The Ballot Brief
Warren County, Illinois

Illinois House District 71

2 candidates are tracked for Illinois House District 71 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Kermit Thomas and Dan Swanson. Candidate information follows official Warren County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

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.

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. The sitting officeholder, Dan Swanson, is on the ballot.

Illinois › Warren County › Illinois House District 71

Kermit Thomas

Democratic

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.

Biography

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.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
Dan Swanson

Dan Swanson

Republican Incumbent

Biography

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.

Next on your ballotIllinois House District 94

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Illinois House District 71 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Illinois House District 71 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Kermit Thomas and Dan Swanson. Candidate information follows official Warren County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Illinois House District 71 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 Warren 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 Warren 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 Warren County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Warren County ballot

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

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Regional Superintendent of Schools (Regional Office of Education #33)Circuit Court, 9th Judicial Circuit, Vacancy of Hon. CavanaughCircuit Court, 9th Judicial Circuit, Vacancy of Hon. StandardSee all 7 Warren County races
Candidate profiles
Kermit Thomas, full profileDan Swanson, full profileOfficial Illinois election office