Cook County, Illinois

Illinois House District 8

One candidate is tracked for Illinois House District 8 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Shantel Franklin. Candidate information follows official Cook County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Shantel Franklin (Democratic) is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot. The seat is open: Rep. La Shawn K. Ford (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. One name is on the ballot for this seat.

Illinois › Cook County › Illinois House District 8

Shantel Franklin

Democratic

Top priorities

Expanding safe, stable and affordable housing
Strengthening public schools and support for students facing housing insecurity
Gun violence prevention through community-based approaches

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Shantel Franklin is the Democratic candidate for Illinois House District 8 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the State Board of Elections' certified candidate list. Franklin is a policy professional and real estate agent who spent six years working in community outreach and legislative liaison roles at the Illinois Attorney General's Office, per her campaign site. She holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science and a master's degree in Public Affairs. She grew up on Chicago's West Side and has spoken about her own experience with homelessness and educational instability.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotIllinois House District 9

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Illinois House District 8 in 2026?

When is the Illinois House District 8 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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Also on your ballot

Illinois House District 10 Illinois House District 11 Illinois House District 12 See all 135 Cook County races

Candidate profiles

Shantel Franklin, full profile Official Illinois election office