Ahead of the Illinois primary election on Tuesday, politicians like Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have vowed support for some candidates this election cycle.
Here’s a guide on what primary elections are, who has received endorsements from local officials and how to vote.
What is a primary election?
In a primary election, no one is elected.
Candidates who win their primary are nominated to be on the November ballot of the seat they're campaigning for. A winner will then be declared based on who receives the greatest number of votes.
In Illinois, voters can vote either during the early voting timeframe or on the designated state primary election day. For Illinois, the day is March 19.
Illinois' primaries are considered open elections because voters do not have to register a partisan affiliation before arriving at the polling place. Those voting in this election will need to state their affiliation with a political party at the polling place to vote in that party's primary.
Local
Who is being endorsed?
Local politicians that are not being voted on this year, like Johnson and Pritzker, have declared their endorsements --- their preference on which candidate should be elected to the position.
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Here’s a list of which politicians are endorsing local candidates:
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker
In the highly competitive 7th Congressional District primary, Pritzker endorsed Danny Davis, the incumbent who has represented the district for nearly 30 years.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson
Johnson also endorsed Davis in the 7th Congressional District race.
Other notable endorsements
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle endorsed Davis for the 7th Congressional District race as did former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White.
When it comes to the race for Cook County State's Attorney, Preckwinkle and clergy members vowed support for Clayton Harris III. Meanwhile, the Chicago Tribune's Editorial Board endorsed Eileen O’Neill Burke for Cook County State's Attorney.
How do I vote in the Illinois primary election?
Want to vote in the primary? Here’s our guide on how to cast your ballot in this election.
