2018 Illinois elections explained

Election Name:2018 Illinois elections
Country:Illinois
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2016 Illinois elections
Previous Year:2016
Next Election:2020 Illinois elections
Next Year:2020
Election Date:November 6, 2018
Turnout:57.23%

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]

General election

For the general election, turnout was 57.23%, with 4,635,541 votes cast.[4] 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.[5] The Illinois State Board of Elections also reported that the total number of votes cast set a record high.[5] Voter registration, at 8.1 million, also sat at a record high.[5]

Turnout was considered high in the United States during the 2018 midterm elections, with it being the highest national midterm turnout since 1914.[6]

Turnout by county[4]

Federal elections

United States House

See main article: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois and 2018 United States House of Representatives elections. 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

See main article: 2018 Illinois gubernatorial election. 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.

Election Name:2018 Illinois gubernatorial election
Country:Illinois
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2014 Illinois gubernatorial election
Previous Year:2014
Next Election:2022 Illinois gubernatorial election
Next Year:2022
Nominee1:J. B. Pritzker
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Running Mate1:Juliana Stratton
Popular Vote1:2,479,746
Percentage1:54.5%
Nominee2:Bruce Rauner
Running Mate2:Evelyn Sanguinetti
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:1,765,751
Percentage2:38.8%
Governor
Before Election:Bruce Rauner
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:J. B. Pritzker
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)
Turnout:56.15%

General election

Attorney general

See main article: 2018 Illinois Attorney General election.

Election Name:Illinois Attorney General election, 2018
Country:Illinois
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2014 Illinois elections#Attorney General
Previous Year:2014
Next Election:2022 Illinois Attorney General election
Next Year:2022
Election Date:November 6, 2018
Nominee1:Kwame Raoul
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:2,488,326
Percentage1:54.7%
Nominee2:Erika Harold
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:1,944,142
Percentage2:42.7%
Attorney General
Before Election:Lisa Madigan
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Kwame Raoul
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)
Turnout:56.16%

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]

General election

Secretary of state

Election Name:Illinois Secretary of State election, 2018
Country:Illinois
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:Illinois elections, 2014#Secretary of State
Previous Year:2014
Next Election:2022 Illinois Secretary of State election
Next Year:2022
Election Date:November 6, 2018
Nominee1:Jesse White
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:3,120,207
Percentage1:68.3%
Nominee2:Jason Helland
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:1,336,079
Percentage2:29.2%
Secretary of State
Before Election:Jesse White
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Jesse White
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)
Turnout:56.44%

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
Withdrew
Declined

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared
Declined

Endorsements

General election

Results

Comptroller

Election Name:Illinois Comptroller election, 2018
Country:Illinois
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2016 Illinois Comptroller special election
Previous Year:2016 (special)
Next Election:2022 Illinois elections#Comptroller
Next Year:2022
Election Date:November 6, 2018
Nominee1:Susana Mendoza
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:2,716,853
Percentage1:59.9%
Nominee2:Darlene Senger
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:1,678,346
Percentage2:37.0%
Comptroller
Before Election:Susana Mendoza
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Susana Mendoza
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)
Turnout:56.00%

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

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Results

Third parties and independents

Candidates

Declared

General election

Results

Treasurer

Election Name:Illinois Treasurer election, 2018
Country:Illinois
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2014 Illinois elections#Treasurer
Previous Year:2014
Next Election:2022 Illinois elections#Treasurer
Next Year:2022
Election Date:November 6, 2018
Nominee1:Mike Frerichs
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:2,593,816
Percentage1:57.6%
Nominee2:Jim Dodge
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:1,750,897
Percentage2:38.9%
Treasurer
Before Election:Mike Frerichs
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Mike Frerichs
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)
Turnout:55.56%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Results

General election

Results

State senate

See main article: 2018 Illinois Senate election. One-third of the seats of the Illinois Senate were up for election in 2018.

State House of Representatives

See main article: 2018 Illinois House of Representatives election. All of the seats in the Illinois House of Representatives were up for election in 2018.

Judicial elections

See main article: 2018 Illinois 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.[19] [20]

Local elections

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

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: How Illinois Democrats won a statewide sweep and 2 pivotal congressional seats in the midterm elections . Chicago Tribune . 25 June 2020 . 7 November 2018.
  2. Web site: Voter Turnout . www.elections.il.gov . Illinois State Board of Elections . 22 March 2020 .
  3. For more on Cook County primary turnout, see 2018 Cook County, Illinois elections#Voter turnout
  4. Web site: Voter Turnout . www.elections.il.gov . Illinois State Board of Elections . 22 March 2020 .
  5. Web site: VOTER TURNOUT, CYBERSECURITY, AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION MARK EVENTFUL YEAR FOR SBE . www.elections.il.gov . Illinois State Board of Elections . 22 March 2020 . 21 December 2018.
  6. News: AytaƧ . S. Erdem . Stokes . Susan . Americans just set a turnout record for the midterms, voting at the highest rate since 1914. This explains why. . Washington Post . November 20, 2018.
  7. For more on Cook County general election turnout, see 2018 Cook County, Illinois elections#Voter turnout
  8. Web site: Boxed in by father, Lisa Madigan seeks fifth term as Illinois attorney general. Chicago Tribune. Pearson. Rick. May 14, 2017. May 15, 2017.
  9. Web site: Secretary of State Jesse White won't seek re-election. Chicago Sun-Times. Schlikerman. Becky. August 20, 2015. July 19, 2016.
  10. Web site: Secretary of State Jesse White says he'll run for a record sixth term. Chicago Tribune. Garcia. Monique. August 17, 2017. August 17, 2017.
  11. Web site: Secretary of State Races Are More Competitive and Important Than Ever. Jacobson. Louis. 4 June 2018. Governing. 22 September 2019.
  12. News: Miller. Rich. Hastings circulating petitions for SoS and AG as Ald. Burnett declares he's not circulating. September 20, 2017. Capitol Fax. September 20, 2017.
  13. http://elections.il.gov/ElectionInformation/CandDetail.aspx?CandidateID=2MBChO3LlHi%2fXEawF79x9Q%3d%3d&ElectionID=%2fTgMZD808sE%3d Candidate Detail
  14. Web site: Rauner candidate emerges for secretary of state. Capitol Fax. Miller. Rich. October 5, 2017. October 5, 2017.
  15. "Rauner faces war on two fronts as Republican challenger Ives attacks", Chicago Tribune, December 4, 2017. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  16. Web site: Iraq war vet could challenge Jesse White. WCIA. Maxwell. Mark. July 20, 2017. August 17, 2017.
  17. Web site: State, local candidates woo Democrats at La Salle. LaSalle News-Tribune. Sterrett. Craig. February 12, 2018. February 28, 2018. February 12, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180212173559/http://www.newstrib.com/free/state-local-candidates-woo-democrats-at-la-salle/article_e83c3936-1008-11e8-acfc-136955e1819f.html. dead.
  18. Web site: Medical cannabis dispensary and third-party candidates look forward after court victory. Illinois News Network. Bishop. Greg. April 3, 2017. February 28, 2018.
  19. Web site: Illinois Supreme Court elections, 2018. Ballotpedia. en. 2020-04-02.
  20. Web site: Illinois intermediate appellate court elections, 2018. Ballotpedia. en. 2020-04-02.