March primary has few competitive races, but sets up future contests

On Peoria ballots, the March 17 primary election doesn’t have many head-to-head races, especially locally, but Illinois voters will have some choices for state and federal positions and can see challenges ahead in November balloting.

The Peoria County has 13 positions on the ballot, but just one, County Clerk, foreshadows a fall contest, when incumbent Democrat Rachael Parker will be challenged by Republican Kari Gabbert. Filings for Peoria Public Schools District 150 has two races for five-year terms, with Sarah Howard and Douglas Shannon facing off in the Northern District and David Days and Andres Diaz both running for the Central District.

In Tazewell County, County Board District 1 has five GOP candidates vying for four seats.

Statewide, incumbent Reps. Jehan Gordon-Booth (D-92^nd), Ryan Spain (R-73^rd) and Travis Weaver (R-93^rd) are unopposed, as are Democratic challengers Nicole Dopler for the 73^rd and Zoey Renee Carter for the 93^rd.

The open Comptroller seat has Republican Bryan Drew now unopposed, the Illinois State Board of Election (ISBE) says, and on the Democratic side, Holly Kim seems to be leading a field including opponents Margaret Croke, Stephanie A. Kifowit and Karina Villa – all of whom have pending redaction requests, the ISBE says,

Meanwhile, Gov. JB Pritzker is unopposed on the Democratic ballot, and Republicans will have a choice between former gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey, Lake Forest businessman Ted Dabrowsky and DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick. An Emerson College/WGN-TV survey taken last month shows Bailey leading the Republican field with 34% support.

For the U.S. Senate seat, from which Dick Durbin is retiring next January, 10 Democrats and 6 Republicans remain on the ballot, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections, with three Democrats leading the polls. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Peoria native, leads with 31% support, Emerson says, with Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton at 10% and Congresswoman Robin Kelly, a Bradley University graduate, at 8%. Republican Patry Chair Don Tracy leads the GOP with 6%, but 84% of likely Republican voters are undecided.

The two area Congressional seats also show incumbents running unopposed. In November, Democrat Eric Sorensen of the 17^th District looks to be facing Republicans Vancil Dillan Jr. or Julie Bickelhaupt. And Republican Darin LaHood of the 16^th District will face a challenger for a first time since 2022 since Democrat Paul Nolley is unopposed on the Democratic ballot.

Nolley told the Community Word it will be tough campaign, conceding it’s a “David vs. Goliath” match, but “I’m very positive.”

LaHood reportedly has some $6 million to spend, but Nolley says LaHood’s “100% record of voting with Trump” could be a liability. LaHood voted for the controversial “Big Beautiful Bill” in May and voted against two measures that passed in January with Republican support: a vote to overturn President Trump's Executive Order ending collective bargaining rights for two-thirds of the federal workforce (which had 13 GOP co-sponsors), and a resolution protecting health-care subsidies (with 17 other Republicans voting for it).

Nolley’s issues include protecting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and helping to “revitalize manufacturing [by] coordinating federal investment in modern manufacturing and improve energy beyond prices to push for clean, renewable energy [in which] China is kicking our butt.”

LaHood has declined multiple attempts to get a comment.