Cook County, Illinois

Illinois House District 17

2 candidates are tracked for Illinois House District 17 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz and James "Jim" Geldermann. Candidate information follows official Cook County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (Democratic), James "Jim" Geldermann (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot; Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz is the sitting member, per the General Assembly's roster. 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. The sitting officeholder, Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, is on the ballot.

Illinois › Cook County › Illinois House District 17

Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz

Democratic Incumbent

Biography

Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz is the Democratic candidate for Illinois House District 17 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the State Board of Elections' certified candidate list. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz is the sitting member, per the General Assembly's roster. Gong-Gershowitz is the sitting state representative for the 17th District and chairs the House Judiciary - Civil Committee. She is a human rights attorney who previously litigated at Winston and Strawn, per the General Assembly's roster. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.

James "Jim" Geldermann

Republican

Top priorities

Opposes state budget increases and minimum wage increases
Wants to end social promotion in schools
Seeks removal of state curriculum mandates unrelated to core academic and financial-literacy skills

Per the Journal & Topics Media Group.

Biography

James "Jim" Geldermann is a software designer and head of the business-to-business software company Wireless.dev, per the Journal & Topics Media Group. He spent 15 years in ministry work accompanying people at the end of their lives, per North Cook News. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.

Next on your ballotIllinois House District 18

See your full ballot

Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Illinois House District 17 in 2026?

When is the Illinois House District 17 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.

The rest of your Cook County ballot

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 19 Illinois House District 20 Illinois House District 21 See all 135 Cook County races

Candidate profiles

Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, full profile James "Jim" Geldermann, full profile Official Illinois election office