The 2026 primary season heads to Illinois, where voters will weigh in on races for U.S. Senate and state governor.

In-person voting for the Illinois primary elections takes place Tuesday, March 17. Check out this how-to voting guide.

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton’s win in the Senate Democratic primary was also a win for Gov. JB Pritzker, while big-spending groups like AIPAC got mixed results in Tuesday’s contests.

Voters in Illinois are heading to the polls for primary day on Tuesday with many critical races on the ballot. Lynn Sweet, special correspondent for Chicago Public Media, joins to discuss.

Votes will be counted in contested races after polls close in Illinois at 7 p.m. See statewide election results here. Last minute questions about voting? View our voter guide.

The Chicago Board of Elections said early voting numbers for the 2026 Illinois primary election Tuesday are already higher than previous midterm years.

Do you know where your polling place is? Here's how to find where to vote in Tuesday's Illinois primary election.

Illinois voters decide their party’s nominees for races at the federal and state levels, as well as in a few local races, during the March 17 primary election.