Who's running in Illinois's 6th 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 · Sean Casten 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.
Climate policy and clean energy, the subject of his career before Congress.
A nationally protected legal right to abortion.
Financial services regulation and consumer protection.
Federal action on the cost of living in the suburbs.
Conservation and environmental protection.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 6th District since January 2019; re-elected in 2024 with 53.5%.
Founded and ran clean-energy companies before Congress, developing waste-heat-to-power projects.
Won the March 17, 2026 Democratic primary with 75.8% against Joey Ruzevich.
Outraised and outspent his primary challenger by a wide margin, according to Daily Herald reporting on the March filings.
Arguments in favor
Chicago's labour federation, the building trades and the main environmental and abortion-rights groups have all endorsed his re-election, and two suburban newspapers backed him in the primary.
— Chicago Federation of Labor, Plumbers Local 130, League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, Planned Parenthood Action Fund; Chicago Tribune and Daily Herald editorial boards
Jewish community and consumer organisations have endorsed him as a dependable vote on their priorities.
— Jewish Democratic Council of America, Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs and Citizen Action Illinois
Arguments against
Arab American leaders in the district have accused him of being unresponsive to them and of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from AIPAC.
— Arab American community leaders, reported by Arab News
His Republican opponent argues he has helped drive the national debt up by about $13 trillion since he took office, and that he stands for big government, high taxes and open borders.
— Niki Conforti's campaign
What we couldn’t verify
The debt and abortion criticisms from Conforti's campaign were first published during the 2024 race against the same opponent; no distinct 2026 statement of them was located.
No National Republican Congressional Committee page naming Casten for the 2026 cycle could be found, although the district is a standing Republican target.
What his primary challenger Joey Ruzevich argued against him specifically was not established; reporting says the challengers all named affordability as the top issue.
Free markets, lower taxes and minimal government regulation.
Closing the border until immigration reforms are made.
Bringing manufacturing back to the district and getting people back to work.
Tackling the fentanyl crisis in the district.
Reducing the federal debt.
Opposing abortion with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother, while leaving the question to the states rather than to Congress.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Energy consultant; previously worked in the administration of large health systems and owned a staffing business.
Degree from the University of Chicago and an M.B.A. in health care administration from George Washington University.
Republican nominee for this district in 2024; lost to Sean Casten 46.5% to 53.5%.
Won the March 17, 2026 Republican primary over Skylar Duensing.
Has said she will not accept AIPAC funding.
Resident of Glen Ellyn; has not held elected office.
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 Conforti by name could be found. Searched: her name with 'criticism', with 'Casten campaign', against Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee material, and against Daily Herald, Shaw Local and Patch coverage of both the 2024 and 2026 races. Because no case against her exists on the record, no case for her is presented either, rather than showing her own campaign's case unanswered.
The Chicago Tribune editorial board endorsed her in the 2026 Republican primary, but published no reasoning that could be quoted here.
Her 2026 fundraising, and whether national Republican committees are spending in the district, were not established; one analysis said the National Republican Congressional Committee has shifted resources to safer seats.
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 Sean Casten won renomination with 75.8% over Joey Ruzevich; Republican Niki Conforti won her primary over Skylar Duensing. This is a rematch: Conforti was the Republican nominee in 2024 and lost to Casten 53.5% to 46.5%. The district covers the south-west Chicago suburbs including Oak Lawn and Downers Grove and part of eastern DuPage County, and is among the more competitive seats in the state. Roster confirmed against Ballotpedia and Chicago Sun-Times reporting. Criticism of Conforti by name could not be found, so her 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.