GOP Candidate Wins Appeal, Secures Spot on 11th Congressional District Ballots

Tedora M. Brown's name will be added to ballots after Illinois appeals court reverses lower court decisions.

Feb. 19, 2026 at 11:55am

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An Illinois appeals court has ordered Republican congressional candidate Tedora M. Brown's name to be added to the 11th Congressional District ballots, reversing previous lower court decisions that had excluded her from the race. Brown, one of four GOP candidates vying for the nomination, had her petitions challenged but prevailed in her legal appeal.

Why it matters

This ruling ensures voters in the 11th District will have Brown as an option on the Republican primary ballot, providing them with more choice. The decision also highlights the ongoing legal battles over ballot access that can impact the electoral process, creating challenges for election officials as they work to prepare ballots.

The details

The 1st District appellate court in Chicago ordered Brown 'be placed on the ballot immediately' and directed the Illinois State Board of Elections to 'take all steps necessary' to enforce the order. Brown's attorney, Max Solomon, celebrated the victory, saying 'This has been a long-fought battle' and that he's 'glad we prevailed at the courts'. The 11th Congressional District covers portions of several counties, so each county must now ensure Brown's name is included on their ballots.

  • On Friday, the Illinois appeals court reversed the lower court decisions.
  • In late January, a Cook County judge had upheld the Illinois State Board of Elections' ruling that Brown should not be on the ballot.
  • In December, Elburn resident Blanca Souders formally objected to Brown's candidate petitions, claiming they lacked enough valid signatures.

The players

Tedora M. Brown

A Republican congressional candidate running in the 11th District primary.

Max Solomon

Tedora M. Brown's attorney who celebrated the appeals court victory.

Blanca Souders

An Elburn resident who formally objected to Brown's candidate petitions in December, claiming they lacked enough valid signatures.

Illinois State Board of Elections

The state agency that initially ruled Brown should not be on the ballot due to insufficient signatures on her petitions.

1st District Appellate Court

The Illinois appeals court that reversed the lower court decisions and ordered Brown's name to be added to the 11th District ballots.

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What they’re saying

“This has been a long-fought battle. I'm glad that we prevailed at the courts.”

— Max Solomon, Tedora M. Brown's attorney

“I'm glad that we prevailed at the courts.”

— Tedora M. Brown (Social media)

What’s next

Each county in the 11th Congressional District must now take steps to add Tedora M. Brown's name to their ballots before the primary election on March 17.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing legal battles over ballot access that can create challenges for election officials as they work to prepare ballots. The appeals court's decision ensures voters in the 11th District will have more choice in the Republican primary.