St. Charles Voter's Guide: Everything You Need To Know Before Tuesday's Primary

ST. CHARLES, IL — Early voting is well underway in the March 17 primary as Illinois and the nation head toward the midterm elections in November.

In St. Charles, the Kane County Clerk's Office, 719 S. Batavia Ave., is hosting early voting, which began March 2 and will go through March 16. Hours for early voting on Monday are:

• March 16: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m

There are several other early voting sites also available throughout the county. You can find that full list here.

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 the same day you vote, whether you vote early or on Election Day.

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,was March 12. To count, ballots must be postmarked or placed in a dropbox by Election Day.

If you plan to vote on Election Day and don't know your polling place, you can find it here. The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The winners of each primary will go on to run in the Nov. 3 general election. The November midterm elections are being watched closely nationwide as Democrats look to take control of the House — and possibly, but less likely, the Senate.

Here's a rundown of what's on the ballot for the March 17 primary:

U.S. Senate

A crowded field of Democrats looks to replace longtime Sen. Dick Durbin, the House Minority Whip, who is not seeking reelection after over 40 years in Washington.

"I truly love the job of being a United States Senator," said 81-year-old Durbin, who is the longest-serving senator ever elected to the body from Illinois. "But in my heart, I know it’s time to pass the torch." And there are plenty of candidates vying to step up and take it.

The Democratic primary ballot includes Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who is backed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, as well as U.S. Reps. Robin Kelly of Lynwood and Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg.

Other candidates are Awisi Bustos, daughter-in-law of former U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, as well as Steve Botsford Jr., Sean Brown, Jonathan Dean, Bryan Maxwell, Kevin Ryan and Christopher Swann, as well as write-in Adam Delgado.

On the Republican side are former Illinois Republican Party chairman Don Tracy, attorney Jeannie Evans and Polish-born entrepreneur Casey Chlebek, as well as R. Cary Capparelli, Pamela Denise Long and Jimmy Lee Tillman II.

Governor

Incumbent Gov. J.B. Pritzker is seeking a third term and is unopposed in the Democratic primary. With Stratton vying for the U.S. Senate seat, this time Pritzker's ticket includes former deputy governor and state Rep. Christian Mitchell as his running mate.

Four candidates are vying for the Republican nomination, including former state Sen. Darren Bailey, who ran unsuccessfully against Pritzker in 2022.

Bailey, with running mate Aaron B. Del Mar, remained in the race after tragedy struck when his son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren were killed in a Montana helicopter crash in October.

Bailey's Republican primary opponents include Wirepoints president Ted Dabrowski, as well as DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick and Gold Rush Gaming owner Rick Heidner.

Secretary of State

Incumbent Democrat Alexi Giannoulias is unopposed in his primary.

Two candidates are facing off in the Republican primary: Republican committeeman Walter Adamczyk and Diane Harris, a Joliet small business owner and former teacher.

Comptroller

Four Democrats are vying to replace Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza, who announced in July that she would not seek a fourth term.

They include Illinois State Sen. Karina Villa, State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, Mendoza-backed Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim and Pritzker-backed State Rep. Margaret Croke.

Southern Illinois attorney Bryan Drew is running unopposed in the Republican primary.

Other statewide primary races are a foregone conclusion. In the Illinois Attorney General's race, Democratic incumbent Kwame Raoul and Republican Robert W. Fioretti are unopposed in their primaries. In the treasurer's race, Democrat Michael Frerichs is unopposed in his primary, and there are no Republican primary candidates on the ballot.

Illinois Senate District 33

Republican primary

• Jessica Breugelmans (Geneva)
• Danielle Penman (St. Charles)

The two Republicans are competing for the nomination for the seat being vacated by longtime Republican Sen. Don DeWitte.