The Ballot Brief
DeKalb County, Illinois

Illinois Senate District 35

2 candidates are tracked for Illinois Senate District 35 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Sarah B. Mertens and Dave Syverson. Candidate information follows official DeKalb County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Sarah B. Mertens (Democratic), Dave Syverson (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot; Dave Syverson 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, Dave Syverson, is on the ballot.

Illinois › DeKalb County › Illinois Senate District 35

Sarah B. Mertens

Democratic

Biography

Sarah B. Mertens is the Democratic candidate for Illinois Senate District 35 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.

Dave Syverson

Dave Syverson

Republican Incumbent

Biography

Dave Syverson is the incumbent state senator for the 35th District, per the official Illinois Senate website. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.

Next on your ballotIllinois Senate District 38

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Illinois Senate District 35 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Illinois Senate District 35 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Sarah B. Mertens and Dave Syverson. Candidate information follows official DeKalb County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Illinois Senate District 35 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 DeKalb 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 DeKalb County and state election office filings, last verified September 25, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Illinois election office, or see the full DeKalb County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your DeKalb County ballot

26 tracked races in DeKalb County, Illinois. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Illinois Senate District 45Illinois House District 70Illinois House District 74See all 26 DeKalb County races
Candidate profiles
Sarah B. Mertens, full profileDave Syverson, full profileOfficial Illinois election office