Illinois Rep. Marty McLaughlin lost his reelection bid in the 52nd District on Tuesday, citing sharply lower turnout, and said he plans to run for the seat again in 2028.
Republicans lost ground nationally in Tuesday’s elections, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis calling the results close to an extinction level event for the party and House Speaker Mike Johnson declining to seek the minority leader post.
Illinois voters reported broken voting machines, a relocated polling place and a suspicious ballot-screen warning during the 2026 midterm election, raising questions about Cook County polling operations.
Illinois voters are deciding 85 local property tax referendums Tuesday, including a $295 million measure in Northwest Suburban High School District 214, in what radio host Jeannie Ives called a real-time test of voter sentiment on taxes.
Chicago voters are weighing six nonbinding advisory questions on Election Day 2026, covering topics including ShotSpotter reinstatement, federal immigration enforcement costs and a proposed millionaires’ tax surcharge for school funding.
Four Republican candidates for the Illinois General Assembly made their closing arguments in suburban races on Election Day, describing Democratic attack ads, cross-party persuasion and on-the-ground enthusiasm heading into Tuesday’s vote.
Republican challenger Christian Maxwell says the Democratic incumbent in Illinois’ 1st Congressional District refused a debate request from ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and has not held events in the district this cycle.
More than 280,000 Chicago voters cast early ballots ahead of Tuesday’s 2026 midterm election, putting the city 30 percent ahead of 2022 turnout with high-profile races for governor, U.S. Senate and the first-ever elected Chicago Board of Education president on the ballot.
Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen Burke released a fiscal year 2027 budget proposal projecting $5 million in annual savings through in-house staffing changes and operational reforms, while requesting 70 new positions to expand forensic capacity and victim services.
The Chicago Police Department released its October 2026 monthly crime recap, with year-to-date data showing 187,373 crime reports logged citywide through mid-October, led by theft and battery, as the city continues to record a historic drop in homicides.