Updates on results for Illinois primary Election Day 2026, candidates as voting closes

While a lot of money has been poured into the Illinois U.S. Senate race, there are several House seats also open.

In Illinois' 2nd Congressional District, 11 candidates are looking to fill the seat that's being left open by U.S. Representative Robin Kelly as she runs for U.S. Senate.

The district covers parts of the city's South Side down to the south suburbs and parts of central Illinois.

A name familiar to Chicagoans, and particularly voters in the 2nd Congressional District, is Jesse Jackson Jr. He is still mourning the loss of his father, Reverend Jesse Jackson.

Jackson Jr. represented the 2nd District from 1995-2012, and then served time after pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges. The former congressman is hoping the voters give him another chance to represent them.

Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller has been campaigning throughout the long district from 43rd Street in Chicago to Kankakee. Out-of-state donor money for Miller has gotten publicized, but Miller contends voters are more interested in what she can do to help families of the 2nd District.

State Senator Robert Peters has been talking with voters over the last few months on the campaign trial. The South Side native and former community organizer was appointed to the state legislature in 2019

No fewer than 13 Democrats are vying for the nomination for a seat that has been held for 30 years by retiring Congressman Danny Davis.

One of those candidates, state Rep. LaShawn Ford, has Davis' endorsement. But at his West Side polling place on Tuesday morning, he ran into some voting problems.

State Rep. LaShawn Ford, who has Congressman Danny Davis' endorsement, ran into some voting problems on Tuesday.

The crowded field of candidates also includes Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, who is endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union.

Community organizer Kina Collins is making her fourth run for the nomination.

Real estate developer Jason Friedman raised $2.5 million, which is the most money in the race and more than triple than his closest competitor.

Anthony Driver, Richard Boykin, and Dr. Thomas Fisher are also among the candidates.

On the Republican side of the race, Chad Koppie and Patricia Easley are squaring off.

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Polls are expected to close at 7 p.m. across Illinois, and results should come in after that.

Click here for local results.

Over the decades, Manny's Deli has become a hub for Chicago politics.

Manny's Deli continues to be a mainstay on Election Day.

Local leaders said, a stop on Election Day is practically required for candidates on the campaign trail.

On any given day, the line at Manny's Deli stretches out the door. But on Election Day, the crowd isn't just hungry for pastrami: It's full of politicians, campaign staff and political insiders.

"It's not just for the food. It's for people to be able to say hello to each other, to be able to bring their camps together, to be able to support the candidates that we have on the ticket," 26th Ward Ald. Jessie Fuentes said.

The restaurant has been in Ken Raskin's family since his grandfather opened it in 1942, building a reputation serving classic Jewish deli favorites.

"Corned beef with pastrami sandwich, matzah ball soup, potato pancakes," Raskin said. "It started with David Axelrod. He used to come in here; my father befriended him. He felt very comfortable here."

Raskin says Axelrod made the deli his office.

Soon, former President Barack Obama was a regular, taking a victory lap there after first being elected in 2008.

It's become such a chance to network that former Secretary of State Jesse White jokes it's noticeable who's not there.

"You will be missed. And you will be reprimanded," White said.

Raskin says he's glad the deli is part of a tradition: one he hopes will continue in the hands of his son, Dan, the fourth generation to run the restaurant.

Even though Raskin handed over the reigns, he says it's all-hands-on-deck for Election Day.

"Let me put it this way, I blocked out my shared calendar with my wife, no trips this week," Raskin said.

Manny's is proof that sometimes some of the biggest political conversations don't happen in City Hall, but instead, over a corned beef sandwich.