(The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and his running mate Christian Mitchell will be unopposed in the upcoming Democratic primary.
The ballot for Illinois’ March 17 primary is coming into focus with candidates being removed from the ballot for statewide offices after Tuesday’s Illinois State Board of Elections hearing.
The elections board heard a challenge against the only other Democratic candidates that filed for governor and lieutenant governor, Patricia Tillman and Joseph Mosley. Tillman told the board Tuesday that she attempted to delay a hearing, facing injuries she claims opposing counsel inflicted on her.
In an affidavit filed to the elections board, Tillman said she “suffered Physical Assault, Physical battery, planned conspiracy, intimidation, threats, personal attacks against my competency and ability to navigate through the Illinois State Board of Election petition and objection portal, ‘etc’ while being deliberately prevented from gaining access to the portal, During and after the objection Hearing.”
Despite Tillman pleading in person to the board Tuesday, a motion passed to accept the board’s general counsel’s motion to accept a hearing officer’s recommendation that the objection against Tillman and Mosley be sustained for not having enough signatures and therefore removed from the ballot.
Voters pulling a Republican ballot March 17 could have five pairs to choose from.
Ballot access petitions for Ted Dabrowski and running mate Carrie Mendoza, DuPage County Sheriff Jim Mendrick and running mate Robert Renteria, Darren Bailey and running mate Aaron Del Mar and Rick Heidner and running mate Christina Neitzke-Troike are unchallenged.
Challenges are pending for Gregg Moore, who does not have a running mate listed, and Joseph Severino and running mate Rantch Isquith.
For the U.S. Senate seat, voters pulling a Democratic ballot will see 10 candidates. Before Tuesday’s Illinois State Board of Elections hearing, there were 14 Democrats running for the seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield.
Remaining are Awisi Bustos, Christopher Swann, Sean Brown, Jonathan Dean, Bryan Maxwell, Kevin Ryan, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, Steve Botsford, U.S. Rep. Robyn Kelly, D-Matteson, and U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Shaumburg.
Attempts to remove Krishnamoorthi from the ballot Tuesday were dismissed.
Removed from the U.S. Senate primary for Democrats were Anthony Williams, Adam Delgado and Jump Shephard. Robert Palmer and John Goodman had previously withdrawn.
Republican voters have seven to choose from. Ballot access petitions for Jeannie Evans, Jimmy Lee Tillman II, Pamela Denise Long, R. Cary Capparelli, Don Tracy and Casey Chlebek remain unopposed. An objection of CaSándra Clairborne is pending.
Remaining pending objections will be heard and decided at the board’s Jan. 8 hearing, after which the ballot is expected to be certified.
Tuesday’s board meeting also heard the proposal for the body’s fiscal year 2027 appropriations request. The board is requesting a total budget of $54.8 million. That’s 13.4% higher, or more than $6.4 million more than fiscal 2026 levels. The bulk of that increase is $2.6 million more for contractual services, $1.7 million more for personal services and $1.4 million for election judges on Election Day.
Board members briefly discussed whether they’ll be able to find reserves going into the next fiscal year that begins July 1, given there will be three election cycles in the year ahead.
