2018 Illinois Attorney General election explained

Election Name:2018 Illinois Attorney General election
Country:Illinois
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2014 Illinois Attorney General election
Previous Year:2014
Next Election:2022 Illinois Attorney General election
Next Year:2022
Election Date:November 6, 2018
Image1:File:Kwame Raoul RFCG (1) (a).jpg
Nominee1:Kwame Raoul
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:2,488,326
Percentage1:54.7%
Nominee2:Erika Harold
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:1,944,142
Percentage2:42.7%
Attorney General
Before Election:Lisa Madigan
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Kwame Raoul
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)
Turnout:56.16%

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.[1] 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.[2] For the general election, turnout was 56.16%, with 4,548,409 votes cast.[2]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Declined

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Kwame
Raoul
Pat
Quinn
Nancy
Rotering
Jesse
Ruiz
Renato
Mariotti
Sharon
Fairley
Aaron
Goldstein
Scott
Drury
OtherUndecided
Victory ResearchMarch 13–16, 20181,204± 2.8%24% align=center26%6%4%3%8%4%10%16%
Capitol Fax/We Ask AmericaMarch 7–8, 20181,029± 3.06%15% align=center23%6%3%3%3%2%3% align=center43%
Southern Illinois UniversityFebruary 19–25, 2018472± 4.5% align=center22%18%5%4%3%3%3%2%1% align=center39%

Debate

2018 Illinois Attorney General democratic primary debate
DateHostModeratorLinkDemocraticDemocraticDemocraticDemocraticDemocraticDemocraticDemocraticDemocratic
Key:
Participant  Absent  Not invited  Invited Withdrawn
Scott DrurySharon FairleyAaron GoldsteinRenato MariottiPat QuinnKwame RaoulNancy RoteringJesse Ruiz
1January 8, 2018Democracy for AmericaAmara EnyiaYouTube
2February 16, 2018Illinois Democratic County
Chairs Association
Amanda VinickyYouTube
3March 4, 2018Cards Against Humanity
Chicago Sun-Times
Lucy Moog
2nd Ward Democrats
Justin KaufmannYouTube
4March 7, 2018Better Government Association
WLS-TV
YouTube (Part 1)
YouTube (Part 2)
YouTube (Part 3)
YouTube (Part 4)
YouTube (Part 5)
YouTube (Part 6)

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Declined

Results

Third party and independents

Candidates

Declared

  • Bubba Harsy (Libertarian)[25]

Declined

General election

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Kwame
Raoul (D)
Erika
Harold (R)
Bubba
Harsy (L)
Undecided
Victory ResearchSeptember 27 – October 2, 20181,208± 2.8% align=center44%33%5%18%
Southern Illinois UniversitySeptember 24–29, 2018715± 3.7% align=center36%26% align=center39%
Research America Inc.September 5–13, 20181,024± 3.1% align=center43%32%25%
We Ask AmericaJune 9–11, 2018600± 4.0% align=center44%35%21%

Results

By congressional district

Raoul won 10 of the 18 congressional districts, with the remaining 8 going to Harold, including three that elected Democrats.[29]

DistrictRaoulHaroldRepresentative
74%24%Bobby Rush
77%21%Robin Kelly
55%42%Dan Lipinski
80%18%Chuy García
68%30%Mike Quigley
47%50%Sean Casten
83%15%Danny Davis
56%41%Raja Krishnamoorthi
66%31%Jan Schakowsky
58%40%Brad Schneider
57%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

External links

Official campaign websites

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Boxed in by father, Lisa Madigan seeks fifth term as Illinois attorney general. Chicago Tribune. Pearson. Rick. May 14, 2017. May 15, 2017.
  2. Web site: Voter Turnout . https://web.archive.org/web/20210530142655/https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/VoterTurnout.aspx . dead . May 30, 2021 . www.elections.il.gov . Illinois State Board of Elections . 25 March 2020 .
  3. News: Korecki. Natasha. East. Kristen. AG candidate announces on MSNBC, website crashes—'Bump Stock' ban fails—UIUC's record gift. October 27, 2017. Politico. October 27, 2017.
  4. News: Miller. Rich. Pat Quinn to run for attorney general. October 27, 2017. Capitol Fax. October 27, 2017.
  5. News: Miller. Rich. Penny Pritzker, Laura Ricketts, others co-chair Ruiz campaign finance committee. October 24, 2017. Capitol Fax. October 24, 2017.
  6. Web site: Sfondeles . Tina . Pritzker names three heavy-hitting deputy governors but mum on salaries . Chicago Sun-Times . 4 June 2020 . en . 20 December 2018.
  7. Web site: Berrios: Ald. Burke's daughter may run for Illinois attorney general. Chicago Sun-Times. Spielman. Fran. September 18, 2017. September 25, 2017. September 25, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170925231216/http://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/berrios-ald-burkes-daughter-may-run-for-illinois-attorney-general/. dead.
  8. Web site: Sarah Burke decides not to run for attorney general. Chicago Sun-Times. Spielman. Fran. September 19, 2017. September 25, 2017. September 25, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170925231808/http://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/sarah-burke-decides-not-to-run-for-attorney-general/. dead.
  9. News: Sfondeles. Tina. Spielman. Fran. General question: Who'll aim to fill AG Lisa Madigan's powerful seat?. September 18, 2017. September 18, 2017. Chicago Sun Times. September 17, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170917123249/http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/general-confusion-pols-jockey-for-position-after-lisa-madigan-stunner/. dead.
  10. News: Dart won't run for AG. Miller. Rich. September 19, 2017. September 19, 2017. Capitol Fax.
  11. News: Foxx won't run for AG, Drury may. Miller. Rich. September 18, 2017. September 18, 2017. Capitol Fax.
  12. News: Korecki. Natasha. Candidates line up for AG spot — Mendoza confronts 'Quarters' Boyle — 15% of lawmakers to exit. September 18, 2017. POLITICO. September 18, 2017.
  13. News: Ed. Komenda. McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks says he won't run for Illinois attorney general. October 11, 2017. Northwest Herald. October 11, 2017. October 12, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171012044816/http://www.nwherald.com/2017/10/10/mchenry-county-board-chairman-jack-franks-says-he-wont-run-for-illinois-attorney-general/adxk73q/. dead.
  14. News: Miller. Rich. Hastings circulating petitions for SoS and AG as Ald. Burnett declares he's not circulating. September 20, 2017. Capitol Fax. September 20, 2017.
  15. News: Burke won't say which daughter wants to run for AG as Dan Hynes mulls a bid. Miller. Rich. September 19, 2017. September 19, 2017. Capitol Fax.
  16. News: McRaith ponders AG bid as field continues to grow. Miller. Rich. October 7, 2017. October 7, 2017. Capitol Fax.
  17. News: Korecki. Natasha. Nekrtiz Out of A.G. Race. September 25, 2017. September 25, 2017. Illinois Playbook. Politico. Arlington, Virginia.
  18. Web site: Who's Running for Illinois Attorney General, Who's Not and Who Might Be. NBC Chicago. Ahern. Mary Ann. Bremer. Shelby. September 23, 2017. September 25, 2017.
  19. News: MWRD President Spyropoulos interested in AG. Miller. Rich. September 19, 2017. September 19, 2017. Capitol Fax.
  20. News: Sfondeles. Tina. Scott Drury to run for attorney general —Tom Dart, Ann Williams not. September 19, 2017. September 25, 2017. Chicago Sun Times. September 24, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170924230206/http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/rep-scott-drury-switches-gears-from-governors-race-to-ag/. dead.
  21. "Rauner faces war on two fronts as Republican challenger Ives attacks", Chicago Tribune, December 4, 2017. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  22. Web site: Former Miss America mounts Republican bid against Democratic AG Lisa Madigan. Chicago Tribune. Pearson. Rick. August 15, 2017. August 16, 2017.
  23. Web site: Could Harold draw a primary opponent?. WCIA. Maxwell. Mark. September 19, 2017. September 25, 2017. September 25, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170925230834/http://www.illinoishomepage.net/news/local-news/could-harold-draw-a-primary-opponent/814082818. dead.
  24. News: Miller. Rich. McMahon won't challenge Harold in GOP AG primary. November 1, 2017. November 1, 2017. Capitol Fax.
  25. Web site: Vote Bubba Harsy. May 19, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180520123945/https://bubbaharsyforillinois.com/. May 20, 2018. dead.
  26. Web site: Tyson Manker announces exploratory committee for Illinois Attorney General. Edgar County Watchdogs. Kraft. John. September 22, 2017. September 25, 2017.
  27. Web site: Manker talks about considering run for Illinois Attorney General. Schnitker. Blake. WLDS News. September 26, 2017.
  28. Web site: Manker explores attorney general campaign. Draper. Nick. Journal Courier. September 26, 2017.
  29. Web site: DRA 2020 . 2024-08-19 . Daves Redistricting.