2 candidates are tracked for Illinois House District 118 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Homer "Chip" Markel and Scott Doody. Candidate information follows official Alexander County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
Homer "Chip" Markel (Democratic), Scott Doody (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot. The seat is open: Rep. Paul Jacobs (Republican), the sitting member per the General Assembly's roster, is not on the November ballot. Party nominees were chosen at the March 17 primary (plurality, no runoffs); independent and new-party candidates qualified by petition. The field is the State Board of Elections' 2026 General Election candidate list (status Active, read September 7, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.
This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot.
Illinois › Alexander County › Illinois House District 118
Democratic
Homer "Chip" Markel is a Navy veteran with no prior experience in political office, per The Southern Illinoisan. He worked in corrections for decades, serving as a union president at Menard Correctional Center for seven years, per the same source. Markel is the Democratic nominee for Illinois House District 118 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Republican
Scott Doody is a longtime resident of the 118th district, a grandfather, longtime radio host, and author, per his Illinois House of Representatives biography. He owns a business specializing in classic car restoration and local media production, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Who is running for Illinois House District 118 in 2026?
2 candidates are tracked for Illinois House District 118 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Homer "Chip" Markel and Scott Doody. Candidate information follows official Alexander County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Illinois House District 118 election in Illinois?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Illinois are on the Illinois election hub at theballotbrief.com.
How do I see my exact Alexander County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.
Candidate roster from official Alexander County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
Cross-check with the official Illinois election office, or see the full Alexander County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
4 tracked races in Alexander County, Illinois. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.