessments under Kaegi have been volatile and unpredictable.”

— Pat Hynes, Lyons Township Assessor (cbsnews.com)

“Many municipal governments in Cook County have failed to share building permit data with my office in a timely manner.”

— Fritz Kaegi, Cook County Assessor (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The winner of the March 17, 2026 Democratic primary will face the Libertarian candidate, Nico Tsatsoulis, in the November 2026 general election.

The takeaway

The race for Cook County Assessor is shaping up to be a pivotal one, with the outcome potentially having a significant impact on the distribution of the property tax burden across Chicago and Cook County. Voters will have to weigh the competing claims and visions of the candidates to determine who is best equipped to lead the Assessor's office.