IVCA Provides Updates for State Legislative Issues 10/28/2026
ILLINOIS VENTURE CAPITAL ASSOCIATION ILLINOIS LEGISLATIVE REPORT
David Stricklin / Stricklin & Associates
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
VOTERS VERDICT WILL COME QUICKLY TUESDAY
Big picture, Democrats are poised to retain or even slightly increase their considerable majorities in the Illinois General Assembly and keep all the statewide offices. The Democratic legislators being elected are In most instances more “progressive” than the outgoing Democrats they are replacing and are certainly more “progressive” than the Republicans they may defeat. This puts a premium on IVCA members being engaged with their local legislators to ensure we can communicate effectively at the local level the value of a vibrant private investment ecosystem in Illinois.
After the polls close Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. the networks and news agencies will call the race at 7:01 p.m. in favor of Democratic incumbent Governor JB Pritzker in his rematch against former legislator Darrin Bailey. Bailey might do less well than four years ago, and Illinois Republicans continue to face a dilemma wherein their primary voters nominate candidates who have a difficult time statewide. Also, at 7:01 p.m. the speculation on when Governor Pritzker announces he’s running for president will kick into overdrive. Some might suggest there’s time to wait, maybe see how the 2027 legislative session goes, but the governor has been aggressively making campaign contributions in battleground races across the country, and it seems more likely that he’ll announce sooner than later.
In the Illinois General Assembly, we are particularly watching for the results in Lake County where appointed Senator Darby Hills faces a challenge from State Rep. Nabeela Syed for the 26th Senate District. There is also a spirited contest for one of the House seats in the 26th, the where incumbent Rep. Marty McLaughlin faces Democratic challenger Maria Peterson. Peterson is making her third try for office in the region and is in a rematch from 2024 with McLaughlin.
McLaughlin vs. Peterson in the 52nd
Democrats are defending a pair of seats in the far west suburbs and in a district which includes DeKalb where the issues of misconduct by former or current members are driving the campaigns of Republican challengers against State Rep. Jessica Dixon Heitman and State Rep. Amy "Murri" Briel.