Illinois’ 2026 primary cycle is shaping up to be one of the most expensive in recent state history, driven largely by a cluster of competitive open-seat congressional contests. As longtime incumbents have stepped aside ahead of the 2026 IL Senate race and several House races, $92.3M has been placed in ad spending targeting Illinois' congressional primaries.
Illinois’ Senate contest and four open congressional seats (IL-02, IL-07, IL-08, and IL-09) account for more than 83% of all primary ad spending in the state thus far. House primaries in Illinois have seen $37M in total ad spending and reservations, a staggering 940% increase over the 2023-2024 cycle. Meanwhile, the Senate primary has seen $55.3M, making it the most expensive Senate primary in Illinois on record.
The top messaging themes seen across the five primaries are Donald Trump and ICE, representing 70% and 26% of all broadcast airings, respectively.
Senate
The race to replace sitting Senator Dick Durbin (D) has quickly become the focal point of Illinois’ political advertising.
Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (D, IL-08) currently leads the field in ad support, with $28.9M. Nearly all of the support is from his campaign. Krishnamoorthi began placing ads in July 2025, but ramped up his spending considerably as the election neared.
Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton (D) follows with $15.5M in ad support. Stratton has received endorsements from Governor J.B. Pritzker and Senator Tammy Duckworth. Her campaign has spent $1.1M, but the bulk of her advertising support, $14.4M, is from the Pritzker-backed Illinois Future PAC. The second highest spending issue group of the election, crypto-focused PAC Fairshake, has spent $9.0M attacking Stratton.
Representative Robin Kelly (D, IL-02) has $1.3M in ad support, mostly all from her campaign.
Illinois Senate advertising had been largely positive for much of the contest but has taken on a sharper negative tone in recent weeks. Fairshake launched ads attacking Stratton over alleged donors with “ties to MAGA”, while the Stratton campaign aired attacks attacking Krishnamoorthi over the same thing. Robin Kelly, who has so far avoided any attack ads from the other campaigns and groups, launched an ad yesterday accusing the two other candidates of being more focused on attacking one another than governing.
House
Multiple open seats are driving Democratic spending in Illinois’ House primaries this cycle. Cook Political Report ranks each of IL-02, IL-07, IL-08, and IL-09 as “Solid D,” making the primaries incredibly important. Across broadcast ad airings, the most frequently mentioned issues across these House races are Donald Trump, healthcare, ICE, abortion, and inflation.
IL CD-09
Illinois’ 9th Congressional District is open this cycle following the retirement of Representative Jan Schakowsky (D).
State Senator Laura Fine (D) currently leads the advertising field with $6.6M in total support. This includes $1.5M from her campaign and more than $5.0M in combined support from Elect Chicago Women and EDW Action Fund.
Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss (D) follows with $2.0M in ad support, including $600K from groups such as Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC and J Street Action Fund. Biss has also been endorsed by Schakowsky.
Media personality Kat Abughazaleh entered the race and has spent $1.5M. Chicago Progressive Partnership has spent $1.0M on ads attacking Abughazaleh, accusing her of being funded by Republican donors and of previously supporting Republican candidates.
IL CD-07
Another major spending battle is unfolding in Illinois’ 7th Congressional District, where longtime Representative Danny K. Davis (D) is retiring.
Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin currently leads the advertising race with $5.5M in ad support, including $4.7M from AIPAC-aligned PAC United Democracy Project.
Fairshake has spent $1.9M attacking State Representative La Shawn Ford (D), accusing him of fraud and corruption.
Other Democratic candidates in the race include businessman Jason Friedman, who has spent $1.1M and physician Thomas Fisher who has spent $454K.
IL CD-08
Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi’s Senate campaign has opened Illinois’ 8th Congressional District, creating another competitive primary.
Former Representative Melissa Bean (D) leads the field with $4.6M in total ad support, including $4.2M from groups including Elect Chicago Women, Protect Progress, and New Democrat Majority.
Entrepreneurs Neil Khot (D) and Junaid Ahmed (D) have spent $2.0M and $1.3M, respectively.
IL CD-02
Robin Kelly’s Senate candidacy has opened the race for Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District, where spending has quickly accelerated.
Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller (D) has received the most ad support with $6.0M in total spending. Her campaign has accounted for $1.6M while Affordable Chicago Now has contributed $4.4M.
In IL-02, Fairshake has spent $500K opposing Illinois State Senator Robert Peters (D), accusing him of being backed by major corporate donors.
Illinois has already emerged as one of the most expensive primary environments of the 2026 cycle. With multiple open seats and growing outside group involvement, primary advertising across Illinois has risen sharply compared with the previous cycle. AdImpact will continue monitoring how spending and messaging evolve across these closely watched contests.
