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Illinois (rank #6 of 50 by population)
Data snapshot: 2026-03-27 · Population ~12.7M
1. Key organs of government
States typically divide power into executive (governor and agencies), legislative (bicameral legislature except Nebraska), and judicial (courts of last resort and lower courts). Below: statewide elected executive, each legislative chamber, and the apex court.
- Executive branch: Governor; Lieutenant Governor; Attorney General; Secretary of State; Comptroller; Treasurer
- Illinois Senate — President of the Senate · 59 seats · Democratic majority (~67.8% of seats)
- Illinois House of Representatives — Speaker of the House · 118 seats · Democratic majority (~66.1% of seats)
- Supreme Court of Illinois — Chief Justice · 7 seats · District elections + chief justice internal selection
2. Elected seats & majority strength
| Organ / body | Total seats | Presiding / chief role | Majority party | Approx. majority seats | % of chamber |
|---|
| Illinois Senate | 59 | President of the Senate | Democratic | 40 | 67.8% |
| Illinois House of Representatives | 118 | Speaker of the House | Democratic | 78 | 66.1% |
| Supreme Court of Illinois | 7 | Chief Justice | — (court) | — | — |
Note: Majority figures are approximate snapshots; special elections can change counts. Verify on the state legislature website. Current Speaker / Senate president (or equivalent) names appear on each legislature’s leadership page, not in this static file.
3. Leader of the executive (Governor)
| Office | Governor |
|---|
| Current officeholder | JB Pritzker (Democratic) |
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| Last general election | 2022-11-08 |
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| Next general election | 2026-11-03 |
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4. Legislative elections (both chambers)
| Last general | 2024-11-05 |
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| Next general | 2026-11-03 |
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| Note | Legislative elections in November of even years. |
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Which seats are on the ballot next?
- Illinois House of Representatives. All 118 seats have 2-year terms. Every seat is on the ballot in November 2026 (and in every general election in even years).
- Illinois Senate. Illinois uses staggered 4-year Senate terms across 59 districts (two senators per district on offset schedules). Not all Senate seats are up each cycle—roughly one-third in a typical general election. Confirm which districts are on the November 2026 ballot with the Illinois State Board of Elections.
5. Critical dates (typical patterns)
- Confirm filing deadlines, primaries, and session calendars on the Secretary of State and legislature sites.
6. Primary sources to verify / update