Elections

Central Illinois Republican party leaders say they expect a lot of interest in the appointment to the soon-to-be vacant 53rd Senate District seat that Jason Barickman is giving up at the end of the year.

With Roe v. Wade overturned, abortion has been a hot-button issue in races up and down the state’s ballot, from governor to legislators to the Illinois Supreme Court.

It was the second and final debate between the two gubernatorial hopefuls Tuesday night, and both came prepared for combat, ready to dish it out — and not take any of the other’s jabs lying down.

Earlier this year, the governor signaled interest in running for president in 2024 — but voters polled are not embracing the idea.

In the races for secretary of state, attorney general, comptroller and treasurer, the poll found voters heavily favoring Democrats.

Some 37% of downstate voters polled viewed Pritzker favorably — that’s higher than Bailey’s downstate favorability numbers.

The first-term incumbent senator for Illinois and GOP challenger Kathy Salvi are far apart on gun control, abortion and immigration policy.

The winner will have a lot of discretion responding to a legal landscape being dramatically changed by a conservative U.S. Supreme Court.

Democrat Alexi Giannoulias and Republican Dan Brady square off to replace the politically popular Jesse White, who is retiring.

In the fast-paced televised debate ahead of the November election, the governor and state senator traded barbs while ducking questions.