Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller Projected Winner For U.S. Rep In 2nd Congressional District: AP

Donna Miller is the projected winner for the U.S. Representatives 2nd Congressional District in the Nov. 3 General Election, a seat vacated by Robin Kelly, who held it since 2013. Kelly left the seat to pursue candidacy for Sen. Dick Durbin's seat, but lost in the March 2026 primary.

Associated Press called the race for Miller as of 7:55 p.m.

Cook County Commissioner Miller beat out 9 other candidates in a Democratic primary, to face Republican Mike Noack. Noack was unopposed in the Republican primary. Write-in candidate Independent Ashley Banks also contended for the spot.

Polls have now closed across Illinois, and votes are being tallied. Here are AP unofficial vote totals so far:

15 percent of votes counted as of 8:08 p.m.

Miller describes herself as a "dedicated public servant, healthcare professional, and community advocate with decades of experience delivering real results" in the county, according to her website. She worked with government providers and advocacy stakeholders to include Cystic Fibrosis in newborn screening in Illinois. She also has tackled adverse health conditions attributed to or aggravated by pregnancy and childbirth, which occur more frequently among women of color."

Republican contender Noack touts himself as a truck driver who's running for Congress "because somebody from this district needs to finally fight back.

"No PAC money. No consultants. Just a trucker who’s had enough," his website reads.

He points to "crushing" property taxes, expensive healthcare costs, high gas tax and blighted roads as catalysts for his run.

"I know what it’s like to stretch a paycheck, to sit at the kitchen table running the numbers on whether you can afford to fix the rig this month or next," he said on his website. "That’s not a campaign story I rehearsed. That’s Tuesday. And it’s the same life most families across Illinois’ 2nd District are living."

Independent candidate Banks tells voters that she survived a rare medical condition that taught her "the importance of access to quality healthcare and accountability."

She has worked in a variety of jobs—school bus company, Chicago Transit Authority, truck driving, warehouse, and ride-sharing—"giving me firsthand knowledge of the challenges working families face," Banks said.

Her priorities include infrastructure work ensuring safe water and modern pipelines, economic development revitalizing business and services and healthcare access restoring local emergency care.

The 2nd Congressional District includes the far southeast side of Chicago (including Hyde Park); Cook County suburbs of Blue Island, Calumet City, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Dolton, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Harvey, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Lansing, Matteson, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Richton Park, Sauk Village, South Holland, and Steger; Crete, Monee, Peotone, and University Park in Will County; Aroma Park, Bourbonnais, Bradley, Kankakee, Manteno, and Momence in Kankakee County; portions of southern Will and Kankakee counties, including Pembroke Township.

Election results are unofficial until certified by election authorities.