The 2018 Illinois Attorney General election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the attorney general of Illinois. Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Lisa Madigan, who had served since 2003, did not seek re-election to a fifth term. Democrat Kwame Raoul won the election with 55 percent of the vote, while Republican Erika Harold took 43 percent of the vote.
Election information The primaries and general elections coincided with those for federal congressional races and those for other state offices. The election was part of the 2018 Illinois elections.
Turnout
For the primary elections, turnout was 24.57%, with 1,951,981 votes cast. For the general election, turnout was 56.16%, with 4,548,409 votes cast.
Democratic primary
Candidates Declared Scott Drury, state representative Sharon Fairley, chief administrator of the Chicago Civilian Office of Police Accountability Aaron Goldstein, Democratic committeeman for Chicago's 33rd ward and former defense attorney for Rod Blagojevich Renato Mariotti, former federal prosecutor, television legal analyst and commentator Pat Quinn, former governor of Illinois (2009–2015) and lieutenant governor of Illinois (2003–2009) Kwame Raoul, state senator Nancy Rotering, mayor of Highland Park Jesse Ruiz, Chicago Park District President and former chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education
Declined Jennifer Burke, former member of the Illinois Pollution Control Board Sarah Burke, director of external affairs at Northwestern Memorial Hospital Gery Chico, former chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education Tom Dart, Cook County sheriff and nominee for Illinois State Treasurer in 2002 Zach Fardon, former United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Kim Foxx, Cook County state's attorney Jack D. Franks, chairman of the McHenry County Board James Glasgow, Will County state's attorney Mike Hastings, state senator David Hoffman, former federal prosecutor, former Chicago Inspector General, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2010 Dan Hynes, former Illinois comptroller (1999–2011), candidate for U.S. Senate in 2004, and candidate for governor in 2010 Lori Lightfoot, president of the Chicago Police Board Mike McRaith, former director of the Federal Insurance Office Elaine Nekritz, assistant majority Leader of the Illinois House of Representatives Andrew Schapiro, former United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic Ira Silverstein, majority caucus chair of the Illinois Senate. Mariyana Spyropoulos, president of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Chris Welch, state representative Ann Williams, state representative Andrea Zopp, deputy mayor of Chicago and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2016
Endorsements
Polling {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;text-align:center;" |- valign=bottom ! Poll source ! Date(s)administered ! Samplesize ! Marginof error ! style="width:45px;"| KwameRaoul ! style="width:45px;"| PatQuinn ! style="width:45px;"| NancyRotering ! style="width:45px;"| JesseRuiz ! style="width:45px;"| RenatoMariotti ! style="width:45px;"| SharonFairley ! style="width:45px;"| AaronGoldstein ! style="width:45px;"| ScottDrury ! Other ! Undecided |- |style="text-align:left;"|Victory ResearchVictory Research | align=center| March 13–16, 2018 | align=center| 1,204 | align=center| ± 2.8% | align=center| 24% | align=center| 26% | align=center| 6% | align=center| 4% | align=center| 3% | align=center| 8% | align=center| 4% | align=center| 10% | align=center| – | align=center| 16% |- |style="text-align:left;"|Capitol Fax/We Ask AmericaCapitol Fax/We Ask America | align=center| March 7–8, 2018 | align=center| 1,029 | align=center| ± 3.06% | align=center| 15% | align=center| 23% | align=center| 6% | align=center| 3% | align=center| 3% | align=center| 3% | align=center| 2% | align=center| 3% | align=center| – | align=center| 43% |- |style="text-align:left;"|Southern Illinois UniversitySouthern Illinois University | align=center| February 19–25, 2018 | align=center| 472 | align=center| ± 4.5% | align=center| 22% | align=center| 18% | align=center| 5% | align=center| 4% | align=center| 3% | align=center| 3% | align=center| 3% | align=center| 2% | align=center| 1% | align=center| 39%
Debate + 2018 Illinois attorney general Democratic primary debate Date Host Moderator Link Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic DemocraticKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Scott Drury Sharon Fairley Aaron Goldstein Renato Mariotti Pat Quinn Kwame Raoul Nancy Rotering Jesse Ruiz1 January 8, 2018 Democracy for America Amara EnyiaYouTube 2 February 16, 2018 Illinois Democratic CountyChairs Association Amanda VinickyYouTube 3 March 4, 2018 Cards Against HumanityChicago Sun-TimesLucy Moog2nd Ward Democrats Justin KaufmannYouTube 4 March 7, 2018 Better Government AssociationWLS-TV YouTube (Part 1)YouTube (Part 2)YouTube (Part 3)YouTube (Part 4)YouTube (Part 5)YouTube (Part 6)
Results
Republican primary Candidates Declared Gary Grasso, DuPage County Board member and former mayor of Burr Ridge"Rauner faces war on two fronts as Republican challenger Ives attacks", Chicago Tribune, December 4, 2017. Retrieved December 5, 2017. Erika Harold, former Miss America and candidate for Illinois's 13th congressional district in 2014
Declined Jason Barickman, state senator Daniel Cronin, chairman of the DuPage County Board Tom Cross, former minority leader of the Illinois House of Representatives and nominee for Illinois State Treasurer in 2014 Kirk Dillard, former state senator and candidate for governor in 2010 and 2014 Jim Durkin, minority leader of the Illinois House of Representatives Joseph McMahon, Kane County state's attorney
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error ErikaHarold GaryGrasso UndecidedSouthern Illinois University February 19–25, 2018 259 ± 6.0% 18% 14% 65%
Forum + 2018 Illinois attorney general Republican primary candidate forum Date Host Moderator Link Republican RepublicanKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Gary Grasso Erika Harold1 March 7, 2018 Better Government AssociationWLS-TV YouTube (Part 1)YouTube (Part 2)YouTube (Part 3)YouTube (Part 4)YouTube (Part 5)
Results
Third party and independents Candidates Declared Bubba Harsy (Libertarian)
Declined Tyson Manker, Iraq War veteran and candidate for Morgan County state's attorney in 2016
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs ofGoverningOctober 26, 2018
Forum + 2018 Illinois attorney general pre-primary all candidate forum Date Host Moderator Link Democratic Democratic Democratic Republican Republican Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic DemocraticKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Scott Drury Sharon Fairley Aaron Goldstein Gary Grasso Erika Harold Renato Mariotti Pat Quinn Kwame Raoul Nancy Rotering Jesse Ruiz1 March 7, 2018 Illinois Campaign for Political ReformUnion League Club of Chicago Carol MarinYouTube
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error KwameRaoul (D) ErikaHarold (R) BubbaHarsy (L) UndecidedVictory Research September 27 – October 2, 2018 1,208 ± 2.8% 44% 33% 5% 18%Southern Illinois UniversitySouthern Illinois University September 24–29, 2018 715 ± 3.7% 36% 26% – 39%Research America Inc.Research America Inc. September 5–13, 2018 1,024 ± 3.1% 43% 32% – 25%We Ask AmericaWe Ask America June 9–11, 2018 600 ± 4.0% 44% 35% – 21%
Results
By congressional district Raoul won 10 of 18 congressional districts, with the remaining 8 going to Harold, including three that elected Democrats.
District Raoul Harold Representative74% 24%Bobby Rush77% 21%Robin Kelly 55% 42%Dan Lipinski80% 18%Chuy García68% 30%Mike Quigley 47%50%Sean Casten83% 15%Danny Davis56% 41%Raja Krishnamoorthi66% 31%Jan Schakowsky58% 40%Brad Schneider57% 40%Bill Foster 43% 53%Mike Bost 44% 53%Rodney Davis 45% 52%Lauren Underwood 26% 71%John Shimkus 39% 58%Adam Kinzinger 47% 50%Cheri Bustos 32% 65%Darin LaHood
See also 2018 Illinois elections
Notes
References
External links Official campaign websites Erika Harold (R) for Attorney General Bubba Harsy (L) for Attorney General Kwame Raoul (D) for Attorney General