Democrats have won control of both chambers of Congress, delivering a decisive rebuke of Republican governance in Washington and ushering in a new era of congressional resistance to President Donald Trump.
In addition, more than 71% voters in suburban Cook County also voted in favor of the nonbinding ballot question, according to unofficial results from the Cook County Clerk’s office.
Chicago appears set for a divided school board after residents elected a new president for the first time and a handful of Chicago Teachers Union-backed incumbents were defeated in Tuesday’s election.
Election 2026
JB Pritzker Wins Rare Third Term as Governor Defeating Darren Bailey in Rematch
Gov. JB Pritzker has touted his management of the state’s coffers and improvement of the badly out-of-whack finances he blames in large part on his Republican predecessor. For his part, Darren Bailey says property taxes and affordability are making Illinois an undesirable place to live.
Juliana Stratton Wins Race to Replace Dick Durbin in US Senate
Juliana Stratton, the former Illinois state representative and current lieutenant governor, will become just the sixth Black woman to serve in the U.S. Senate following her historic victory in Tuesday’s election. The Associated Press called the race for Stratton.
Biggs Declares Victory in Race to Become Chicago’s First Elected Board of Education President
Current board member Jessica Biggs, former Chicago Teachers Union political director Hilario Dominguez and trial attorney Victor Henderson squared off in Tuesday’s hotly contested election.
Federal Monitors Were Present at Some Chicago Polling Locations; Ballot Shortages Reported at Multiple Sites
Presidential elections typically drive higher turnout than midterms. However, a combination of factors from the economy to the actions of federal immigration agents have potential to drive more people to the polls in 2026.
Politicians Make the Traditional Election Day Pilgrimage to Manny’s Deli
It wouldn’t be Election Day in Chicago without politicians packed shoulder to shoulder at Manny’s Cafeteria & Delicatessen.
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Policing
Since 2019, the Chicago Police Department has operated under a consent decree.
This federal court order requires CPD to stop routinely violating Black and Latino residents’ constitutional
rights.
It also forces the overhaul of how officers are trained, supervised and disciplined.
WTTW News dives deep into why reform is so slow and how policing in Chicago continues to evolve.
