The Ballot Brief
Cook County, Illinois

Illinois House District 36

2 candidates are tracked for Illinois House District 36 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Rick Ryan and David Sheppard. Candidate information follows official Cook County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Rick Ryan (Democratic), David Sheppard (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot; Rick Ryan 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, Rick Ryan, is on the ballot.

Illinois › Cook County › Illinois House District 36

Rick Ryan

Rick Ryan

Democratic Incumbent

Top priorities
  • Support for reproductive rights
  • Support from labor unions
  • Property tax relief

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Rick Ryan, a Democrat, is the sitting Illinois state representative for District 36, per the Illinois House's official roster. Born and raised in Oak Lawn, he has lived in Evergreen Park for more than thirty years with his wife Maureen, per his campaign site. Ryan graduated from DePaul University in 1989 and John Marshall Law School in 1992, has practiced law for more than thirty years, and served as an officer of the Southwest Bar Association, per his campaign site. He is a former president of the Evergreen Park Baseball League and the Evergreen Park Booster Club and coached a youth state championship baseball team, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

David Sheppard

Republican

Top priorities
  • Stronger protections and resources for children with disabilities in schools
  • Addressing violent crime and carjacking
  • Amplifying underrepresented community voices in Springfield

Per the Illinois Policy.

Biography

David Sheppard is a police chief from Robbins who serves as an at-large member of the Evergreen Park Elementary School District 124 school board, per Illinois Policy. He is a U.S. Navy veteran with three decades of experience as a police officer and administrator. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.

Next on your ballotIllinois House District 37

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Illinois House District 36 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Illinois House District 36 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Rick Ryan and David Sheppard. Candidate information follows official Cook County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Illinois House District 36 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 38Illinois House District 39Illinois House District 40See all 135 Cook County races
Candidate profiles
Rick Ryan, full profileDavid Sheppard, full profileOfficial Illinois election office