McLean County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026

Unopposed: still on your ballot.

Sally J. Turner Republican Incumbent

Sally J. Turner is a graduate of the University of Illinois with a master's degree in Organizational Leadership from Lincoln Christian University, per her Illinois Senate biography. She was Logan County Clerk and Recorder from 1994 to 2018, a former juvenile probation officer, and is a professor at Lincoln Christian University, per the same source. Turner has served as Senator since 2021. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Sally J. Turner (Republican) is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; Sally J. Turner 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.

Unopposed: still on your ballot.

Chris Balkema Republican Incumbent

Top priorities

• Address illegal immigration and declared Grundy County a non-sanctuary county
• Protect the unborn at all stages
• Pursue new funding mechanisms to relieve property tax burdens, citing four consecutive years of reduced Grundy County property taxes

Per the campaign site.

About Chris Balkema

Balkema spent 30 years in the private sector at Caterpillar and served 13 years on the Grundy County Board, including six years as chairman, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Chris Balkema (Republican) is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; Chris Balkema 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.

Unopposed: still on your ballot.

William E Hauter Republican Incumbent

William E Hauter is the incumbent Illinois House member for the 87th District, per his official representative website. He is a physician from Morton, Illinois, board certified in Emergency Medicine and Anesthesiology, who practices at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, per his official representative website. Hauter graduated from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in 1997 and previously served on the Tazewell County Board. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.

William E Hauter (Republican) is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; William E Hauter 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.

Unopposed: still on your ballot.

Regan Deering Republican Incumbent

Regan Deering was sworn into the 104th General Assembly as a state representative in January 2025, representing parts of DeWitt, Macon, McLean, and Piatt counties, per her Illinois House of Representatives biography. Before serving as a legislator she worked as an educator teaching science in Chicago, then became a small business owner operating a Huntington Learning Center tutoring franchise location in Decatur, per the same source. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Duke University and a Master of Education from DePaul University. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Regan Deering (Republican) is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; Regan Deering 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.

Unopposed: still on your ballot.

Sharon Chung Democratic Incumbent

Sharon Chung is a teacher and professional musician and a member of the American Federation of Musicians Local 301, per her Illinois House of Representatives biography. She holds a Bachelor of Music from Illinois Wesleyan University and a Master of Music from Northwestern University, and is a former member of the McLean County Board, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Sharon Chung (Democratic) is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; Sharon Chung 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.

Unopposed: still on your ballot.

Tim Ruestman (Republican) is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot. The seat is open: Rep. Dennis Tipsword (Republican), 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.

Unopposed: still on your ballot.

Jason R. Bunting Republican Incumbent

Jason R. Bunting previously served as Highway Commissioner of Broughton Township and as a Livingston County Board member, per his Illinois House of Representatives biography. Until 2023 he was president of the Livingston County Farm Bureau and a director for the Illinois Corn Growers' Association, per the same source. Bunting holds an associate degree from Joliet Junior College and lives in Emington with his wife, Tasha, and their three children. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Jason R. Bunting (Republican) is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; Jason R. Bunting 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.