Cook County, Illinois

Illinois House District 12

2 candidates are tracked for Illinois House District 12 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Paul Kendrick and Justin J. Kumar. Candidate information follows official Cook County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Paul Kendrick (Democratic), Justin J. Kumar (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot. The seat is open: Rep. Margaret Croke (Democratic), 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.

What this office does

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 › Cook County › Illinois House District 12

Paul Kendrick

Democratic

Top priorities

Safer streets
Lower costs for families
Stronger communities

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Paul Kendrick began his career at the Harlem Children's Zone and later served in the Obama administration's Department of Education and White House, per the campaign site. He directed Rust Belt Rising for five years training Democratic candidates on economic messaging, served as Director of Program Strategy at Hope Chicago on debt-free college initiatives, and teaches as an adjunct professor at National Louis University, per the campaign site. He co-authored three books with his father, including works on Martin Luther King and Frederick Douglass and Lincoln, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Justin J. Kumar

Republican

Biography

Justin J. Kumar is the Republican candidate for Illinois House District 12 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the State Board of Elections' certified candidate list. Kumar is a Chicago venture capital firm operator with a BA in economics and statistics/applied mathematics and an MA in political science, both from Northwestern University, per his Vote Smart biography. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.

Next on your ballotIllinois House District 13

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Illinois House District 12 in 2026?

When is the Illinois House District 12 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 Cook 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 Cook County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Illinois election office, or see the full Cook County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

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

Also on your ballot

Illinois House District 14 Illinois House District 15 Illinois House District 16 See all 135 Cook County races

Candidate profiles

Paul Kendrick, full profile Justin J. Kumar, full profile Official Illinois election office