2018 Illinois elections

2018 Illinois elections

← 2016 November 6, 2018 2020 →
Turnout57.23%
Elections in Illinois
U.S. Presidential elections
U.S. Senate elections
U.S. House elections
General elections
Gubernatorial elections
Lieutenant Gubernatorial elections
Attorney General elections
Secretary of State elections
Comptroller elections
Senate elections
House of Representatives elections
Judicial elections
Municipal elections
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A general election was held in the U.S. state of Illinois on November 6, 2018. The elections for Illinois's 18 congressional districts, Governor, statewide constitutional officers, Illinois Senate, and Illinois House were held on this date.

Primaries were held March 20, 2018.

The Democratic Party made gains, including picking up the state's governorship and flipping two of its U.S. House seats. After the election, all executive offices and control of the Illinois General Assembly was held by the Democratic Party. Conversely the Republican Party experienced what was regarded to be their worst defeat in the state since at least 2006.[1]

Election information

2018 was a midterm election year in the United States.

Turnout

Primary election

For the primary election, turnout was 26.48%, with 2,103,634 votes cast.[2]

Turnout by county[2]
County Registration Votes cast Turnout
Adams 47,422 6,670 14.07%
Alexander 5,303 1,691 31.89%
Bond 10,978 2,854 26%
Boone 32,552 7,525 23.12%
Brown 3,337 662 19.84%
Bureau 23,661 7,446 31.47%
Calhoun 3,542 905 25.55%
Carroll 10,449 3,329 31.86%
Cass 7,704 1,819 23.61%
Champaign 119,979 31,574 26.32%
Christian 20,925 4,294 20.52%
Clark 11,886 4,826 40.6%
Clay 8,809 2,935 33.32%
Clinton 24,486 5,462 22.31%
Coles 29,515 9,238 31.3%
Cook[note 1] 3,043,887 938,639 30.84%
Crawford 12,328 4,239 34.39%
Cumberland 7,636 3,030 39.68%
DeKalb 56,946 14,531 25.52%
DeWitt 10,885 2,773 25.48%
Douglas 11,564 3,816 33%
DuPage 633,638 157,671 24.88%
Edgar 11,968 2,077 17.35%
Edwards 4,342 1,779 40.97%
Effingham 23,564 6,023 25.56%
Fayette 13,572 3,218 23.71%
Ford 8,664 2,336 26.96%
Franklin 28,534 5,380 18.85%
Fulton 25,423 5,349 21.04%
Gallatin 3,765 1,327 35.25%
Greene 8,891 1,922 21.62%
Grundy 33,916 8,070 23.79%
Hamilton 5,643 1,631 28.9%
Hancock 12,244 2,562 20.92%
Hardin 3,176 900 28.34%
Henderson 4,847 1,278 26.37%
Henry 35,896 7,645 21.3%
Iroquois 17,933 4,696 26.19%
Jackson 31,777 8,683 27.32%
Jasper 6,859 2,314 33.74%
Jefferson 23,547 5,680 24.12%
Jersey 15,188 3,073 20.23%
Jo Daviess 15,938 3,708 23.27%
Johnson 8,834 2,448 27.71%
Kane 305,679 65,419 21.4%
Kankakee 67,383 11,976 17.77%
Kendall 72,920 15,883 21.78%
Knox 32,995 6,517 19.75%
Lake 439,860 98,944 22.49%
LaSalle 69,838 16,185 23.18%
Lawrence 8,737 1,546 17.69%
Lee 22,216 6,147 27.67%
Livingston 21,221 6,776 31.93%
Logan 18,163 5,688 31.32%
Macon 74,132 16,732 22.57%
Macoupin 32,632 6,727 20.61%
Madison 174,508 43,928 25.17%
Marion 24,318 4,642 19.09%
Marshall 8,253 2,892 35.04%
Mason 9,040 2,007 22.2%
Massac 10,484 3,183 30.36%
McDonough 18,905 6,078 32.15%
McHenry 223,579 48,504 21.69%
McLean 108,708 28,516 26.23%
Menard 9,089 3,061 33.68%
Mercer 12,125 2,352 19.4%
Monroe 25,313 4,012 15.85%
Montgomery 15,873 5,521 34.78%
Morgan 21,747 6,244 28.71%
Moultrie 8,548 2,918 34.14%
Ogle 30,493 8,468 27.77%
Peoria 113,911 23,250 20.41%
Perry 14,561 2,901 19.92%
Piatt 12,091 5,378 44.48%
Pike 10,266 2,548 24.82%
Pope 2,989 823 27.53%
Pulaski 4,395 1,252 28.49%
Putnam 4,269 1,181 27.66%
Randolph 21,563 3,680 17.07%
Richland 11,517 4,318 37.49%
Rock Island 86,055 17,265 20.06%
Saline 16,361 4,578 27.98%
Sangamon 131,964 31,047 23.53%
Schuyler 5,362 1,350 25.18%
Scott 3,615 1,411 39.03%
Shelby 14,595 4,038 27.67%
Stark 4,100 1,510 36.83%
St. Clair 190,018 35,514 18.69%
Stephenson 34,036 8,488 24.94%
Tazewell 89,252 24,919 27.92%
Union 11,849 3,196 26.97%
Vermilion 45,711 9,999 21.87%
Wabash 8,459 2,110 24.94%
Warren 11,616 2,288 19.7%
Washington 9,601 2,944 30.66%
Wayne 12,193 3,878 31.81%
White 10,218 2,557 25.02%
Whiteside 37,379 8,995 24.06%
Will 431,906 95,945 22.21%
Williamson 44,661 9,572 21.43%
Winnebago 176,057 49,517 28.13%
Woodford 25,792 8,288 32.13%
Total 7,945,074 2,103,634 26.48%

General election

For the general election, turnout was 57.23%, with 4,635,541 votes cast.[3] The Illinois State Board of Elections reported that this general election turnout rate was the third-highest for a midterm election over the past forty years.[4] The Illinois State Board of Elections also reported that the total number of votes cast set a record high.[4] Voter registration, at 8.1 million, also sat at a record high.[4]

Turnout was considered high in the United States during the 2018 midterm elections, with it being the highest national midterm turnout since 1914.[5]

Turnout by county[3]
County Registration Votes cast Turnout%
Adams 47,811 24,611 51.48%
Alexander 5,354 2,278 42.55%
Bond 11,197 6,723 60.04%
Boone 33,054 18,176 54.99%
Brown 3,509 1,934 55.12%
Bureau 23,847 13,840 58.04%
Calhoun 3,559 2,377 66.79%
Carroll 10,682 6,039 56.53%
Cass 7,774 4,683 60.24%
Champaign 124,057 80,112 64.58%
Christian 21,209 13,027 61.42%
Clark 11,936 6,249 52.35%
Clay 8,948 4,956 55.39%
Clinton 24,810 14,269 57.51%
Coles 30,551 17,385 56.9%
Cook[note 2] 3,090,800 1,795,518 58.09%
Crawford 12,624 7,022 55.62%
Cumberland 7,712 4,400 57.05%
DeKalb 60,754 36,610 60.26%
DeWitt 11,083 6,286 56.72%
Douglas 11,701 6,499 55.54%
DuPage 639,752 370,249 57.87%
Edgar 12,106 6,264 51.74%
Edwards 4,406 2,468 56.01%
Effingham 23,873 14,621 61.24%
Fayette 13,474 8,011 59.46%
Ford 8,803 5,061 57.49%
Franklin 28,743 15,632 54.39%
Fulton 25,576 12,727 49.76%
Gallatin 3,720 2,205 59.27%
Greene 8,946 4,441 49.64%
Grundy 33,041 19,646 59.46%
Hamilton 5,666 3,677 64.9%
Hancock 12,431 7,143 57.46%
Hardin 2,980 1,774 59.53%
Henderson 4,836 2,736 56.58%
Henry 34,493 19,694 57.1%
Iroquois 17,968 10,388 57.81%
Jackson 39,503 20,693 52.38%
Jasper 6,882 4,577 66.51%
Jefferson 24,002 14,264 59.43%
Jersey 15,544 8,905 57.29%
Jo Daviess 16,164 9,414 58.24%
Johnson 8,879 5,343 60.18%
Kane 314,170 172,056 54.77%
Kankakee 68,513 37,012 54.02%
Kendall 78,788 45,534 57.79%
Knox 33,475 18,125 54.14%
Lake 448,295 254,217 56.71%
LaSalle 71,111 40,691 57.22%
Lawrence 8,830 4,410 49.94%
Lee 22,496 12,742 56.64%
Livingston 21,591 12,261 56.79%
Logan 18,396 10,246 55.7%
Macon 75,161 39,738 52.87%
Macoupin 32,151 18,458 57.41%
Madison 180,511 105,432 58.41%
Marion 24,747 12,786 51.67%
Marshall 8,303 4,783 57.61%
Mason 9,112 5,334 58.54%
Massac 10,650 5,507 51.71%
McDonough 18,464 10,368 56.15%
McHenry 235,593 117,838 50.02%
McLean 109,316 68,087 62.28%
Menard 9,172 5,519 60.17%
Mercer 12,357 7,130 57.7%
Monroe 26,035 15,754 60.51%
Montgomery 16,338 11,721 71.74%
Morgan 22,026 11,870 53.89%
Moultrie 8,547 5,226 61.14%
Ogle 32,316 19,267 59.62%
Peoria 117,449 65,865 56.08%
Perry 14,475 8,672 59.91%
Piatt 12,141 7,730 63.67%
Pike 10,433 6,693 64.15%
Pope 3,004 1,813 60.35%
Pulaski 4,434 2,488 56.11%
Putnam 4,289 2,645 61.67%
Randolph 21,517 12,464 57.93%
Richland 11,599 6,192 53.38%
Rock Island 100,163 51,283 51.2%
Saline 16,441 9,773 59.44%
Sangamon 135,830 87,193 64.19%
Schuyler 5,293 3,176 60%
Scott 3,470 2,098 60.46%
Shelby 14,878 9,399 63.17%
Stark 4,093 2,099 51.28%
St. Clair 192,407 99,849 51.89%
Stephenson 34,461 16,612 48.21%
Tazewell 90,595 52,368 57.8%
Union 12,098 7,693 63.59%
Vermilion 49,519 23,559 47.58%
Wabash 8,004 4,056 50.67%
Warren 11,612 6,177 53.19%
Washington 9,777 6,205 63.47%
Wayne 12,118 6,065 50.05%
White 10,300 6,006 58.31%
Whiteside 37,945 21,723 57.25%
Will 429,647 249,682 58.11%
Williamson 45,987 27,752 60.35%
Winnebago 177,945 96,765 54.38%
Woodford 26,224 16,407 62.56%
Total 8,099,372 4,635,541 57.23%

Federal elections

United States House

All of Illinois' 18 seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 2018.

The Democratic Party flipped two Republican-held seat, making the composition of Illinois' House delegation 13 Democrats and 5 Republicans.

Governor and Lieutenant Governor

Incumbent Republican governor Bruce Rauner ran for re-election to a second term, but was defeated by Democratic venture capitalist and billionaire J. B. Pritzker.

2018 Illinois gubernatorial election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 (2018-11-06) 2022 →
Turnout56.15%
 
Nominee J. B. Pritzker Bruce Rauner
Party Democratic Republican
Running mate Juliana Stratton Evelyn Sanguinetti
Popular vote 2,479,746 1,765,751
Percentage 54.5% 38.8%

County results
Pritzker:      40–50%      50–60%      70–80%
Rauner:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election

Bruce Rauner
Republican

Elected Governor

J. B. Pritzker
Democratic

Democratic primary

Democratic primary results[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic J. B. Pritzker 597,756 45.1
Democratic Daniel Biss 353,625 26.7
Democratic Chris Kennedy 322,730 24.4
Democratic Tio Hardiman 21,075 1.6
Democratic Bob Daiber 15,009 1.1
Democratic Robert Marshall 14,353 1.1
Total votes 1,324,548 100.0

Republican primary

Republican primary results[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bruce Rauner (incumbent) 372,124 51.5
Republican Jeanne Ives 350,038 48.5
Total votes 722,162 100.0

General election

Illinois gubernatorial election, 2018[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic J. B. Pritzker/Juliana Stratton 2,479,746 54.5
Republican Bruce Rauner/Evelyn Sanguinetti (incumbent) 1,765,751 38.8
Conservative Sam McCann/Aaron Merreighn 192,527 4.2
Libertarian Kash Jackson/Sanj Mohip 109,518 2.4
Write-in 115 0.0
Total votes 4,547,657 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

Attorney general

Illinois Attorney General election, 2018

← 2014 November 6, 2018 2022 →
Turnout56.16%
 
Nominee Kwame Raoul Erika Harold
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,488,326 1,944,142
Percentage 54.7% 42.7%

County results
Raoul:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Harold:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Attorney General before election

Lisa Madigan
Democratic

Elected Attorney General

Kwame Raoul
Democratic

Incumbent Democratic attorney general Lisa Madigan, who served since 2003, chose not to run for re-election to a fifth term. Democratic state Senator Kwame Raoul defeated Republican Erika Harold.[8]

Democratic primary

Democratic primary results[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kwame Raoul 390,472 30.2
Democratic Pat Quinn 352,425 27.2
Democratic Sharon Fairley 164,304 12.7
Democratic Nancy Rotering 123,446 9.5
Democratic Scott Drury 102,193 7.9
Democratic Jesse Ruiz 70,158 5.4
Democratic Renato Mariotti 51,902 4.0
Democratic Aaron Goldstein 39,196 3.0
Total votes 1,294,096 100.0

Republican primary

Republican primary results[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Erika Harold 389,197 59.2
Republican Gary Grasso 268,688 40.8
Total votes 657,885 100.0

General election

Illinois Attorney General election, 2018[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kwame Raoul 2,488,326 54.7
Republican Erika Harold 1,944,142 42.7
Libertarian Bubba Harsy 115,941 2.6
Total votes 4,548,409 100.0
Democratic hold

Secretary of state

Illinois Secretary of State election, 2018

← 2014 November 6, 2018 2022 →
Turnout56.44%
 
Nominee Jesse White Jason Helland
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 3,120,207 1,336,079
Percentage 68.3% 29.2%

County results
Congressional District results
White:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
     80–90%
Helland:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Secretary of State before election

Jesse White
Democratic

Elected Secretary of State

Jesse White
Democratic

Incumbent Democratic secretary of state Jesse White, who has been in office since 1999, initially announced in August 2015 that he would retire.[9] On August 17, 2017, White reversed this decision and announced that he would run for re-election to a sixth term.[10] Governing magazine projected the race as "safe Democratic".[11]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared
  • Jesse White, incumbent secretary of state
Withdrew
Declined

Results

Democratic primary results[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jesse White (incumbent) 1,209,978 100.0
Total votes 1,209,978 100.0

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared
Declined
  • J.C. Griffin, Iraq War veteran[16]

Results

Republican primary results[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jason Helland 609,190 100.0
Total votes 609,190 100.0

Endorsements

Steve Dutner (L)
Jason Helland (R)
Newspapers
Jesse White (D)

General election

Results

Illinois Secretary of State election, 2018[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jesse White (incumbent) 3,120,207 68.26% +2.56%
Republican Jason Helland 1,336,079 29.23% -2.16%
Libertarian Steve Dutner 114,556 2.51% -0.38%
Total votes 4,570,842 100.0%
Democratic hold

Comptroller

Illinois Comptroller election, 2018

← 2016 (special) November 6, 2018 2022 →
Turnout56.00%
 
Nominee Susana Mendoza Darlene Senger
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,716,853 1,678,346
Percentage 59.9% 37.0%

County results
Mendoza:      40–50%      50–60%      70–80%
Senger:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Comptroller before election

Susana Mendoza
Democratic

Elected Comptroller

Susana Mendoza
Democratic

Incumbent Republican Judy Baar Topinka died on December 10, 2014, after being re-elected to a second term in office. A special election was held in 2016 for the remainder of the term, with Democratic City Clerk of Chicago Susana Mendoza defeating appointed Republican Comptroller Leslie Munger. Mendoza won a full term.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Results

Democratic primary results[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Susana Mendoza (incumbent) 1,147,095 100.0
Total votes 1,147,095 100.0

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Results

Republican primary results[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Darlene Senger 607,187 100.0
Total votes 607,187 100.0

Third parties and independents

Candidates

Declared
  • Claire Ball (Libertarian), certified public accountant[21][22]

General election

Results

Illinois State Comptroller election, 2018[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Susana Mendoza (incumbent) 2,716,853 59.90% +10.45%
Republican Darlene Senger 1,678,346 37.00% -7.43%
Libertarian Claire Ball 140,543 3.10% -0.36%
Write-in 17 0.00% N/A
Total votes 4,535,759 100.0%
Democratic hold

Treasurer

Illinois Treasurer election, 2018

← 2014 November 6, 2018 2022 →
Turnout55.56%
 
Nominee Mike Frerichs Jim Dodge
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,593,816 1,750,897
Percentage 57.6% 38.9%

County results
Frerichs:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Dodge:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Treasurer before election

Mike Frerichs
Democratic

Elected Treasurer

Mike Frerichs
Democratic

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Results

Democratic primary results[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Frerichs (incumbent) 1,087,950 100.0
Total votes 1,087,950 100.0

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Results

Republican primary results[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jim Dodge 602,626 100.0
Total votes 602,626 100.0

General election

Results

Illinois State Treasurer election, 2018[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Mike Frerichs (incumbent) 2,593,816 57.64% +9.59%
Republican Jim Dodge 1,750,897 38.91% -8.88%
Libertarian Mike Leheney 155,256 3.45% -0.71%
Write-in 2 0.0% N/A
Total votes 4,499,971 100.0%
Democratic hold

State senate

One-third of the seats of the Illinois Senate were up for election in 2018.

State House of Representatives

All of the seats in the Illinois House of Representatives were up for election in 2018.

Judicial elections

Judicial elections were held, consisting of both partisan and retention elections, including those for one seat in the Supreme Court of Illinois and five seats in the Illinois Appellate Court.[23][24]

Local elections

Local elections took place, including county elections such as the Cook County elections.

Notes

  1. ^ For more on Cook County primary turnout, see 2018 Cook County, Illinois elections#Voter turnout
  2. ^ For more on Cook County general election turnout, see 2018 Cook County, Illinois elections#Voter turnout

References

  1. ^ "How Illinois Democrats won a statewide sweep and 2 pivotal congressional seats in the midterm elections". Chicago Tribune. November 7, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Voter Turnout". www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 22, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ a b "Voter Turnout". www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 22, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ a b c "VOTER TURNOUT, CYBERSECURITY, AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION MARK EVENTFUL YEAR FOR SBE" (PDF). www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. December 21, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  5. ^ Aytaç, S. Erdem; Stokes, Susan (November 20, 2018). "Americans just set a turnout record for the midterms, voting at the highest rate since 1914. This explains why". Washington Post.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "2018 GENERAL PRIMARY - Election Results". Illinois State Board of Elections.
  7. ^ a b c d e "2018 GENERAL ELECTION - Election Results". Illinois State Board of Elections.
  8. ^ Pearson, Rick (May 14, 2017). "Boxed in by father, Lisa Madigan seeks fifth term as Illinois attorney general". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  9. ^ Schlikerman, Becky (August 20, 2015). "Secretary of State Jesse White won't seek re-election". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  10. ^ Garcia, Monique (August 17, 2017). "Secretary of State Jesse White says he'll run for a record sixth term". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  11. ^ Jacobson, Louis (June 4, 2018). "Secretary of State Races Are More Competitive and Important Than Ever". Governing. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  12. ^ a b Miller, Rich (September 20, 2017). "Hastings circulating petitions for SoS and AG as Ald. Burnett declares he's not circulating". Capitol Fax. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  13. ^ Candidate Detail, Illinois State Board of Elections, Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  14. ^ Miller, Rich (October 5, 2017). "Rauner candidate emerges for secretary of state". Capitol Fax. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  15. ^ a b c "Rauner faces war on two fronts as Republican challenger Ives attacks", Chicago Tribune, December 4, 2017. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  16. ^ Maxwell, Mark (July 20, 2017). "Iraq war vet could challenge Jesse White". WCIA. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  17. ^ "SJ-R Endorses Libertarian For Secretary Of State". www.wmay.com. WMAY. October 18, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  18. ^ Board, Daily Herald Editorial (October 10, 2018). "Endorsement: Daily Herald backs Jason Helland over Jesse White for secretary of state". Daily Herald. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  19. ^ "ENDORSEMENT: Jesse White for Illinois secretary of state". Chicago Sun-Times. October 10, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  20. ^ "Chicago Tribune Editorial Board endorsements in the 2018 Illinois midterm election". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. October 12, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  21. ^ Sterrett, Craig (February 12, 2018). "State, local candidates woo Democrats at La Salle". LaSalle News-Tribune. Archived from the original on February 12, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  22. ^ Bishop, Greg (April 3, 2017). "Medical cannabis dispensary and third-party candidates look forward after court victory". Illinois News Network. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  23. ^ "Illinois Supreme Court elections, 2018". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  24. ^ "Illinois intermediate appellate court elections, 2018". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 2, 2020.

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