The Ballot Brief
Cook County, Illinois

Illinois Senate District 18

2 candidates are tracked for Illinois Senate District 18 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Frances Ann Hurley and Christine McGovern. Candidate information follows official Cook County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Frances Ann Hurley (Democratic), Christine McGovern (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot. The seat is open: Sen. Bill Cunningham (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 Senate District 18

Frances Ann Hurley

Democratic

Biography

Frances Ann Hurley is the Democratic candidate for Illinois Senate District 18 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the State Board of Elections' certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.

Christine McGovern

Republican

Top priorities
  • Parental rights and school choice in education
  • Support for small businesses and law enforcement
  • Fiscal responsibility and pension-crisis reform

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Christine McGovern is a small business owner who operates a real estate company specializing in residential and business investments, per her campaign site. She has lived in the south suburbs for 29 years and holds a degree in economics and communication from Northern Illinois University.

Next on your ballotIllinois Senate District 20

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Voting info and more

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Illinois Senate District 18 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Illinois Senate District 18 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Frances Ann Hurley and Christine McGovern. Candidate information follows official Cook County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Illinois Senate District 18 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 Senate District 23Illinois Senate District 24Illinois Senate District 26See all 135 Cook County races
Candidate profiles
Frances Ann Hurley, full profileChristine McGovern, full profileOfficial Illinois election office