Election 2026

The candidates running to unseat two U.S. House members in Central Illinois are well behind in fundraising heading into the heart of campaign season.

Sarah Howard likely will join Andy Diaz as the two newcomers on the Peoria Public Schools Board of Education.

Thirteen open seats on the 21-member Tazewell County Board need to be filled this year. Candidates running for 11 of those seats cleared the first hurdle when they won races in the Republican primary.

Sarah Howard leads Doug Shannon by 44 votes to replace Larry Ivory and represent the Northern District of the seven-member Peoria Public Schools board.

Republican Dillan Vancil was declared the winner shortly before 10 p.m. while leading by about 4,800 votes over Julie Bickelhaupt. The district includes parts of Greater Peoria.

Gov. Juliana Stratton won the hotly contested Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, defeating U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly.

Republican voters in Illinois have once again chosen former state Sen. Darren Bailey as their candidate for governor, giving him a second chance to unseat incumbent Democrat JB Pritzker in November.

As Election Day arrives Tuesday, Peoria-area officials said they anticipate voting participation on par with typical primaries.

The four Republican Party candidates for governor of Illinois told a Central Illinois audience Thursday evening they favor property tax caps, pension reform, ending Illinois' status as a "sanctuary state," and rolling back the SAFE-T criminal justice reform act which ended cash bail.

Elections officers across Illinois are concerned delays in mail delivery could disrupt mail-in voting in upcoming elections.