DuPage County, Illinois

Circuit Court, 18th Judicial Circuit, 5th Subcircuit, Vacancy of Hon. Fullerton

One candidate is tracked for Circuit Court, 18th Judicial Circuit, 5th Subcircuit, Vacancy of Hon. Fullerton on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Terra Costa Howard. Candidate information follows official DuPage County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Terra Costa Howard is on the November 3, 2026 ballot to fill a vacancy in the 5th Subcircuit of the 18th Judicial Circuit (the seat vacated by the Hon. Fullerton). The 18th Judicial Circuit covers DuPage County, but this subcircuit seat is elected only by voters inside its own subcircuit boundaries (this county list cannot narrow which part; check your sample ballot or county clerk). Listed from the Illinois State Board of Elections' certified 2026 general election candidate list.

What this office does

Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.

This race. The sitting officeholder, Terra Costa Howard, is on the ballot. One name is on the ballot for this seat.

Illinois › DuPage County › Circuit Court, 18th Judicial Circuit, 5th Subcircuit, Vacancy of Hon. Fullerton

Terra Costa Howard

Democratic Incumbent

Biography

Terra Costa Howard was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court as a Resident Circuit Judge in the 18th Judicial Circuit's 5th Subcircuit effective October 17, 2025, after representing the 42nd district in the Illinois House of Representatives from 2023 to 2025, per Illinois Courts / Illinois State Bar Association. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Terra Costa Howard.

Next on your ballotIllinois Senate District 21

See your full ballot

Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Circuit Court, 18th Judicial Circuit, 5th Subcircuit, Vacancy of Hon. Fullerton in 2026?

When is the Circuit Court, 18th Judicial Circuit, 5th Subcircuit, Vacancy of Hon. Fullerton 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 DuPage 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 DuPage County and state election office filings, last verified September 29, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your DuPage County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

Illinois Senate District 23 Illinois Senate District 24 Illinois Senate District 33 See all 47 DuPage County races

Candidate profiles

Terra Costa Howard, full profile Official Illinois election office