The Ballot Brief
Cook County, Illinois

Illinois House District 13

2 candidates are tracked for Illinois House District 13 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Demerike "Demi" Palecek and Terry Nguyen Le. Candidate information follows official Cook County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Demerike "Demi" Palecek (Democratic), Terry Nguyen Le (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot. The seat is open: Rep. Hoan Huynh (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 13

Demerike "Demi" Palecek

Democratic

Top priorities
  • Expand access to abortion care, contraception, fertility treatment and maternal health
  • Expand mental health access and build affordable, comprehensive health care
  • Support rent control, eviction prevention and more affordable housing

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Demerike "Demi" Palecek is the Democratic candidate for Illinois House District 13 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the State Board of Elections' certified candidate list. Demi Palecek is a member of the Illinois Army National Guard who served at the U.S. Capitol after January 6, 2021, per her campaign site. She is president of the 46th Ward Democrats and has a background in advocacy, policy and communications, per the same source.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Terry Nguyen Le

Republican

Top priorities
  • Reducing the number of local government units for efficiency
  • Cutting taxes and regulation to spur economic growth
  • Expanding school choice and parental rights in curriculum

Per the Chicago Sun-Times questionnaire.

Biography

Terry Nguyen Le is the Republican candidate for Illinois House District 13 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the State Board of Elections' certified candidate list. Le works as a home caregiver and is a graduate of Amundsen High School who attended the University of Illinois at Chicago, per his Chicago Sun-Times candidate questionnaire. He is a U.S. Army veteran. His platform centers on reducing the number of local government units, cutting taxes and regulation, and expanding school choice. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.

Next on your ballotIllinois House District 14

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Illinois House District 13 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Illinois House District 13 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Demerike "Demi" Palecek and Terry Nguyen Le. Candidate information follows official Cook County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Illinois House District 13 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 15Illinois House District 16Illinois House District 17See all 135 Cook County races
Candidate profiles
Demerike "Demi" Palecek, full profileTerry Nguyen Le, full profileOfficial Illinois election office