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As of now, the Republican Party holds the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Senate, and the presidency. However, Illinois presents a different political landscape, with a firmly stabilized Democratic foothold at the state and local levels. The 2024 election results underscore the contrast between the national political shifts and Illinois' preference for consistency and Democratic leadership.
State and Federal Results: No Flipped Seats, Strong Incumbent Retention
In the U.S. House races, Illinois Democrats retained 14 seats, while Republicans held on to 3. The Democratic incumbents performed well, including Reps. Jonathan Jackson (District 1), Raja Krishnamoorthi (District 8), Jan Schakowsky (District 9), and Lauren Underwood (District 14), who secured their positions with solid margins. In 2023, Jackson replaced former Rep. Bobby L. Rush, who retired after holding the seat for 30 years.
At the state level, the Illinois House of Representatives saw Democrats secure 76 seats, while Republicans won 36, with no seats flipping. This demonstrates continued strong support for Democratic leadership in Illinois. Illinois State Rep. LaShawn K. Ford (District 8) and Rep. Kam Buckner (District 26) easily retained their seats, highlighting the strength of incumbency in state politics. In the Illinois Senate, four Republicans—Chris Balkema (District 53), Mike Plummer (District 58), Terri Bryant (District 58), and Li Arellano (District 37)—won uncontested races, further solidifying the GOP's presence in the legislature.
School Board Elections: A Limited CTU Victory
The 2024 school board elections were a focal point, as education remains a key issue for Chicagoans. While candidates backed by the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) made some gains, they were not the dominant force some had expected. The union’s influence in these races remains significant, though not all its candidates were successful.
The following CTU-backed candidates won their races:
District 1: Jennifer Custer
District 2: Ebony DeBerry
District 5: Jitu Brown
District 7: Yesenia Lopez
Other successful candidates, who were not CTU-backed, include:
District 3: Carlos Rivas
District 4: Ellen Rosenfeld
District 6: Jessica Biggs
District 8: Angel Gutierrez
District 9: Theresa Boyle
In District 10, Che "Rhymefest" Smith is currently in the lead with 32.1% of the counted votes, though the race has not yet been called (91.8% of precincts reporting). Notably, neither Karin Northington Reeves nor Che Smith were CTU-backed candidates.
Cook County State’s Attorney: Democratic Hold
In the closely watched race for Cook County State’s Attorney, Democrat Eileen O'Neill Burke triumphed with 66.1% of the vote, decisively defeating Republican challenger Robert Fioretti, who received 29.5%, and Libertarian Andrew Kopinski, who garnered 4.5%. This victory solidifies the Democratic hold on Cook County’s criminal justice system and reflects continued support for progressive reform within the region. O'Neill Burke replaces outgoing State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, who held the office for the past eight years.
As Illinois moves forward from the 2024 election, the results reflect a familiar political composition, with both state and federal races underscoring the state’s commitment to steady Democratic leadership. The strong incumbency retention across offices—and the limited but notable influence of the CTU in local school board races—suggests that voters are prioritizing stability and continuity in the face of national political uncertainty.
This election season highlighted Illinois' distinctive political identity. While the national scene is marked by Republican dominance, Illinois voters reinforced the status quo, valuing incumbency and experienced leadership over change. The CTU’s modest victories in school board races illustrate a city engaged in educational reform, but the broader results indicate a preference for consistency and leadership continuity. With this alignment, Chicago and Illinois may be positioned to advance a unified agenda on key issues such as education, criminal justice reform, and social justice in the years to come.