Boone County, Illinois

Circuit Court, 17th Judicial Circuit, 1st Subcircuit, Vacancy of Hon. Lowry

One candidate is tracked for Circuit Court, 17th Judicial Circuit, 1st Subcircuit, Vacancy of Hon. Lowry on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Erin C. Hannigan. Candidate information follows official Boone County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Erin C. Hannigan is on the November 3, 2026 ballot to fill a vacancy in the 1st Subcircuit of the 17th Judicial Circuit (the seat vacated by the Hon. Lowry). The 17th Judicial Circuit covers Boone and Winnebago counties, but this subcircuit seat is elected only by voters inside its own subcircuit boundaries (this county list cannot narrow which part; check your sample ballot or county clerk). Listed from the Illinois State Board of Elections' certified 2026 general election candidate list.

What this office does

Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Erin C. Hannigan, is on the ballot. One name is on the ballot for this seat.

Illinois › Boone County › Circuit Court, 17th Judicial Circuit, 1st Subcircuit, Vacancy of Hon. Lowry

Erin C. Hannigan

Democratic Incumbent

Biography

Erin C. Hannigan is a Seventeenth Judicial Circuit judge in Winnebago County, appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court effective January 20, 2026 to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Chief Judge John Lowry, per the Illinois Courts news release. A supporting committee's site says she brings about two decades of trial practice in Winnebago County, including criminal and local-government law. No campaign website was found as of October 1, 2026.

Next on your ballotCircuit Court, 17th Judicial Circuit, 2nd Subcircuit, Vacancy of Hon. Doherty

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Circuit Court, 17th Judicial Circuit, 1st Subcircuit, Vacancy of Hon. Lowry in 2026?

When is the Circuit Court, 17th Judicial Circuit, 1st Subcircuit, Vacancy of Hon. Lowry 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 Boone 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.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Boone 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 Boone County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Boone County ballot

9 tracked races in Boone County, Illinois. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Illinois Senate District 35 Illinois Senate District 45 Illinois House District 68 See all 9 Boone County races

Candidate profiles

Erin C. Hannigan, full profile Official Illinois election office