2026 Illinois State Comptroller election

2026 Illinois State Comptroller election

November 3, 2026

Nominee TBD Bryan Drew (presumptive) Party Democratic Republican

Incumbent State Comptroller Susana Mendoza Democratic

The 2026 Illinois State Comptroller election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the state comptroller of Illinois. Incumbent Democrat Susana Mendoza declined to run for a third full term.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Margaret Croke, state representative from the 12th district (2021–present)^[1]
• George Danos, Champaign County Auditor^[1]
• Rickey Hendon, former state senator from the 84th district (1993–2011)^[2]
• Stephanie Kifowit, state representative from the 84th district (2013–present)^[3]
• Holly Kim, Lake County Treasurer^[1]
• Karina Villa, state senator from the 25th district (2021–present)^[1]

Declined

• Susana Mendoza, incumbent state comptroller^[4]

Endorsements

Margaret Croke

Executive branch officials

• Bill Daley, former White House Chief of Staff (2011–2012)^[5]

U.S. senators

• Roland Burris, former U.S. senator from Illinois (2009–2010)^[6]

U.S. representatives

• Mike Quigley, U.S. representative from Illinois's 5th congressional district (2009–present)^[7]

Statewide officials

• Daniel Hynes, former Illinois Comptroller (1999–2011)^[8]
• Kwame Raoul, Illinois Attorney General (2019–present)^[9]

Local officials

• Precious Brady-Davis, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago commissioner (2020–present)^[10]
• Deb Conroy, chair of the DuPage County Board (2022–present)^[11]
• John Daley, Cook County commissioner from the 11th district (1992–present)^[10]
• Bridget Degnen, Cook County commissioner from the 12th district (2018–present)^[10]
• Bridget Gainer, Cook County commissioner from the 10th district (2009–present)^[10]
• Monica Gordon, Cook County Clerk (2024–present)^[10]
• Bill Lowry, Cook County commissioner from the 3rd district (2018–present)^[10]
• Kisha McCaskill, Cook County commissioner from the 5th district (2025–present)^[10]
• Eileen O'Neill Burke, Cook County State's Attorney (2024–present)^[10]
• Maria Pappas, Cook County Treasurer (1998–present)^[10]
• Toni Preckwinkle, President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners (2010–present)^[10]
• Larry Rogers, Jr., Cook County Board of Review commissioner from the 3rd district (2004–present)^[10]
• Michael Scott Jr., Cook County commissioner from the 2nd district (2024–present)^[10]
• Anna Valencia, Chicago City Clerk (2017–present)^[12]
• 2 other Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago commissioners^[10]

Individuals

• Lester Crown, businessman^[5]
• Jerry Reinsdorf, owner of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox^[5]

Party chapters

• Cook County Democratic Party^[13]

Labor unions

• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 476^[14]
• Illinois Pipe Trades Association^[15]

Stephanie Kifowit

State legislators

• Kate Cloonen, former state representative from the 79th district (2013–2017)^[16]
• Will Davis, state representative from the 30th district (2003–present)^[16]
• Sonya Harper, state representative from the 6th district (2015–present)^[16]
• Joyce Mason, state representative from the 61st district (2019–present)^[16]
• Michelle Mussman, state representative from the 56th district (2011–present)^[16]
• Al Riley, former state representative from the 38th district (2007–2019)^[16]
• Sue Scherer, state representative from the 96th district (2013–present)^[16]

Labor unions

• Illinois Painters District Councils 14, 30, and 58^[17]
• International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4302^[16]
• National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 219^[16]
• United Steelworkers District 7^[18]
• United Steelworkers Local 17U^[16]
• United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers Local 11^[19]

Organizations

• VoteVets^[20]
• With Honor Fund^[16]

Holly Kim

U.S. representatives

• Brad Schneider, U.S. representative from Illinois's 10th congressional district (2013–2015, 2017–present)^[21]

State legislators

• Lauren Beth Gash, former state representative from the 60th district (1993–2001) and Lake County Democratic chair^[22]
• Natalie Manley, state representative from the 98th district (2013–present)^[23]
• Larry Walsh, state representative from the 86th district (2012–present)^[23]

Local officials

• Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, Will County executive (2020–present)^[23]
• Daniel Biss, mayor of Evanston (2021–present)^[24]
• Tom McNamara, mayor of Rockford (2017–present)^[25]

Labor unions

• American Federation of Government Employees District 7^[14]
• International Brotherhood of Teamsters Locals 301, 700, and 705^[14]
• National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 80^[26]
• United Food and Commercial Workers Local 431^[14]

Karina Villa

U.S. representatives

• Delia Ramirez, U.S. representative from Illinois's 3rd congressional district (2023–present)^[27]
• Chuy Garcia, U.S. representative from Illinois's 4th congressional district (2019–present)^[28]

State legislators

• Bill Cunningham, President pro tempore of the Illinois Senate (2020–present) from the 18th district (2013–present)^[28]
• Don Harmon, President of the Illinois Senate (2020–present) from the 39th district (2003–present)^[28]
• Kimberly Lightford, Majority Leader of the Illinois Senate (2019–present) from the 4th district (1998–present)^[28]
• 15 other state legislators^[a]

Labor unions

• National Association of Social Workers Illinois^[29]
• Service Employees International Union Illinois State Council^[30]

Declined to endorse

Labor unions

• Illinois AFL-CIO^[31]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[b]	Margin of error	Margaret Croke	George Danos	Stephanie Kifowit	Holly Kim	Karina Villa	Other	Undecided
Tulchin Research (D)[32][c]	November 12–17, 2025	600 (LV)	± 4.0%	6%	3%	2%	9%	8%	–	72%
Change Research (D)[33]	October 13–17, 2025	679 (LV)	± 3.9%	3%	2%	1%	6%	7%	3%[d]	78%

Republican primary

Candidates

Presumptive nominee

• Bryan Drew, attorney^[34]

Notes

1. • Christopher Belt, state senator from the 57th district (2019–present)^[28]
   • Javier Cervantes, state senator from the 1st district (2022–present)^[28]
   • Lakesia Collins, state senator from the 5th district (2023–present)^[28]
   • Mary Edly-Allen, state senator from the 31st district (2023–present)^[28]
   • Paul Faraci, state senator from the 52nd district (2023–present)^[28]
   • Graciela Guzmán, state senator from the 20th district (2025–present)^[28]
   • Mattie Hunter, state senator from the 3rd district (2003–present)^[28]
   • Dave Koehler, state senator from the 46th district (2006–present)^[28]
   • Laura Murphy, state senator from the 28th district (2015–present)^[28]
   • Robert Peters, state senator from the 13th district (2019–present)^[28]
   • Willie Preston, state senator from the 16th district (2023–present)^[28]
   • Elgie Sims, state senator from the 17th district (2018–present)^[28]
   • Steve Stadelman, state senator from the 34th district (2013–present)^[28]
   • Rachel Ventura, state senator from the 43rd district (2023–present)^[28]
   • Ram Villivalam, state senator from the 8th district (2019–present)^[28]
2. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear
3. This poll was sponsored by Villa's campaign
4. "Would not vote" with 3%

References

1. Pearson, Rick; Quig, A.D. (July 19, 2025). "Cook County Democrats make no endorsement in US Senate race and snub two-term Assessor Fritz Kaegi". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
2. "Dems revolt at slating meeting: Skip Senate race, pick Hynes over Kaegi". Southwest Regional Publishing. July 21, 2025. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
3. Pearson, Rick (August 11, 2025). "State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit joins growing Democratic field running for Illinois comptroller". The Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on August 12, 2025. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
4. Adams, Andrew (July 16, 2025). "Comptroller Mendoza won't run for reelection, opening up statewide office". NPR Illinois. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
5. Kapos, Shia (December 11, 2025). "Chicago budget mutiny tests the mayor". Politico. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
6. Kapos, Shia (December 4, 2025). "Tennessee swing jolts Illinois GOP". Politico. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
7. Kapos, Shia (January 12, 2026). "Bear down, reality roars back". Politico. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
8. Kapos, Shia (December 2, 2025). "Dabrowski and the business crowd". Politico. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
9. Kapos, Shia (January 6, 2026). "Giannoulias cash surge fuels City Hall buzz". Politico. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
10. "Cook County Endorsements for Margaret Croke for Illinois State Comptroller". Politico. November 14, 2025. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
11. Kapos, Shia (November 7, 2025). "Judge slams feds' credibility". Politico. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
12. Kapos, Shia (November 25, 2025). "What Underwood saw at Broadview". Politico. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
13. "Cook County Democratic Party Slate – 2026 Primary". July 18, 2025. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
14. Kapos, Shia (January 9, 2026). "'Undecided' dominates new poll". Politico. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
15. Kapos, Shia (December 15, 2025). "'Middle of Everything'". Politico. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
16. "Stephanie Kifowit Endorsements". Politico. November 21, 2025. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
17. Kapos, Shia (November 4, 2025). "Chuy Garcia to exit, too". Politico. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
18. Kapos, Shia (November 13, 2025). "Illinois Dems push back at DHS". Politico. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
19. Kapos, Shia (November 13, 2025). "Freedom for detainees as activists face judge". Politico. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
20. "Stephanie Kifowit". votevets.org. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
21. Kapos, Shia (November 21, 2025). "Ballot brawls heat up". Politico. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
22. Kapos, Shia (November 3, 2025). "The transit bill's bumpy ride". Politico. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
23. "Margaret Croke's endorsements from Will County". Politico. November 21, 2025. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
24. "Mayors endorsing Holly Kim". Politico. November 18, 2025. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
25. Kapos, Shia (December 19, 2025). "The Gift List!". Politico. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
26. Kapos, Shia (November 6, 2025). "ICE roils in courtroom — and classroom". Politico. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
27. "State Sen. Karina Villa launches campaign for Illinois comptroller". Fox 32 Chicago. August 25, 2025. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
28. "Senate Endorsement List". Politico. November 7, 2025. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
29. "NASW-IL Early 2026 State Election Endorsements: Karina Villa for State Comptroller". NASW-Illinois Chapter. September 25, 2025. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
30. "2026 State & Municipal Endorsements" (PDF). SEIU IL Council. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
31. "Illinois AFL-CIO 2026 Primary Election Endorsements". Politico. December 10, 2025. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
32. "Poll Finds Wide Open Race for Illinois Comptroller, Clear Path to Nomination for Karina Villa". Politico. November 21, 2025. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
33. "Holly Kim Leads by 10 Points After Voters Learn About Candidates". Politico. October 28, 2025. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
34. Wilcoxen, Paul (November 3, 2025). "Benton attorney Bryan Drew enters comptroller race". The Southern Illinoisan. Retrieved November 12, 2025.

External links

Official campaign websites

• Margaret Croke (D) for State Comptroller
• George Danos (D) for State Comptroller
• Bryan Drew (R) for State Comptroller
• Stephanie Kifowit (D) for State Comptroller
• Holly Kim (D) for State Comptroller
• Karina Villa (D) for State Comptroller