Voters will weigh in on the race for Illinois State Senate District 9 in the upcoming election on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Illinois' 9th Senate District encompasses part of northern Cook County and includes all or portions of Chicago, Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Golf, Kenilworth, Morton Grove, Niles, Northbrook, Northfield, Skokie, Wilmette and Winnetka.
State Sen. Laura Fine has served as senator in District 9 since 2019. This year, she announced she would not be seeking reelection, instead unsuccessfully running for the 9th Congressional District seat in the March primary.
On the ballot are Democrat Patrick Hanley, who won the party's primary in March, and Republican Tom Lally, who was unopposed in the primary.
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Hanley is campaigning on affordability, healthcare, public education and safety.
Hanley, a small business owner and political organizer, said he was inspired to run as a lifetime resident of the district to preserve stability and opportunities for people who live there.
On his campaign website, Hanley lists priorities that include standing up to President Donald Trump, opposing ICE, supporting clean energy and investing in public education institutions. His platform also includes strengthening gun regulations, protecting the LGBTQ+ community and addressing what he describes as an affordability crisis affecting taxes, utility bills, childcare, housing and healthcare prices.
"I'm fighting for a safer Illinois: safe from masked federal agents; safe from antisemitism, anti-Black racism, and religious or anti-immigrant bigotries; safe to access reproductive healthcare and safe from gun violence in our schools; safe for LGBTQIA+ friends and loved ones; safe for victims and for individuals moving through the legal system; safe because of investments made to address root causes of crime. Safety is the necessary condition for a caring, thriving society," Hanley said on his campaign website.
Hanley said he would fight to expand healthcare access, make healthcare more affordable and more accountable, and bring down the costs between patients and care. He supports protecting and expanding Medicaid coverage, making healthcare accessible regardless of immigration status and expanding coverage for rural and underserved communities.
Hanley said he also plans to address the affordability crisis in several ways, including taxes, utility bills, childcare, housing and healthcare prices.
"Prices are too high. From groceries to utilities to rent and housing, we're simply paying too much for too little. When we're spending half our income on rent, can't find affordable childcare, or have to choose between prescription drugs or groceries, something has gone terribly wrong," Hanley said.
North Shore Republican Lally grew up in North Evanston and Wilmette, attended elementary and high school in Wilmette.
Lally said he was approached by the Illinois District 9 Organization to represent the Republican Party in spring 2026 and ran unopposed in the primary.
Lally is a staunch Donald Trump loyalist, saying his opponent's dislike for the president also inspired him to run. He specifically said that he took issue with Hanley referring to Trump as a fascist.
"His comment was so off-handed and flippant, I felt I had to take a stand," Lally said
On policy, Lally said his campaign is centered on affordability, taxes, policing, schools, jobs and immigration.
"My goal is to bring Common Sense back to Illinois politics," he said. "I want to do what is best for everyone, and help make Illinois a safe and affordable place to live."
Other issues Lally said were important to his campaign were property tax exemptions by income level and age, freezing taxes, reducing state spending, and helping the private sector bring in business and create jobs. He also called for auditing teachers' unions, tying pension rules to student test scores, and allowing parents to attend classes once each semester.
On immigration, Lally wrote, "There is only one way to get a life in America, and that is through the legal way, the only way."
Find all of Illinois Patch's 2026 election coverage here.
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