Political advertising is dominating Illinois as the state’s Democratic congressional primaries head to the March 17 ballot, with races shaped by an unusual wave of retirements that is leaving multiple seats open. In Chicago, where many voters have spent years following the same incumbent, the change is being felt in everything from debate lineups to the volume of campaign mail and television and social media ads.
The election cycle is in the midst of what the Associated Press described as a period of record retirements in Congress, and Illinois has been among the hardest hit by the resulting open-seat churn. Fueled by departures of senior lawmakers, six House and Senate seats in the reliably Democratic state are open, offering Democrats a chance to introduce a new crop of candidates while also giving voters a large number of choices to sort through.
“Having all these names and faces thrown at you and trying to remember which one is which, it’s disorientating,” voter James Beatley said. Beatley, who has been represented for 21 years by retiring Rep. Danny Davis, now faces 13 Democratic options for the primary.
Illinois’ share of House retirements is also notable. The Associated Press analysis said Illinois represents roughly one-quarter of all House Democratic retirements in the country, including five of 21 House Democratic retirements, and about 10% of all House retirements nationally.
Current conditions mean a significant portion of the state’s congressional delegation is effectively up for grabs. The Associated Press reported that five of Illinois’ 17 congressional seats—about 29%—are open, with University of Illinois political scientist Brian Gaines describing the level of openness as roughly matching the 1940s, when seven of Illinois’ then-26 seats were open.
In interviews, retiring incumbents said the moment reflects a desire to refresh the party amid a more divided political environment, even as they depart after long tenures. Retiring Rep. Danny Davis, first elected in 1996, said Illinois is “undergoing tremendous change, and you can kind of feel it,” adding that the retirements “opens up opportunities for a new generation of leadership.”
The competitive fields have also put pressure on how candidate debates are run. The League of Women Voters has sponsored forums for about a century, and Illinois organizers said this year features more debates than usual. “It’s usually our schtick, and it’s a thing this time around,” said Roberta Borrino of the League of Women Voters of Illinois, while organizers reported that limits on participation and scheduling are needed because of the number of candidates.
Those time and space constraints show up in forum logistics, including shorter answers and smaller groupings. At a recent UIC debate for Davis’ district, the Associated Press reported that there was one microphone per three candidates and that candidates got 45 seconds to answer and one rebuttal over two hours. Candidate Anabel Mendoza, a 28-year-old immigrant rights organizer, said, “You have to get really good at answering questions in barely no time,” adding, “You get really good at getting to the point.”
In some districts, the number of candidates and the differences among them have left voters trying to reconcile overlapping messages. Beatley said he remains undecided, and Maria Lordots said she will vote in Rep. Jan Schakowsky’s district, which includes parts of Chicago’s North Side and suburbs, because she was unhappy with what she described as establishment Democrats. “You see a few clips, and that sort of influences you to or away from a candidate,” Lordots said.
The Associated Press reported that the Schakowsky district has attracted the largest number of candidates among the open Chicago-area House races, totaling 15 Democrats, including Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, digital creator Kat Abughazaleh, and state lawmakers. In the district of retiring Rep. Robin Kelly, which is being contested as she seeks the open seat for retiring Sen. Dick Durbin, there are 10 Democratic candidates, including state lawmakers and former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., the son of the late civil rights leader.
A broader look at open races shows Democrats facing multiple nomination fights as retirements restructure the map. The Associated Press said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi’s departure leaves eight Democrats competing in the primary for his congressional seat, including former Rep. Melissa Bean, and it also described another seat as open after Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia’s departure, while noting the Democratic primary for that contest is uncontested after Garcia’s political maneuvering helped get his chief of staff on the ballot.
The intensity has extended to campaign operations such as political mail production. Richard Lewandowski runs a family-owned printing press in Chicago that has been in business for 50 years, and the Associated Press reported that to keep up with demand for campaign mailers, employees are working seven days a week for up to 12 hours daily. “You only see a midterm like this once every 20 years,” Lewandowski said.
Election officials said they are watching for stronger turnout after 2024 saw the lowest participation in more than 50 years. Statewide primary turnout two years ago was 19%, according to the Illinois Board of Elections. In Chicago, the Associated Press reported more than 43,000 early ballots have been cast by mail and in person with two weeks until the primary, a figure described by the Associated Press as double the roughly 20,000 cast in the 2022 midterm primary and roughly quadruple the 10,000 in 2018.
Max Bever, a spokesman for the Chicago Board of Elections, said, “When districts are competitive it does bring additional people to the polls.” The Associated Press reported that with most Democratic primary winners expected to win outright in November, officials said the nomination fights carry high stakes for the party’s future direction.