Article Summary

Hundreds of candidates filed petitions on Monday to run for office in 2026 as several primary races take shape.

U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ push to redraw Illinois’ congressional maps hung over the filing day as many Democrats expressed skepticism about the proposal.

In the governor’s race, Darren Bailey’s running mate said Bailey is still thinking about his future after four family members died in a helicopter crash last week.

Democratic primary voters will see several competitive races this year as high-profile retirements open the door for many candidates to seek a new office.

This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.

SPRINGFIELD — Four years ago, candidates braved a mix of rain and snow. Two years ago, it was b

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