who won illinois governor

No winner yet for Illinois governor. The 2026 election is set for November 3, with primaries on March 17—today's date, so results aren't final. Incumbent Democrat JB Pritzker is running for a third term and remains a strong favorite.

Current Landscape

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker (D) won decisively in 2018 and 2022, beating Bruce Rauner and Darren Bailey by double-digit margins amid the state's Democratic lean, especially in Chicago and suburbs. Republicans hold rural strongholds but struggle statewide; no term limits mean Pritzker could make history as the first three-term governor since Jim Thompson in the 1980s.

Pritzker's high approval ratings and national profile (often floated for 2028 presidential runs) position him well, even as Democrats rebound post-2024 losses to Trump. Recent polls show him leading hypothetical challengers like Bailey.

Key Candidates

Democratic primary heavily favors Pritzker, paired with running mate Christian Mitchell (former deputy governor). On the Republican side, a crowded field emerged for today's primary:

Candidate| Background| Running Mate
---|---|---
Darren Bailey| 2022 nominee, state senator; shifting to appeal Chicago suburbs| Aaron B. Del Mar, Cook County GOP chair 3
Ted Dabrowski| Conservative news site president| Carrie Mendoza, FAIR In Medicine leader 1
Rick Heidner| Real estate developer| Christina Neitzke-Troike, Homer Glen mayor 1
James Mendrick| DuPage County Sheriff| Robert Renteria, author/businessman 1

What's Next

Primary outcomes will clarify the November matchup—check live results from outlets like Fox 32 or ABC7 Chicago for updates, as rural GOP turnout could surprise. Pritzker's progressive record (COVID response, budget fixes, Trump clashes) contrasts GOP critiques of Chicago leadership.

TL;DR: JB Pritzker (D) is the incumbent and frontrunner; 2026 race too early to call a general election winner—primaries today.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.