Illinois Primary Races We're Watching

The City Cast Chicago team walks you through the races we're following.

Mar 15, 2024 · 10:36 a.m. ET

Voters have a lot of big decisions to make Tuesday — from contested races to a controversial ballot measure. After you figure out where you're going to vote on Election Day, the City Cast Chicago team is ready to walk you through the races we're watching.

Bring Chicago Home
Cook County State's Attorney
Congressional Races
Down Ballot Races

Your Bring Chicago Home Votes Will Count

Chicagoans will decide whether to raise the tax on property sales over $1 million to fight homelessness. If the binding referendum passes, it is will be the first in Chicago in almost 140 years — and it hasn't been exactly smooth sailing to get it on the ballot.

Who Will Be Cook County State's Attorney?

Headshots of University of Chicago lecturer Clayton Harris III and former state appellate justice Eileen O’Neill Burke — University of Chicago lecturer Clayton Harris III and former state appellate justice Eileen O’Neill Burke are running to be the county's top prosecutor. (Courtesy of the Harris and O'Neill Burke campaigns)

Who will replace outgoing State's Attorney Kim Foxx? University of Chicago lecturer Clayton Harris III and former state appellate justice Eileen O’Neill Burke have been vying to be Cook County's next top prosecutor in one of the more high-profile races on the Democratic ballot.

Congressional Races We're Watching

Headshots of community organizer Kina Collins and U.S. Rep. Danny Davis — Community organizer Kina Collins is challenging U.S. Rep. Danny Davis in the Democratic primary in the Illinois 7th Congressional District — again. (Erin Hooley / Tribune / Getty)

Will the third time be the charm for activist Kina Collins to clinch the 7th District seat U.S. Rep. Danny Davis has held for almost 30 years? The incumbent is also facing a challenge from Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin and two others in the Democratic primary.
In the 4th District, 15th Ward Ald. Ray Lopez is challenging U.S. Rep. Jesús "Chuy" Garcia. The Democrats are pretty different ideologically.
Former state lawmaker and gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey wants U.S. Rep. Mike Bost's 12th District seat, one of the most conservative districts in Illinois.

Don't Forget About Down Ballot Races

The current Cook County Democratic Party committeepeople for Chicago’s 50 wards. (Cook County Democratic Party)

The Democratic race for a seat on the three-person Cook County Board of Review has turned into a proxy war between senior member Larry Rogers Jr. and Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi, who is backing challenger Larecia Tucker.
Cook County Circuit Clerk Iris Y. Martinez is up against Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Mariyana Spyropoulos, who is running to professionalize the office.
Ward committepeople, aka former ward bosses, are also on the ballot. But they don't hold anywhere close to the power they once did.