Who's running in Illinois's 2nd congressional district
2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Expanding health care access and addressing disparities in the south suburbs, drawing on her county health committee work.
Protecting Medicaid and other federal health spending.
Reproductive rights.
Infrastructure and economic development for the south suburbs and downstate parts of the district.
Continued U.S. support for Israel, a position that drew both endorsements and criticism during her primary.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Cook County commissioner for the 6th district since December 2018.
Won the March 17, 2026 Democratic primary with 40.4% in an eleven-candidate field.
Reported at least $875,000 from donors who have also given to AIPAC or its affiliated super PAC United Democracy Project since 2023, according to Axios, which put total AIPAC-aligned support for her at about $2.4 million.
Career background in health care administration.
Arguments in favor
The Chicago Tribune's editorial board picked her out of an eleven-candidate primary field, and she was backed by former U.S. senator Carol Moseley Braun, congressman Brad Schneider and several sitting Cook County commissioners.
— Chicago Tribune editorial board; Carol Moseley Braun; Brad Schneider
National Democratic women's and pro-Israel groups endorsed her as a candidate who would be dependable on their issues.
— Elect Democratic Women, Democratic Majority for Israel and the Jewish Democratic Council of America
Arguments against
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky publicly withdrew her endorsement of Miller over the pro-Israel outside money supporting her — a rebuke from a senior Democrat in the same state delegation.
— U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, February 2026
Her leading progressive rival argued that outside donors were trying to buy a working-class Black district, pointing to millions in pro-Israel super PAC advertising and to reporting that out-of-state money drove her fundraising lead.
— State senator Robert Peters, with reporting by WBEZ and the Hyde Park Herald
What we couldn’t verify
Her campaign website could not be confirmed against a live page; the address above is the one listed in primary coverage.
No National Republican Congressional Committee material naming Miller for the 2026 cycle could be found.
Her positions on several federal questions outside health care and Israel were not established from sources read.
Immigration reform that offers a path to citizenship for people who have been in the country more than five years, with enforcement focused on violent offenders.
Lowering Illinois property taxes.
Investment in veterans' services.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Truck driver; resident of Kankakee County for 32 years; born in Bonfield, Illinois.
Has not held elected office.
Advanced unopposed from the March 17, 2026 Republican primary.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Noack by name could be found. Searched: his name with 'criticism', with 'Donna Miller campaign', against Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee material, and against Chicago and Kankakee-area coverage. Because no case against him exists on the record, no case for him is presented either, rather than showing his own campaign's case unanswered.
His campaign website was returning a hosting error when checked, so his positions above come from Ballotpedia's survey and WTTW's race coverage rather than from his own site.
His fundraising was not established from sources read.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
This is an open seat: Democratic incumbent Robin Kelly did not seek re-election, running for the U.S. Senate instead. Illinois held its primary on March 17, 2026. Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller won an eleven-candidate Democratic primary with 40.4%, ahead of former congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. on 29.0% and state senator Robert Peters on 12.1%. Michael Noack was unopposed for the Republican nomination. The district runs from Chicago's far south-east side through the south suburbs and downstate to Kankakee and past Danville. Roster confirmed against Ballotpedia and Chicago Sun-Times primary reporting. Criticism of Noack by name could not be found, so his entry carries no arguments in either column; the searches are named in his unknowns.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Illinois ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Illinois State Board of Elections.