Midterms put control of Congress and Illinois seats in play

The November 3 midterm elections could shift control of both chambers of Congress, shaping the final two years of President Donald Trump’s second term. Republicans currently hold 53 Senate seats, compared with 45 Democrats and two independents. In the House, Republicans have 218 members and Democrats 214, alongside one independent and two vacancies.

Illinois voters will decide a contest for the Senate seat being vacated by Dick Durbin, who announced his retirement in April 2025. Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, the Democratic nominee, is running against former Illinois Republican Party chair Don Tracy. If elected, Stratton would become the second Black senator from Illinois and the sixth Black woman ever to hold a Senate seat.

The state’s congressional delegation is also facing change, with several longtime members leaving and five new members expected to join. Among those retiring are Reps. Danny Davis, Jan Schakowsky and Jesus “Chuy” Garcia. Illinois voters will also choose a governor, with incumbent JB Pritzker seeking a third term against Republican Darren Bailey.

Pritzker used his final campaign events to criticize Bailey’s positions on wages, benefits and workers’ rights. Bailey said his priorities are affordability, public safety and putting more money in residents’ pockets. The election also includes state legislative races and, in Chicago, the first chance to elect a fully elected Board of Education.

Early voting in suburban Cook County was ahead of the 2022 pace. More than 242,000 people had voted early by November 2, 27% above the comparable point four years earlier, and 107,000 mail ballots had been returned. Mail ballots can be counted if postmarked by November 3 and received by November 17.

Illinois voters face a choice over workers’ rights and Trump’s agenda

The November 3 midterms put Congress’s balance of power—and the ability to check President Donald Trump’s agenda—before voters. Republicans hold 53 Senate seats to Democrats’ 45, with two independents. In the House, Republicans have 218 members and Democrats 214, alongside one independent and two vacancies. A shift could reshape the final two years of Trump’s term.

In Illinois, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton is seeking the Senate seat being vacated by Dick Durbin, facing former Illinois Republican Party chair Don Tracy. The race comes amid a broader generational change in the state’s congressional delegation: Reps. Danny Davis, Jan Schakowsky and Jesus “Chuy” Garcia are among those retiring, and five new members are expected to join the delegation.

Gov. JB Pritzker is seeking a third term against Republican Darren Bailey. Pritzker’s closing argument stressed Bailey’s opposition to raising the minimum wage, providing benefits and workers’ rights, and criticized his willingness to welcome Trump in Illinois. Bailey said he would focus on affordability, public safety and keeping more money in residents’ pockets.

Voters will also decide state legislative contests that could affect Democrats’ control in Springfield, as well as Chicago’s first fully elected Board of Education. Early voting in suburban Cook County was running ahead of the 2022 pace: more than 242,000 people had voted early by November 2, up 27%, and 107,000 mail ballots had been returned. Mail ballots postmarked by November 3 can be counted if received by November 17.

Republicans seek to defend congressional majorities in midterms

Republicans enter the November 3 midterms holding narrow majorities in Congress, with control of both chambers at stake. The party has 53 Senate seats, while Democrats hold 45 and two independents sit in the chamber. Republicans have 218 House members to Democrats’ 214, alongside one independent and two vacancies. The results will shape the final two years of President Donald Trump’s second term.

Illinois voters are choosing a senator to replace Dick Durbin, who is retiring. Republican nominee Don Tracy, a former chair of the Illinois Republican Party, faces Democratic nominee and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. The state is also seeing turnover in its congressional delegation, with Reps. Danny Davis, Jan Schakowsky and Jesus “Chuy” Garcia among those leaving and five new members expected.

Republican Darren Bailey is challenging Gov. JB Pritzker, who is seeking a third term. Bailey has framed his campaign around affordability, public safety and letting residents keep more of their paychecks. Pritzker has attacked Bailey’s positions on wages, benefits and workers’ rights, and criticized his stated openness to Trump’s presence in Illinois.

The ballot also includes state legislative races and Chicago’s first election for a fully elected Board of Education. Suburban Cook County had recorded more than 242,000 early votes by November 2, 27% above the same point in 2022, along with 107,000 returned mail ballots. Mail ballots postmarked by November 3 may be counted if they arrive by November 17.