Will County, Illinois

Illinois House District 97

2 candidates are tracked for Illinois House District 97 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Jessica Dixon Heitman and Gabby Shanahan. Candidate information follows official Will County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Jessica Dixon Heitman (Democratic), Gabby Shanahan (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot. The seat is open: Rep. Harry Benton (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 › Will County › Illinois House District 97

Jessica Dixon Heitman

Democratic

Top priorities

Strengthen public schools
Ease the property tax burden
Support local businesses and workers' rights

Per the Capitol News Illinois.

Biography

Jessica Dixon Heitman is the Democratic candidate for Illinois House District 97 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the State Board of Elections' certified candidate list. Dixon Heitman was appointed in July 2026 to complete the 97th District term and is the Democratic nominee for the seat in November. She is president of the communications firm Dixon/Heitman Collective and holds a bachelor's degree in communications and English from the University of Missouri, per Capitol News Illinois. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.

Gabby Shanahan

Republican

Top priorities

Lower the cost of living and taxes
Create opportunities for youth, including college affordability
Integrity and accountability in leadership

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Gabby Shanahan describes herself as a mother and community volunteer running on affordability and government integrity, per her campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotIllinois House District 98

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Illinois House District 97 in 2026?

When is the Illinois House District 97 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 Will 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 Will County and state election office filings, last verified September 29, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Will County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

Will County Clerk Will County Sheriff Will County Treasurer See all 37 Will County races

Candidate profiles

Jessica Dixon Heitman, full profile Gabby Shanahan, full profile Official Illinois election office