Hundreds of candidates, or their supporters, stood in line outside the state board of elections office in Springfield Monday morning to turn in petitions.
Anyone there before 8 AM could have their name listed first should they make it onto the primary ballot.
Theresa Mah was one of them. She's running for state representative in the second district, in Chicago. Mah says when she knocked on voters' doors to get their signatures most people were supportive.
Many expressed concern about Illinois' budget:
"Most people do acknowledge there's a lot of gridlock in Springfield, and it's kinda of a mess down here. But we need some change, and we need to get folks who put us in this position out of here," Mah said. "And I'm going to work hard and really work for the people in my district."
The district is currently represented by Democrat Eddie Acevado. His son, Alex, is also running to take his place. For now, it looks like the Democratic primary will pit the younger Acevado and Mah against one another. But additional candidates could still file. They have until the end of the month to get their paperwork in.
