Rock Island County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
30 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across 23 Rock Island County races, led by the Rock Island County Clerk contest.
County offices
ClerkMaggie (McGrath) Crouch (D) · Steven G Rugh (R)
Maggie (McGrath) Crouch (Democratic) and Steven G Rugh (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Rock Island County Clerk.
Maggie (McGrath) Crouch
Maggie (McGrath) Crouch appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Rock Island County Clerk, per the official candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 22, 2026.
Steven G Rugh
Steven G Rugh appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Rock Island County Clerk, per the official candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 22, 2026.
Maggie (McGrath) Crouch is the Democratic nominee and Steven G Rugh is the Republican nominee, per the county clerk's certified candidate list. The sitting clerk, Karen Kinney, is not a candidate, so this is an open seat.
Full race pageSheriffMarcus Herbert (D) · Jamie M. Shoemaker (R)
Marcus Herbert (Democratic) and Jamie M. Shoemaker (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Rock Island County Sheriff.
Marcus Herbert
Top priorities
- A sheriff's office that is transparent, innovative, and responsive to the needs of all residents
- Community-oriented policing and building relationships between law enforcement and residents
Per the campaign site.
About Marcus Herbert
Marcus Herbert is a Sergeant with the Rock Island County Sheriff's Office with 20 years of service, currently supervising patrol operations, per Herbert's campaign website. Herbert began as a correctional officer in 2005, became a deputy sheriff in 2010 after graduating from the Police Training Institute at the University of Illinois, and earned bomb technician certification through the FBI's Hazardous Device School in 2014, and commands the Quad City Bomb Squad, per Herbert's campaign website.
Jamie M. Shoemaker
Top priorities
- Created and leads the IMPACT program, which provides resources for people experiencing mental illness, substance use, and crisis situations
- Led the county's Dementia Friendly Community certification and established a Dementia Task Force
- Serves on the Internet Crimes Against Children task force
Per the campaign site.
About Jamie M. Shoemaker
Jamie M. Shoemaker is a Detective with the Geneseo Police Department who began her law enforcement career in 2015 with the Rock Island County Sheriff's Office, per Shoemaker's campaign website. Shoemaker is an FBI-certified crisis negotiator and a board member of the Illinois Crisis Negotiator Association, and was named the 2024 Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board Female Officer of the Year, per Shoemaker's campaign website.
Marcus Herbert is the Democratic nominee and Jamie M. Shoemaker is the Republican nominee, per the county clerk's certified candidate list.
Full race pageTreasurerNick Camlin (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Nick Camlin
Top priorities
- Fiscal responsibility and close oversight of public funds, with transparent reporting
- Quality customer service so taxpayers feel heard and respected
- Maintaining the office's reputation for integrity built by previous treasurers
Per the campaign site.
About Nick Camlin
Nick Camlin is the sitting Rock Island County Treasurer, a post he has held since 2022, per Camlin's campaign website. Camlin previously served as chief deputy to the Rock Island County Clerk, as Rock Island County Board vice chair, as South Rock Island Township Clerk, and as a county board member for District 15, per Camlin's campaign website. Camlin holds a bachelor's degree from Augustana College and a master's degree from Lewis University, per Camlin's campaign website.
No Republican candidate filed. Nick Camlin is the Democratic nominee and is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the county clerk's certified candidate list.
Full race pageBoard, District 2Melissa Moreno Baker (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Melissa Moreno Baker
Melissa Moreno Baker is the sitting Rock Island County Board member for District 2, listed on the county's roster as Melissa M. Baker, per the Rock Island County Board website. Baker serves on the Committee of the Whole and the Governance/Health/Administration and Litigation committees, per the Rock Island County Board website. No campaign website was found as of September 22, 2026.
No Republican candidate filed. Melissa Moreno Baker is the Democratic nominee and is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the county clerk's certified candidate list.
Full race pageBoard, District 3Larry Burns (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Larry Burns
Larry Burns is the sitting Rock Island County Board member for District 3, per the Rock Island County Board website. Burns chairs the Public Works and Facilities committee and serves on the Committee of the Whole, per the Rock Island County Board website. No campaign website was found as of September 22, 2026.
No Republican candidate filed. Larry Burns is the Democratic nominee and is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the county clerk's certified candidate list.
Full race pageBoard, District 5Michael Burns (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Michael Burns
Michael Burns appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Rock Island County Board, District 5, per the official candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 22, 2026.
No Republican candidate filed. Michael Burns is the Democratic nominee and is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the county clerk's certified candidate list.
Full race pageBoard, District 7Carla Enburg (D) · John W Bohlander Jr (R)
Carla Enburg (Democratic) and John W Bohlander Jr (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Rock Island County Board, District 7.
Carla Enburg
Carla Enburg is the sitting Rock Island County Board member for District 7, per the Rock Island County Board website. Enburg chairs the Governance, Health, and Administration committee and serves on the Committee of the Whole, per the Rock Island County Board website. No campaign website was found as of September 22, 2026.
John W Bohlander Jr
John W Bohlander Jr appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Rock Island County Board, District 7, per the official candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 22, 2026.
Carla Enburg is the Democratic nominee and John W Bohlander Jr is the Republican nominee, per the county clerk's certified candidate list.
Full race pageBoard, District 8James Mountain (D) · Drue Mielke (R)
James Mountain (Democratic) and Drue Mielke (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Rock Island County Board, District 8.
James Mountain
James Mountain appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Rock Island County Board, District 8, per the official candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 22, 2026.
Drue Mielke
Drue Mielke represents District 8 on the Rock Island County Board, where he serves on the Governance and Litigation committees, per the county board's official roster. No campaign website was found as of September 22, 2026.
James Mountain is the Democratic nominee and Drue Mielke is the Republican nominee, per the county clerk's certified candidate list.
Full race pageBoard, District 9David L. Adams (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
David L. Adams
David L. Adams represents District 9 on the Rock Island County Board, where he chairs the Litigation committee and also serves on Public Works, per the county board's official roster. No campaign website was found as of September 22, 2026.
No Republican candidate filed. David L. Adams is the Democratic nominee and is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the county clerk's certified candidate list.
Full race pageBoard, District 12Edna A. Sowards (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Edna A. Sowards
Edna A. Sowards represents District 12 on the Rock Island County Board, where she serves on the Finance and Personnel committees, per the county board's official roster. No campaign website was found as of September 22, 2026.
No Republican candidate filed. Edna A. Sowards is the Democratic nominee and is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the county clerk's certified candidate list.
Full race pageBoard, District 13Robert J (Bob) Perkins (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Robert J (Bob) Perkins
Bob Perkins represents District 13 on the Rock Island County Board, where he serves on the Finance and Litigation committees, per the county board's official roster. No campaign website was found as of September 22, 2026.
No Republican candidate filed. Robert J (Bob) Perkins is the Democratic nominee and is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the county clerk's certified candidate list.
Full race pageBoard, District 18Chuck Layer (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Chuck Layer
Chuck Layer represents District 18 on the Rock Island County Board, where he serves on the Public Works and Facilities committees, per the county board's official roster. No campaign website was found as of September 22, 2026.
No Republican candidate filed. Chuck Layer is the Democratic nominee and is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the county clerk's certified candidate list.
Full race pageSchool board
Regional Superintendent of SchoolsTammy L. Muerhoff (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Tammy L. Muerhoff
Tammy L. Muerhoff is the sitting Rock Island County Regional Superintendent of Schools, a post she has held since August 2011, per OurQuadCities. Muerhoff previously taught in Head Start, pre-kindergarten special education, and first grade classrooms before joining the Regional Office of Education in 2002 as a parent educator, later serving as early childhood program coordinator and assistant regional superintendent, per OurQuadCities. Under her leadership the office earned COGNIA accreditation and created the R.I.S.E. Academy, an alternative learning program for students, per OurQuadCities. No campaign website was found as of September 22, 2026.
No Republican candidate filed. Tammy L. Muerhoff is the Democratic nominee and is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the county clerk's certified candidate list.
Full race pageJudges
Judicial Retention, Circuit Court Judge Terence M. Patton (14th Judicial Circuit)Nonpartisan race · Terence M. Patton
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Terence M. Patton is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Judicial Retention, Circuit Court Judge Terence M. Patton (14th Judicial Circuit).
Terence M. Patton
Terence M. Patton is a sitting judge of the 14th Judicial Circuit, which covers Henry, Mercer, Rock Island and Whiteside Counties; he was sworn in as a circuit judge in 2019 after previously serving as Henry County State's Attorney, per the Dispatch Argus. He faces a yes/no retention vote to remain in office. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
Circuit Court Judge Terence M. Patton faces a yes/no retention vote to remain in office as Judge of the 14th Judicial Circuit, per the county's certified sample ballot; retention requires a 60% yes vote under Illinois law.
Full race pageJudicial Retention, Circuit Court Judge Peter W. Church (14th Judicial Circuit)Nonpartisan race · Peter W. Church
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Peter W. Church is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Judicial Retention, Circuit Court Judge Peter W. Church (14th Judicial Circuit).
Peter W. Church
Peter W. Church is a Rock Island-based attorney who was appointed an associate judge in the 14th Judicial Circuit and has since been reappointed to the bench several times, per Quad-City Online and Whiteside County government. He faces a yes-or-no retention vote to remain in office in November 2026. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
Circuit Court Judge Peter W. Church faces a yes/no retention vote to remain in office as Judge of the 14th Judicial Circuit, per the county's certified sample ballot; retention requires a 60% yes vote under Illinois law.
Full race pageJudicial Retention, Circuit Court Judge John L. McGehee (14th Judicial Circuit)Nonpartisan race · John L. McGehee
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
John L. McGehee is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Judicial Retention, Circuit Court Judge John L. McGehee (14th Judicial Circuit).
John L. McGehee
John L. McGehee currently serves as a circuit judge in the 14th Judicial Circuit and is Presiding Judge of the Civil Division in Rock Island County, per Rock Island County government. He was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court as a resident circuit judge in the 14th Judicial Circuit effective May 1, 2019, after serving as Rock Island County State's Attorney since 2012 and, before that, 23 years in private practice as a partner at a Rock Island law firm, per the Illinois State Bar Association. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
Circuit Court Judge John L. McGehee faces a yes/no retention vote to remain in office as Judge of the 14th Judicial Circuit, per the county's certified sample ballot; retention requires a 60% yes vote under Illinois law.
Full race pageCircuit Court, 14th Judicial Circuit, Vacancy of Hon. ThompsonTionn Fambro Carter (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Tionn Fambro Carter
No campaign website was found as of September 25, 2026.
Tionn Fambro Carter is on the November 3, 2026 ballot to fill a vacancy on the 14th Judicial Circuit Court (the seat vacated by the Hon. Thompson). The 14th Judicial Circuit covers Henry, Mercer, Rock Island and Whiteside counties; every voter there votes on this seat. Illinois circuit judgeships are decided in contested partisan elections, unlike judicial retention questions. Listed from the Illinois State Board of Elections' certified 2026 general election candidate list.
Full race pageBy address
These seats are elected by district; only the district covering your address is on your ballot.
Rock Island County is split across 6 Illinois Senate and House districts.
Find your districts by addressIllinois Senate: 2 districtsDistricts 36, 47
Illinois Senate District 36Michael W. Halpin (D) · Brad Beekman (R)
Michael W. Halpin
Top priorities
- Bring supply chain jobs back to the United States and support sustainable economic development
- Provide property tax refund assistance to middle class homeowners
- End the practice of passing political offices to family members as an ethics reform
Per the campaign site.
About Michael W. Halpin
Halpin worked as a scheduler and aide to Congressman Lane Evans, clerked for Illinois Supreme Court Justice Rita B. Garman, and practiced law at McCarthy, Callas & Feeney, per the campaign site. Halpin holds a B.A. in political science from Roger Williams University and a J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law, and serves as Rock Island County Public Guardian, per the campaign site.
Brad Beekman
Top priorities
- Supports law enforcement
- Wants to lower the cost of living for Illinois residents
Per the campaign site.
About Brad Beekman
Brad Beekman is a retired Illinois State Police officer, per his campaign site. He retired as a Master Sergeant after 28 years in law enforcement and graduated from Western Illinois University with a bachelor's degree in Law Enforcement Administration, per WQAD. Beekman is the Republican nominee for Illinois Senate District 36 on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
Michael W. Halpin (Democratic), Brad Beekman (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot; Michael W. Halpin 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.
Full race pageIllinois Senate District 47Neil Anderson (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Neil Anderson
Neil Anderson is a professional firefighter and paramedic for the City of Moline, first elected to the Senate in 2015, per his Illinois Senate biography. He was raised in the Quad Cities, worked in his family's flooring business, and joined the Moline Fire Department in 2006, per the same source. Anderson was appointed Senate Republican Caucus Chair in 2023 and lives in Andalusia with his wife, Brandi, and their two children. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Neil Anderson (Republican) is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; Neil Anderson 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.
Full race pageIllinois House: 4 districtsDistricts 71, 72, 73, 94
Illinois House District 71Kermit Thomas (D) · Dan Swanson (R)
Kermit Thomas
Top priorities
- Wants to redirect state investment to District 71 for jobs, small businesses, and infrastructure
- Supports expanding access to affordable healthcare, including mental health treatment, and protecting rural hospitals from closure
- Supports streamlined access to veterans' benefits, healthcare, and career resources
Per the campaign site.
About Kermit Thomas
Kermit Thomas served in the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division and spent 27 years as an Army Logistics Officer, retiring in 2016 as a field grade officer at the Rock Island Arsenal, per his campaign site. He graduated from Prairie View A&M University with a degree in business marketing, and has since worked at John Deere, served as a local substitute teacher, and founded Timrek3 Productions, per the same source. Thomas is the Democratic nominee for Illinois House District 71 on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
Dan Swanson
Dan Swanson is a family farmer and retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Illinois Army National Guard, born July 30, 1959, in Woodhull, per his Illinois House of Representatives biography. He attended Black Hawk East and Western Illinois University and is a former member of the AlWood Board of Education and the Henry County Board, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Kermit Thomas (Democratic), Dan Swanson (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot; Dan Swanson 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.
Full race pageIllinois House District 72Gregg Johnson (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Gregg Johnson
Gregg Johnson spent thirty-two years with the Illinois Department of Corrections, serving as an officer and supervisor, per his Illinois House of Representatives biography. He is a lifelong AFSCME member and former local union president, and a Rock Island County native who resides in East Moline with his wife, Celia, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Gregg Johnson (Democratic) is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; Gregg Johnson 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.
Full race pageIllinois House District 73Nicole Dopler (D) · Ryan Spain (R)
Nicole Dopler
Top priorities
- Wants to protect access to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security
- Supports lowering utility costs for residents
Per the campaign site.
About Nicole Dopler
Nicole Dopler has worked in the medical field since 1996 and is a mother of five, per her campaign site. She is a lifelong Illinois resident from a union family who graduated from Riverdale Senior High and received an associate's degree from Black Hawk College, per OurQuadCities. Dopler is the Democratic nominee for Illinois House District 73 on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
Ryan Spain
Ryan Spain is a Bronze Tablet Scholar graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with an MBA from Bradley University, per his Illinois House of Representatives biography. He is a former Peoria City Council member and board member for the Peoria Downtown Development Corporation and Greater Peoria Economic Development Council, per the same source. Spain serves as Deputy Minority Leader in the Illinois House. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Nicole Dopler (Democratic), Ryan Spain (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot; Ryan Spain 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.
Full race pageIllinois House District 94Joshua S. Higgins (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Joshua S. Higgins
Joshua S. Higgins is an Air Force veteran and crop insurance salesman from Henderson County, per Muddy River News. He is the Republican nominee for Illinois House District 94, a district that also includes all or parts of Adams, Fulton, Hancock, Knox, Mason, McDonough, Mercer, Peoria, Rock Island, Schuyler, Tazewell, and Warren counties, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Joshua S. Higgins (Republican) is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot. The seat is open: Rep. Norine K. Hammond (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.
Full race pageBallot questions
2 local ballot questions from official county, city and school district lists. Countywide questions appear on every ballot in Rock Island County; city, school district and special-district questions only inside the jurisdiction named. Statewide measures are listed separately.
Orion Community Unit School District No. 223 Board Election Method PropositionLocal · Orion CUSD 223 is asking voters within its boundaries whether to switch its school board to at-large elections instead of by residence area.
Orion CUSD 223 is asking voters within its boundaries whether to switch its school board to at-large elections instead of by residence area.
Full detailsRockridge Community Unit School District No. 300 Board Election Method PropositionLocal · Rockridge CUSD 300 is asking voters within its boundaries whether to switch its school board to at-large elections instead of by residence area.
Rockridge CUSD 300 is asking voters within its boundaries whether to switch its school board to at-large elections instead of by residence area.
Full detailsSee your full ballot
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Verify your ballot with the official election office.
Cross-check every race and candidate with the official election office. Official sources are the final word.
Illinois nominated by plurality at the March 17 primary (no runoffs); unopposed nominees still print, and independent and new-party candidates who filed petitions by June 22 join the November 3 ballot once the State Board of Elections rules on objections, per the Board's certified candidate list.
Who is on the ballot in Rock Island County, Illinois on November 3, 2026?
Rock Island County sample ballot 2026: see where the county clerk, county sheriff and county board candidates stand on housing, public safety and the budget. Every candidate profile on this page names the official filing or campaign source it came from.
When is the 2026 general election in Illinois?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Illinois are listed on the Illinois election hub. Illinois election hub →
What ballot questions are on the Rock Island County ballot?
2 ballot questions: Orion Community Unit School District No. 223 Board Election Method Proposition; Rockridge Community Unit School District No. 300 Board Election Method Proposition. Each question page explains what a yes vote and a no vote would do.
How do I see my exact Rock Island County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup for the statewide and congressional races on every ballot in the county, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location. Look up your ballot →
Sample ballot by ZIP code in Rock Island County17 ZIP codes
Candidate roster last updated Sep 27, 2026 from official election sources.