With Illinois’ primary elections just two months away, several would-be Democratic primary challengers in high-profile races have been disqualified, while two federal-level races are bursting with primary contenders.
Gov. JB Pritzker and northern Illinois Cong. Eric Sorensen will both receive their Democratic Party’s nominations March 17, after their potential Democratic primary opponents were disqualified.Â
At the same time, 17 Democratic primary contenders are pursuing the Illinois Congressional seat now held by Jan Schakowsky, and 10 Democrats are vying to run for Richard Durbin’s U.S. Senate seat.
Both Schakowsky and Durbin, long-time incumbents, announced last year they would not run for re-election.
And, a Quad Cities area Democrat is running for the Illinois House seat held by Republican Ryan Spain, who hasn’t had an opponent in years.
Here’s a look at the disqualifications, the two races featuring a vast Democratic primary field of candidates, and the Quad Cities state House race:
Former Sorensen challenger Soliz disqualified
U.S. Eric Sorensen (D-Illinois) will not face a primary challenge after his would-be 24-year-old challenger failed to collect enough valid signatures. Montez Soliz (above left), a native of Rockford like Sorensen, announced in early December he had been disqualified even though the Illinois Board of Election only formally confirmed his disqualification last week.
“Being removed from the ballot is a setback, but it is not a verdict on our vision,” Soliz said at the time. He did not respond to requests for comment.
His campaign had focused on standing up for Black and Brown candidates; Sorensen had never publicly acknowledged the primary challenge. Two Republicans, Dillan Vancil of Gladstone and Julie Bickelhaupt of Mount Carroll, will face off against each other March 17 for the right to face Sorensen in the November general election.Â
Pritzker Democratic primary challenger Tillman disqualified
Patricia Tillman, an activist from Chicago, was removed from the ballot to challenge Illinois Pritzker for the Democratic Party nomination. The Board of Elections ruled in December that Tillman was about 3,000 short of the signatures needed. It formalized that decision last week.
Tillman (above left) had asked for the hearing to be delayed. She had said she was the victim of assault, “planned conspiracy,” and prevented from filing an objection to her removal. She continues to campaign for the seat.
Pritzker is the first Illinois governor to seek a third term. Four Republicans will face off in March for the right to challenge him in the general election, after three candidates were disqualified for too few signatures.
That field of Republican primary contenders in the race includes Darren Bailey, who departed temporarily when his son and son’s family died in a helicopter crash.
Chesney anti-MAGA challenger disqualified, running write-in campaign
It was going to be a classic MAGA versus moderate Republican primary battle. But State Sen. Andrew Chesney‘s Republican primary challenger Joshua T. Atkinson (right above) was removed from the ballot for failing to collect 1,000 signatures. An objection to his petition over invalid signatures was validated by the Illinois State Board of Elections on Wednesday.
Atkinson promised in a Facebook video afterwards to run a write-in campaign for the Republican party’s nomination. Fighting4Freeport, a political organization chaired by Atkinson, said he is submitting forms with the seven counties in Chesney’s district to be a write-in candidate, and will release a statement about his write-in campaign in about a week.
A similar objection raised against Chesney’s petition was thrown out on Wednesday by the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Huge Democratic primary field for Durbin, Schakowsky seats
A total of 17 Democrats are on the ballot for the Congressional seat north of Chicago currently held by Jan Schakowsky, who is retiring.
They include Evanston Mayor Daniel Bliss, who ran for governor in 2018; Media Matters commentator Kat Abughazaleh; and State Senators Laura Fine and Mike Simmons.Â
The crowded field has led to millions already spent thus far, largely by Biss and Abughazaleh.
Four Republicans are also running against each other to represent their party in the November election against Schakowsky.
Ten Democrats will face off for Durbin’s seat. They include two current Congresspeople, Robin Kelly and Raja Krishnamoorthi, and current Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. Three other would-be Democratic primary candidates were removed from the ballot for not securing enough signatures or listing an incorrect address.
Six Republicans will also face off in the March primary for the right to challenge Durbin’s Democratic successor.
Quad Cities Democrat to challenge Republican Ryan Spain
State Rep. Ryan Spain, a Republican and Deputy Minority leader in the Illinois House who hasn’t had an opponent in years, will face a Democrat in the general election for Illinois House District 73.
Grand Rapids City politician Nicole Dopler (left above)Â near the Quad Cities, announced her candidacy in September and has been active in community events and local protests since. The district stretches from the Quad Cities, down the center of the state, to grab almost al of Peoria.
Dopler, a trustee for the Rock Island County Democratic Women’s Club and former village trustee for Rapids City, says she’s running on protecting benefits, healthcare and education.
To find all the candidates who have qualified for the March 17 primary election, head to the Illinois Board of Elections Candidate Filing Page for the Primary.Â
Cover photo features, clockwise from top left: Illinois State Sen. Andrew Chesney; his write-in challenger Joshua Atkinson; U.S. Cong. Eric Sorensen; Illinois Gov JB Pritzker;Â Democratic candidate Nicole Dopler; Illinois State Sen. Laura Fine; Lt. Gov. Julianna Stratton; U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi; Illinois State Sen. Mike Simmons; and Media Matters commentator Kat Abughazaleh.
