The filing deadline for candidates for major parties was November 30, 2015. The candidates listed below were the official filed candidates for the party primaries for each district, per the Illinois State Board of Elections.[1] Objections to a candidate's nomination papers needed to be filed by December 7, 2015.[2] The primaries were held on March 15.
Statewide
By district
Results of the 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois by district:[3]
The incumbent was Democrat Bobby Rush, who had represented the district since 1993. He was re-elected with 73% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of D+28.
Democratic primary
On November 12, 2015, Chicago Alderman Howard Brookins Jr. was reported to be circulating petitions to run for Congress, leading to speculation that Rush might retire.[4] Brookins had previously circulated petitions in 2013, but declined to run at that time when Rush announced for re-election.[5] Brookins announced that this time he would run for the seat, regardless of Rush's decision.[6] In November 2015, Rush announced that he would run for re-election.[7][8]
Former Cure Violence director and 2014 gubernatorial candidate Tio Hardiman had announced he would challenge Rush for the Democratic nomination.[9] Hardiman withdrew in order to run for Cook County Clerk of Court.[10]
The incumbent was Democrat Robin Kelly, who had represented the district since 2013. She was re-elected with 78% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of D+29.
Kelly considered running for the U.S. Senate, but decided to run for re-election instead.[15]
The incumbent was Democrat Dan Lipinski, who had represented the district since 2005. He was re-elected with 65% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of D+5.
Democratic primary
Incumbent Dan Lipinski ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination. Oren Jacobson, a tech entrepreneur, had formed an exploratory committee in May 2015 to consider a primary challenge of Lipinski.[16] Jacobson terminated the committee in July 2015.[17]
The incumbent was Democrat Luis Gutiérrez, who had represented the district since 1993. He was re-elected with 78% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of D+29.
Democratic primary
Javier Salas, a former journalist and former senior policy adviser to Governor Pat Quinn, challenged Gutiérrez for the Democratic nomination.[18][19] Salas cited Gutiérrez's support for Mayor Rahm Emanuel over challenger Chuy Garcia in the 2015 Chicago mayoral election as a reason for his primary challenge.[20]
The incumbent was Democrat Mike Quigley, who had represented the district since 2009. He was re-elected with 63% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of D+16.
The incumbent was Republican Peter Roskam, who had represented the district since 2007. He was re-elected with 67% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+4.
Republican primary
Glen Ellyn Park District commissioner Jay Kinzler opposed Roskam in the primary.[22] Kinzler ran to the political right of Roskam.[23]
The incumbent was Democrat Danny K. Davis, who had represented the district since 1997. He was re-elected with 85% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of D+36.
The incumbent was Democrat Tammy Duckworth, who had represented the district since 2013, and who retired so she could run for the United States Senate in 2016 against Republican incumbent Mark Kirk. She was re-elected with 56% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of D+8.
The incumbent was Democrat Jan Schakowsky, who had represented the district since 1999. She was re-elected with 66% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of D+15.
The incumbent was Republican Bob Dold, who had represented the district since 2015 and previously from 2011 to 2013. He was elected with 51% of the vote in 2014, defeating Democratic incumbent Brad Schneider. The district had a PVI of D+8, which made the 10th congressional district the most Democratic district in the country represented by a Republican. As such, Dold was a top Democratic target.[57]
Abner Mikva, former U.S. Representative, former Court of Appeals Judge and former White House Counsel (formerly represented the 10th District in Congress)[64]
The incumbent was Democrat Bill Foster, who had represented the district since 2013 and previously represented the 14th district from 2008 to 2011. He was re-elected with 53% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of D+8.
Foster considered running for the U.S. Senate, but decided to run for re-election instead.[87][88]
The incumbent was Republican Mike Bost, who had represented the district since 2015. He was elected with 52% of the vote in 2014, defeating Democratic incumbent William Enyart. The district had an even PVI.
On June 28 the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT) filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission with allegations of election illegality involving the Baricevic campaign.[104]
The incumbent was Republican Rodney L. Davis, who had represented the district since 2013. He was re-elected with 59% of the vote in 2014. The district had an even PVI. Davis ran for re-election.[106]
Physician David Gill, the Democratic nominee for this district in 2004, 2006, 2010, and 2012 announced that he would make a fifth run, but as an independent this time. In order to qualify for the general election ballot, Gill needed to file nomination papers by June 27, 2016.[2]
The incumbent was Republican Randy Hultgren, who had represented the district since 2011. He was re-elected with 65% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+5.
Republican primary
Joe Walsh, former Republican representative for Illinois's 8th congressional district from 2011 to 2013 and radio talk show host on 560 AM considered a primary bid against Hultgren.[115] Walsh did not file to run, leaving Hultgren unopposed for the Republican nomination.
The incumbent was Republican John Shimkus, who had represented the district since 2013 and previously represented the 19th district from 2003 to 2013 and the 20th district from 1997 to 2003. He was re-elected with 74% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+14. Shimkus ran for re-election.[106]
The incumbent was Republican Adam Kinzinger, who had represented the district since 2013 and previously represented the 11th district from 2011 to 2013. He was re-elected with 71% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+4.
Republican primary
Congressman Adam Kinzinger was considered a possible candidate for the U.S. Senate if Republican senator Mark Kirk had decided not to run again.[119] However, Senator Kirk ended up filing for re-election and Kinzinger remained running for re-election.[120]
Colin McGroarty announced on July 16, 2015, at a meeting of the Northern Illinois Tea Party that he would challenge Kinzinger for the Republican nomination.[121]
The incumbent was Democrat Cheri Bustos, who had represented the district since 2013. She was re-elected with 55% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of D+7.
Bustos considered running for the U.S. Senate, but decided to run for re-election instead.[122][123]
The incumbent was Republican Darin LaHood, who had represented the district since 2015. He was elected with 69% of the vote in the September 10, 2015 special election to fill the remainder of the term of former Congressman Aaron Schock. Aaron Schock, who had represented the district since 2009 resigned March 31, 2015 due to controversy over his spending. The district had a PVI of R+11.
Republican primary
Mark Zalcman, a Normal, Illinois attorney, planned to challenge Schock in the Republican primary election in March 2016. Zalcman promoted a platform based on his Christian Gospel-centered faith and values.[128] Zalcman declined to run in the special election due to a shortened period to obtain the necessary signatures to qualify for the ballot.[129] Zalcman announced that he would focus on the 2016 primary instead.[129] Zalcman did not file for this seat, leaving LaHood unopposed for the Republican nomination.
^Hinz, Greg (January 19, 2016). "Sen. Durbin's surprising move in north suburban congressional race". www.chicagobusiness.com. Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved February 27, 2016. In a move that definitely raised eyebrows, Sen. Dick Durbin yesterday threw his backing to Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering, who is trying to upset front-runner Schneider in the Democratic primary.
^ abcTrotter, Greg (February 27, 2016). "Highland Park mayor to run for Congress in 10th District". www.chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 27, 2015. She also listed the endorsements of David Hoffman, former Chicago inspector general and federal prosecutor; Dan Seals, former candidate for the 10th Congressional District; and Julie Hamos, former state representative.
^"Morning Spin: Two African-American congressmen stand by Emanuel despite police shootings". www.chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. January 6, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2016. *J Street PAC backs Rotering in IL-10: Nancy Rotering, a candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 10th Congressional District, has gotten the endorsement of J-Street PAC, a left-leaning pro-Israel group. In a statement, J Street's political director, Ben Shnider, called Rotering "a candidate who understands that hard-nosed diplomacy can succeed in promoting the interests of the U.S. and Israel."
^ abc"Candidates". electgoppatriots.org/. National Republican Congressional Committee. Archived from the original on October 1, 2016. Retrieved June 5, 2023.