2 candidates are tracked for Judge of the Appellate Court, Third Judicial District on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Margaret "Peggy" O'Connell and Jason A. Helland. Candidate information follows official Will County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
To fill the vacancy of the Hon. Mary W. McDade, per the Illinois State Board of Elections' certified general election list for Will County.
Appellate or supreme court justice. Appellate judges review decisions of trial courts for legal error rather than retrying facts. A state supreme court is the final word on state law and the state constitution. Candidates may describe their experience and judicial philosophy but may not promise outcomes in particular cases.
Illinois › Will County › Judge of the Appellate Court, Third Judicial District
Democratic
Margaret "Peggy" O'Connell is a DuPage County Circuit Judge serving as presiding judge of the felony division. She was previously an Assistant State's Attorney and Assistant Attorney General in DuPage County, per the Illinois State Bar Association's judicial evaluations. She received the ISBA's Recommended rating.
Republican
Jason A. Helland was elected Grundy County State's Attorney in 2012 and has worked as a professor at the University of St. Francis and as an assistant state's attorney in Kankakee County, per the Illinois State Bar Association's judicial evaluations. He received the ISBA's Recommended rating. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Jason A. Helland.
Who is running for Judge of the Appellate Court, Third Judicial District in 2026?
2 candidates are tracked for Judge of the Appellate Court, Third Judicial District on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Margaret "Peggy" O'Connell and Jason A. Helland. Candidate information follows official Will County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Judge of the Appellate Court, Third Judicial District 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.
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.
37 tracked races in Will County, Illinois. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.