ACROSS ILLINOIS — Democratic U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider is seeking reelection in Illinois' 10th Congressional District on Tuesday, facing Republican Carl Lambrecht, a Highland Park resident whose limited public campaign activity has left relatively little information available about his plans for the office.
Schneider, 65, also of Highland Park, has represented the district since 2017 after previously serving from 2013 to 2015. The district includes portions of Cook, Lake and McHenry counties.
Lambrecht, 93, previously ran unsuccessfully for the Illinois House and has not responded to Patch's invitation to complete a candidate questionnaire ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.
The Republican challenger also has not maintained a campaign website or campaign social media pages, promoted public appearances or responded to media inquiries, according to an Oct. 28 Daily Herald report. The newspaper reported that Lambrecht, who advanced unopposed in the March Republican primary, had not disclosed any campaign fundraising or spending to the Federal Election Commission or filed a standard statement of candidacy with the agency.
Lambrecht has previously sought several public offices. He unsuccessfully ran for the Highland Park-Deerfield High School District 113 board in 2011, won a seat on the Lake County Regional School Board in 2013 and lost a 2024 Illinois House race against Democratic state Rep. Bob Morgan, according to the Daily Herald.
During his 2024 campaign, Lambrecht identified himself as an optical engineer and raised concerns about criminal cartels, fentanyl trafficking and human trafficking in a Daily Herald candidate questionnaire.
His positions on many of the issues central to the 2026 congressional race remain less clearly documented.
Schneider, meanwhile, outlined his positions on the economy, immigration, healthcare, tariffs and other issues in a questionnaire submitted to Patch.
"Affordability is the most pressing issue in the 10th District because it reaches into every part of daily life," Schneider said.
The incumbent pointed to rising grocery, housing, utility, childcare and healthcare costs as challenges facing families throughout the district.
Schneider said he supports expanding affordable housing opportunities, reducing healthcare expenses and investing in infrastructure, American manufacturing and workforce development.
He also highlighted his introduction of the Keep Healthcare Affordable Act, legislation intended to help working- and middle-class families afford health insurance.
Schneider has criticized President Donald Trump's tariff policies, arguing that Congress should reclaim more authority over international trade and limit tariffs that increase costs for consumers and businesses.
On immigration, Schneider supports comprehensive reform combining border security with improvements to the legal immigration system and a pathway to citizenship for certain longtime immigrants.
"I do not support the Trump Administration's extreme, aggressive deportation campaign," Schneider said in his Patch questionnaire. "We can enforce our immigration laws humanely and focus on people who pose genuine threats to public safety without abandoning due process or treating entire communities as threats."
He also called for stronger oversight of federal immigration enforcement, including body cameras, limits on warrantless arrests and independent investigations of shootings involving federal agents.
Schneider identified protecting Social Security and Medicare, preserving reproductive rights and reducing gun violence among his other priorities.
He also addressed the expansion of data centers throughout Illinois, calling for federal safeguards to prevent developers from shifting additional electricity and infrastructure costs onto surrounding communities.
"We must ensure that data centers do not cause higher water or electricity rates for customers, and that, whenever and wherever centers are built, they benefit both the local and regional communities," Schneider said.
He supports greater oversight by federal environmental and energy regulators and measures requiring data center operators to account for their impact on local utilities and natural resources.
On artificial intelligence, Schneider advocated federal standards for testing, transparency and accountability while maintaining American competitiveness in emerging technology. Schneider also supports restrictions on government use of automated license plate readers, including requirements governing data collection, retention and sharing.
According to a Daily Herald report, Schneider had raised nearly $3.6 million during the campaign cycle and spent approximately $2.9 million, including contributions to other political campaigns and organizations.
Illinois' 10th Congressional District includes all or portions of several communities across Lake County, including Libertyville, Grayslake, Gurnee, Mundelein, Vernon Hills, Highland Park, Deerfield, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Lake Villa, Round Lake, Antioch, Waukegan and Zion. The winner of Tuesday's race will represent Illinois' 10th Congressional District for a two-year term beginning in January 2027.
Voters can read Schneider's complete responses to Patch's 2026 candidate questionnaire. Additional information about Lambrecht's campaign history and limited public activity is available in the Daily Herald's Oct. 28 report.
For full coverage of the 2026 election in Illinois, visit Patch's Illinois Election Guide.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Libertyville Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.