Primary elections for key local, state and federal seats in the Peoria area will be held on March 17, setting the stage for what figures to be pivotal general elections on Nov. 3.
What’s on the ballot in Peoria County?
What you’ll see on your primary election ballot will differ depending on if you take a Democratic, Republican or non-partisan ballot.
A list of polling places and sample ballots can be found at the Peoria County Election Commission website.
Peoria school board races
A pair of contested school board races are the highlight of primary elections in Peoria County this year.
In those school board elections, which are non-partisan contests, Andy Diaz faces off against David Daye in District 2, and Sarah Howard is up against Douglas Shannon in District 3.
The candidates made their opinions heard at a debate on Feb. 3, where each laid out their vision for the betterment of Peoria Public Schools.
Diaz, a marketing consultant for Caterpillar and former Peoria mayoral candidate, said at the debate he wanted to battle inequality in the district.
“I have four children of school age; two of them at Reservoir Gifted Academy and two at St. Mark’s. I’ve had to make the tough decisions on where to put my kids, the safety in our neighborhood and I continue to believe that as a resident of the near North End, of the North Valley, that I bring a unique perspective,” Diaz said at the debate.
Daye, an instructor at Bradley University, is running on a platform of reform, saying at the debate that Peoria students are not meeting state benchmarks in education and “lack the foundational skills that are necessary to succeed in college and the workforce.”
Howard, a public policy analyst, said the district has problems waiting to be solved.
“Our kids aren’t reading and writing at grade level. We’ve got behavior problems that are ongoing,” Howard said at the debate. “Our teachers need to feel supported and resourced and it’s just so heartening to know that there’s solutions out there.”
Shannon, a financial professional and substitute teacher, said during the debate his experience as a substitute teacher gives him a different perspective for the board.
“Our superintendent candidates said that education is complex and Peoria Public Schools is more complex than most,” Shannon said at the debate. “We need somebody who’s going to bring their experiences to bear. I’ve had a tremendous amount of leadership experience both in non-profits as well as in business. I bring a financial expertise that ultimately, I feel is essential in this critical time.”
Peoria Heights grocery tax referendum
An advisory referendum for a grocery tax, one that has been a point of contention in the village of Peoria Heights, will be on the ballot for village residents.
The advisory vote has no binding consequences but rather is intended to help settle debate among village board members about whether or not the tax is wanted by residents.
Peoria Heights Mayor Matt Wigginton vetoed the tax after it was voted in by board trustees last year.
The tax, if it is ever enacted, would add a 1% tax on groceries in the village, as cities like Peoria, Washington, East Peoria and Peoria have done.
94th Illinois House District race
Three Republicans are vying for the 94th District Illinois House seat currently held by Rep. Norinne Hammond, R-Macomb.
Hammond had held the seat since 2010. She is being challenged by Josh Higgins and Bailey Templeton.
Higgins, a crop insurance agent from Biggsville, told reporters last year he decided to run for office after the assassination of conservative political figure Charlie Kirk.
Templeton, a Republican from Hancock County, has staked her campaign on rooting out medical fraud in Illinois state agencies, particularly through Medicaid. Her interest in Medicaid reform came after her son was diagnosed with cancer, she told WGAM radio.
The 94th House District covers 13 counties, including parts of Peoria County and Fulton County.
17th Congressional District
Rep. Eric Sorensen, a Democrat from Moline who represents much of the Peoria area, is facing no primary challenger on the Democratic side of the ballot, but there are two Republicans competing in a primary.
Julie Bickelhaupt, from Mount Carroll, is facing Dillan Vancil, of Gladstone in the 17th District Republican primary.
Bickelhaupt is a farmer and a member of the Carroll County Board. She said in an interview with WQAD this month she wants to strengthen agriculture, bring back coal, reduce the cost of living and promote stronger education.
Vancil owns a small coffee shop chain, Dame Fine Coffee, which has locations in Galesburg, Monmouth, Canton and Iowa.
He, too, wants to bring coal energy back and told WQAD that young people are being “priced out of everything.”
16th Congressional District
Republican Rep. Darin LaHood of Peoria is facing no primary challenger, and neither is Democrat Paul Nolley, who will face LaHood in the general election in November.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Primary election 2026: Local races on the ballot in Peoria County
Reporting by JJ Bullock, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
