Cook County, Illinois

Illinois Senate District 27

2 candidates are tracked for Illinois Senate District 27 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Carina Santa Maria and David Mathis. Candidate information follows official Cook County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Carina Santa Maria (Democratic), David Mathis (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot. The seat is open: Sen. Mark L. Walker (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 27

Carina Santa Maria

Democratic

Top priorities

Lowering the cost of living, including property taxes and healthcare
Expanding affordable housing, including for youth aging out of foster care
Community safety and mental health services

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Carina Santa Maria is the Democratic candidate for Illinois Senate District 27 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the State Board of Elections' certified candidate list. Santa Maria is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Executive Director of Shelter, Inc., a child welfare agency in Arlington Heights, per her campaign site. She was elected an Arlington Heights Village Trustee in 2025. She is running for the open 27th District seat being vacated by Sen. Mark L. Walker.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

David Mathis

Republican

Top priorities

Fiscal responsibility and government transparency
Support for working families and small businesses
Public safety

Per the campaign site.

Biography

David Mathis is a retired U.S. Marine Corps and Army National Guard veteran with 24 years of combined service, per his campaign site. He works as a security professional and lives in Arlington Heights.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Illinois Senate District 27 in 2026?

When is the Illinois Senate District 27 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 Senate District 30 Illinois Senate District 39 Illinois Senate District 41 See all 135 Cook County races

Candidate profiles

Carina Santa Maria, full profile David Mathis, full profile Official Illinois election office