The Ballot Brief
Stephenson County, Illinois

Circuit Court, 15th Judicial Circuit, Vacancy of Hon. Hauser

One candidate is tracked for Circuit Court, 15th Judicial Circuit, Vacancy of Hon. Hauser on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Judd Thruman. Candidate information follows official Stephenson County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Judd Thruman is on the November 3, 2026 ballot to fill a vacancy on the 15th Judicial Circuit Court (the seat vacated by the Hon. Hauser). The 15th Judicial Circuit covers Carroll, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle and Stephenson 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.

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. One name is on the ballot for this seat.

Illinois › Stephenson County › Circuit Court, 15th Judicial Circuit, Vacancy of Hon. Hauser

Judd Thruman

Republican

Biography

Judd Thruman graduated near the top of his class from Northern Illinois University College of Law in 1999 and has practiced law in Stephenson County since 2002 as a partner at Fishburn Whiton Thruman Ltd., per his campaign website. He has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including as Chairman of the Freeport Area Chamber of Commerce, per the same source.

Next on your ballotCircuit Court, 15th Judicial Circuit, Vacancy of Hon. Ward

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Circuit Court, 15th Judicial Circuit, Vacancy of Hon. Hauser in 2026?

One candidate is tracked for Circuit Court, 15th Judicial Circuit, Vacancy of Hon. Hauser on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Judd Thruman. Candidate information follows official Stephenson County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Circuit Court, 15th Judicial Circuit, Vacancy of Hon. Hauser 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 Stephenson 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 Stephenson 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 Stephenson County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Stephenson County ballot

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

Also on your ballot
Illinois Senate District 45Illinois House District 89Illinois House District 90See all 5 Stephenson County races
Candidate profiles
Judd Thruman, full profileOfficial Illinois election office