2 candidates are tracked for Judge of the Appellate Court, Third Judicial District (vacancy of the Hon. Mary W. McDade) on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Margaret "Peggy" O'Connell and Jason A. Helland. Candidate information follows official DuPage County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
Margaret "Peggy" O'Connell won the Democratic nomination with 70.33 percent of the vote over John Pavich; Jason A. Helland won the Republican nomination with 51.89 percent of the vote over Mark Senak, in the March 17 primary. They meet on the November 3 ballot, per the county's official canvass.
Appellate or supreme court justice. Appellate judges review decisions of trial courts for legal error rather than retrying facts. A state supreme court is the final word on state law and the state constitution. Candidates may describe their experience and judicial philosophy but may not promise outcomes in particular cases.
Illinois › DuPage County › Judge of the Appellate Court, Third Judicial District (vacancy of the Hon. Mary W. McDade)
Democratic
Margaret O'Connell has served as a DuPage County Circuit Judge since 2020, currently presiding over the felony division, after working as a DuPage County Assistant State's Attorney, Assistant Attorney General and in private practice, per Illinois State Bar Association judicial evaluations. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Margaret "Peggy" O'Connell.
Republican
Jason Helland was elected Grundy County State's Attorney in 2012, after working as an assistant state's attorney in Kankakee County and as a professor at the University of St. Francis, per Illinois State Bar Association judicial evaluations. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Jason A. Helland.
Who is running for Judge of the Appellate Court, Third Judicial District (vacancy of the Hon. Mary W. McDade) in 2026?
2 candidates are tracked for Judge of the Appellate Court, Third Judicial District (vacancy of the Hon. Mary W. McDade) on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Margaret "Peggy" O'Connell and Jason A. Helland. Candidate information follows official DuPage County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Judge of the Appellate Court, Third Judicial District (vacancy of the Hon. Mary W. McDade) 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.
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.
47 tracked races in DuPage County, Illinois. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.