Illinois Sees Surge of Congressional Candidates Amid Record Retirements

Dozens of Democrats vie for open seats in reliably blue state as voters struggle to keep up with crowded primaries.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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With a record number of congressional retirements in Illinois, the state is experiencing one of its most frenzied primary election seasons in years. Nearly 60 Democratic candidates are vying for six open House and Senate seats, creating a dizzying landscape for voters as they try to navigate the crowded fields. The retirements of senior members of Congress have opened up rare opportunities for the party to draw a new crop of candidates, but have also left voters with mounds of homework ahead of the March 17 primary.

Why it matters

Illinois represents roughly one-quarter of all House Democratic retirements and 10% of all House retirements in the country, creating an unusually high number of open seats in the reliably Democratic state. This has led to a surge of candidates, with some districts seeing as many as 15 Democrats competing in the primary. The influx of new candidates and lack of incumbent advantages has made the primaries more competitive and engaging for voters, but also more confusing as they try to keep track of the many names and faces.

The details

With five of Illinois' 17 congressional seats open, the state is experiencing its largest number of open House seats in at least 70 years. The dozens of candidates in the five open Chicago-area House races include 20-something newcomers, lawyers, and two former members angling for a comeback. They've clashed over issues like funding tied to Israel and disapproval of aggressive immigration enforcement. The most candidates are in the district of retiring Rep. Jan Schakowsky, with 15 Democrats including the Evanston mayor and a digital creator.

  • Congress is on track to see record turnover this year as lawmakers forgo reelection.
  • The Illinois primary election is scheduled for March 17, 2026.

The players

Rep. Danny Davis

A Chicago-area congressman who is retiring after serving since 1996.

Rep. Jan Schakowsky

A 14-term congresswoman who is retiring, leaving 15 Democrats competing for her open seat.

Rep. Robin Kelly

A congresswoman seeking to move to the Senate, leaving 10 Democrats competing for her open House seat.

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi

A congressman leaving his seat, with 8 Democrats competing in the primary to replace him.

Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia

A congressman departing, though the Democratic primary for his seat is uncontested.

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What they’re saying

“Having all these names and faces thrown at you and trying to remember which one is which, it's disorientating.”

— James Beatley, Voter (wbal.com)

“Illinois is undergoing tremendous change, and you can kind of feel it. It opens up opportunities for a new generation of leadership.”

— Rep. Danny Davis (wbal.com)

“You see a few clips, and that sort of influences you to or away from a candidate.”

— Maria Lordots, Voter (wbal.com)

“When there's so many candidates, overlapping opinions, it's so much harder to stand out.”

— Roberto Gomez-Valadez, Voter (wbal.com)

“You have to get really good at answering questions in barely no time. You get really good at getting to the point.”

— Anabel Mendoza, Candidate (wbal.com)

What’s next

Election officials say they see encouraging signs of a turnaround after 2024 saw the lowest turnout in more than 50 years, with early voting numbers already double the 2022 midterm primary and quadruple the 2018 primary.

The takeaway

The surge of congressional retirements in Illinois has created an unusually crowded and competitive primary season, with dozens of Democratic candidates vying for open seats. While this offers opportunities for new voices and a generational shift, it has also left many voters feeling overwhelmed and struggling to keep track of the many candidates and their positions.