Who's running in Illinois's 5th 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.
2 candidates · ballot order · Mike Quigley currently holds this seat
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.
Continued U.S. military and financial support for Ukraine.
Federal appropriations directed at Chicago-area transit and infrastructure.
Government ethics and transparency, the theme he has campaigned on since county government.
Abortion rights and LGBTQ equality.
Environmental protection and clean energy.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 5th District since April 2009; re-elected in 2024 with 69.0%.
Cook County commissioner, 1998 to 2009.
Member of the House Appropriations Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus.
Was the only Democrat to vote against a September 2023 stopgap funding bill, in protest at its omission of Ukraine aid.
Won the March 17, 2026 Democratic primary with 64.8% against three challengers.
Announced in January 2026 that he will run for mayor of Chicago in 2027.
Arguments in favor
The Chicago Tribune's editorial board backed him in a contested Democratic primary, and he took nearly two-thirds of the vote against three challengers.
— Chicago Tribune editorial board, 2026 primary endorsements
Arguments against
His leading primary challenger argued that a member who has already announced a run for mayor cannot give the district his full attention, and pressed him on whether the seat is a waypoint rather than the job.
— Matt Conroy, his 2026 Democratic primary opponent, reported by Block Club Chicago
Organisations that usually back Democratic incumbents endorsed his primary challenger instead, and a Chicago teachers' local declined to endorse in the race at all.
— Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Progressive Victory and Track AIPAC, which endorsed Matt Conroy; Cook County College Teachers Union Local 1600, which declined to endorse
What we couldn’t verify
No 2026 general election endorsement list for Quigley could be found; his campaign's endorsements page had not been updated past the 2020 cycle when checked.
No National Republican Congressional Committee material naming Quigley for the 2026 cycle could be found.
Whether he would resign the seat if elected mayor in 2027, and what he has said about that, was not established from sources read.
Ending military and financial aid to other countries and spending the money at home.
Ending sanctuary city policies and federal funding that supports them.
Ending birthright citizenship for children of people in the country illegally, and closing the border.
Low taxes and keeping Americans employed.
Backing police, which he argues have been told to stand down while crime rises.
A presidential line-item veto to strip late additions out of budget bills.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Owner of Hanson Commercial Real Estate; B.A. from Denison University.
Has not held elected office.
Has been a candidate for this seat in 2008, 2009, 2018, 2022, 2024 and 2026.
Won the March 17, 2026 Republican primary over Barry Wicker and Kimball Ladien.
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 Hanson by name could be found. Searched: his name with 'criticism', with 'opponent', against Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee material, against Mike Quigley's campaign, and against Chicago news coverage of the race. 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.
The Chicago Tribune editorial board made no endorsement in the 5th District Republican primary.
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.
Illinois held its primary on March 17, 2026. Democratic incumbent Mike Quigley won a four-way primary with 64.8%; Republican Tommy Hanson won a three-way primary. The district covers the north side of Chicago and north-west suburbs including Arlington Heights and Palatine. An unusual feature of this contest: Quigley announced in January 2026 that he will run for mayor of Chicago in 2027, so a voter re-electing him is choosing someone who has said he intends to seek another office partway through the term. Roster confirmed against Ballotpedia and Illinois State Board of Elections results. Criticism of Hanson by name could not be found, so his entry carries no arguments in either column.
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.