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

• Scott Drury, state representative
• Sharon Fairley, chief administrator of the Chicago Civilian Office of Police Accountability^[3]
• Aaron Goldstein, Democratic committeeman for Chicago's 33rd ward and former defense attorney for Rod Blagojevich^[3]
• Renato Mariotti, former federal prosecutor, television legal analyst and commentator^[3]
• Pat Quinn, former Governor of Illinois (2009–2015) and Lieutenant Governor of Illinois (2003–2009)^[4]
• Kwame Raoul, state senator
• Nancy Rotering, mayor of Highland Park^[3]
• Jesse Ruiz, Chicago Park District President and former chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education^{[3] [5] [6]}

Declined

• Jennifer Burke, former member of the Illinois Pollution Control Board^[7]
• Sarah Burke, director of external affairs at Northwestern Memorial Hospital^{[7] [8]}
• Gery Chico, former chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education^[9]
• Tom Dart, Cook County Sheriff and nominee for Illinois State Treasurer in 2002^[10]
• Zach Fardon, former United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois^[9]
• Kim Foxx, Cook County State's Attorney^{[9] [11]}
• Jack D. Franks, chairman of the McHenry County Board^{[12] [13]}
• James Glasgow, Will County State's Attorney^[9]
• Mike Hastings, state senator^[14]
• David Hoffman, former federal prosecutor, former Chicago Inspector General, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2010^[9]
• Dan Hynes, former Illinois Comptroller (1999–2011), candidate for U.S. Senate in 2004, and candidate for governor in 2010^[15]
• Lori Lightfoot, president of the Chicago Police Board^[9]
• Mike McRaith, former director of the Federal Insurance Office^[16]
• Elaine Nekritz, assistant majority Leader of the Illinois House of Representatives^{[12] [17]}
• Andrew Schapiro, former United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic^[12]
• Ira Silverstein, majority caucus chair of the Illinois Senate.^[18]
• Mariyana Spyropoulos, president of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District^[19]
• Chris Welch, state representative^[18]
• Ann Williams, state representative^[20]
• Andrea Zopp, deputy mayor of Chicago and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2016^[9]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Kwame Raoul	Pat Quinn	Nancy Rotering	Jesse Ruiz	Renato Mariotti	Sharon Fairley	Aaron Goldstein	Scott Drury	Other	Undecided
Victory Research	March 13–16, 2018	1,204	± 2.8%	24%	align=center	26%	6%	4%	3%	8%	4%	10%	–	16%
Capitol Fax/We Ask America	March 7–8, 2018	1,029	± 3.06%	15%	align=center	23%	6%	3%	3%	3%	2%	3%	–	align=center	43%
Southern Illinois University	February 19–25, 2018	472	± 4.5%	align=center	22%	18%	5%	4%	3%	3%	3%	2%	1%	align=center	39% Debate 2018 Illinois Attorney General democratic primary debate Date Host Moderator Link Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic Key: Participant  Absent  Not invited  Invited Withdrawn Scott Drury Sharon Fairley Aaron Goldstein Renato Mariotti Pat Quinn Kwame Raoul Nancy Rotering Jesse Ruiz 1 January 8, 2018 Democracy for America Amara Enyia YouTube 2 February 16, 2018 Illinois Democratic County Chairs Association Amanda Vinicky YouTube 3 March 4, 2018 Cards Against Humanity Chicago Sun-Times Lucy Moog 2nd Ward Democrats Justin Kaufmann YouTube 4 March 7, 2018 Better 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 Gary Grasso, DuPage County Board member and former mayor of Burr Ridge^[21] Erika Harold, former Miss America and candidate for Illinois's 13th congressional district in 2014^[22] Declined Jason Barickman, state senator^[23] 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^[24] Results Third party and independents Candidates Declared Bubba Harsy (Libertarian)^[25] Declined Tyson Manker, Iraq War veteran and candidate for Morgan County State's Attorney in 2016^[26] ^[27] ^[28] General election Polling Poll source Date(s) administered Sample size Margin of error Kwame Raoul (D) Erika Harold (R) Bubba Harsy (L) Undecided Victory Research September 27 – October 2, 2018 1,208 ± 2.8% align=center 44% 33% 5% 18% Southern Illinois University September 24–29, 2018 715 ± 3.7% align=center 36% 26% – align=center 39% Research America Inc. September 5–13, 2018 1,024 ± 3.1% align=center 43% 32% – 25% We Ask America June 9–11, 2018 600 ± 4.0% align=center 44% 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] District Raoul Harold Representative 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 2018 Illinois elections External links Official campaign websites Erika Harold (R) for Attorney General Bubba Harsy (L) for Attorney General Kwame Raoul (D) for Attorney General

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.