U.S. Senate Race: Wide Field Of Democrats, Republicans Eye Durbin's Current Seat In 2026 Primary

Nearly a year after U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, 81, announced he would not seek a sixth term — and would end his more than 40 years in Washington — voters will decide who will appear on the ballot to replace him in November.

And they've got a crowded field to choose from. Ten Democrats and six Republicans are on the ballot in their respective primaries, hoping to garner enough support on Tuesday to move along to the general election.

Here's who's running for what Ballotpedia called a 2026 "battleground election."

Democratic candidates

Rep. Robin Kelly has represented Illinois' 2nd Congressional District since 2013 and previously served in the Illinois House of Representatives.

Her candidacy in the U.S. Senate race leaves a wide-open field in the state representative race, with 10 Democrats vying to take her place.

A native New Yorker, Kelly moved to Illinois to attend Bradley University and later served as chief of staff to then-State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. According to her campaign website, "When she ran for Congress in 2013, she organized her community around gun violence in the wake of the Sandy Hook massacre. Robin knew that moments of silence would never be enough, and rallied her community around gun violence in a historic underdog campaign. While others were scared to take on the NRA, Robin stood alongside Illinois families to stand against gun violence."

RELATED: Illinois' 2nd Congressional District Race: Primary Election 2026

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi is also not seeking reelection to the 8th Congressional District seat, which he's held since 2017, instead challenging Kelly and the rest of the Democratic slate for Durbin's spot.

That decision leaves eight fellow Democrats and four Republicans jockeying for a spot on the November ballot in the 8th District race.

Born in New Delhi, India, Krishnamoorthi moved to the U.S. as a child, later attending Princeton and Harvard, and served as policy director in former President Barack Obama's 2004 Senate campaign.

"Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has spent his life standing up to bullies," his website proclaims. "A product of public housing, food stamps, and Illinois public schools, Raja’s leading the charge to fight back against Donald Trump and Elon Musk as they create economic chaos for Illinois families."

Also on the Democratic primary ballot is Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who is backed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker — who in turn selected a new running mate, State Rep. Christian Mitchell, for his own 2026 reelection campaign.

A native of the South Side of Chicago, Stratton previously served as a state representative from 2017 to 2019 before becoming lieutenant governor.

"As Donald Trump and Republicans continue their relentless attack on Americans – driving up prices with his trade war, sending masked agents to snatch our neighbors off the streets, and stripping us of healthcare and food assistance – we need new voices in Washington who will stand firm and fight fiercely," Stratton said on her campaign website.

Other candidates are former Illinois Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs CEO Awisi Bustos, daughter-in-law of former U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, as well as Steve Botsford Jr., attorney Sean Brown, Jonathan Dean, Bryan Maxwell, Kevin Ryan and Christopher Swann.

Republican Candidates

Attorney Don Tracy faces off against a field of five other Republicans on the primary ballot.

Tracy previously served as the chairman of the Illinois Republican Party but resigned in 2024, just weeks before the Republican National Convention, citing "power struggles" within the party. He also previously ran for lieutenant governor in 2010 and sought a state Senate seat as a Democrat in 2002, NPR reported.

Also on the Republican ballot are attorney Jeannie Evans, Polish-born entrepreneur Casey Chlebek, R. Cary Capparelli, Pamela Denise Long and Jimmy Lee Tillman II.

What to know before you go to the polls

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

If you're not sure if you're registered to vote, you can check online. If you're not registered, even though online voter registration has closed, you can still register in person before you vote, through Election Day.

If you don't know your polling place, you can find it here.

To register in person, you'll need to bring two forms of ID or proof of residency, including a passport, driver's license, lease or mortgage. At least one form of ID must list your current address.

The deadline to apply to vote by mail is past, but if you applied and received your mail-in ballot, it must be postmarked or placed in an election drop box by Election Day.