Kendall County, Illinois

Illinois Senate District 42

2 candidates are tracked for Illinois Senate District 42 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Jared Ploger and Edgardo "Eddie" Perez. Candidate information follows official Kendall County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Jared Ploger (Democratic), Edgardo "Eddie" Perez (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot. The seat is open: Sen. Linda Holmes (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 › Kendall County › Illinois Senate District 42

Jared Ploger

Democratic

Top priorities

Fully fund schools and support educators and staff
Property tax relief for families and seniors
Lower costs for groceries, childcare and utilities

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Jared Ploger is a longtime teacher and union leader who serves as president of Valley View Council Local 604 of the American Federation of Teachers, per his campaign site. He was chosen by Democratic Party county chairs to fill the 42nd District Senate ballot vacancy left by outgoing Sen. Linda Holmes, per Capitol News Illinois.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Edgardo "Eddie" Perez

Republican

Top priorities

Public safety and support for families
Opposing tax increases affecting working families

Per the Illinois Senate Republican Victory Fund.

Biography

Edgardo "Eddie" Perez is the Republican candidate for Illinois Senate District 42 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the State Board of Elections' certified candidate list. Perez is a U.S. Air Force veteran with a 30-year law enforcement career, including service as an Illinois State Police Inspector and Batavia Police sergeant, per the Illinois Senate Republican Victory Fund's candidacy announcement. Since retiring in 2016 he has worked as Defensive Tactics Coordinator for the Kane County Sheriff's Tactical Operations Division and founded a martial arts program for at-risk youth. He is running against incumbent Sen. Linda Holmes. No independently verifiable campaign site was found. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Illinois Senate District 42 in 2026?

When is the Illinois Senate District 42 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 Kendall 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 Kendall County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Kendall County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

Illinois House District 83 Illinois House District 84 Illinois House District 97 See all 7 Kendall County races

Candidate profiles

Jared Ploger, full profile Edgardo "Eddie" Perez, full profile Official Illinois election office