With Election Day for the 2026 Primary quickly approaching, many voters are considering who to mark their support for when they cast their ballot.

There are several big races on the ballot, including the gubernatorial race that has the potential to make history.

Though rumors are swirling that sitting Governor J.B. Pritzker has his eyes on a potential run for president in 2028, he’s still in the running for re-election. If he retains his seat, he’ll be the first Democratic governor to secure a third term in office in Illinois history.

While Pritzker is the only Democrat aiming for governor on the ballot, there is a slew of Republican candidates vying for a face-off with the incumbent in November.

Voters with their mind made up on which candidate they support can head to their local early voting site to cast their ballot before Election Day.

Though downtown sites and some across the suburbs have been open since early February, early voting sites will open in all 50 of Chicago’s and in several suburb on Monday, March 2.

For those still deciding how to mark their ballot, here’s a look at the gubernatorial candidates.

Democrats:

Governor J.B. Pritzker and Christian Mitchell

Current Governor of Illinois J.B. Pritzker is taking aim at a third term, promising to continue building on the work of his first two terms. According to his campaign website, some of his intentions for a third term include “[tackling] the affordability crisis,” continuing to protect access to reproductive health care in Illinois, and investing in education.

Chrisitan Mitchell is running alongside Pritzker for lieutenant governor. After representing the 26th District in the Illinois House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019, Mitchell served as deputy governor to Pritzker from 2019 to 2023. Mitchell led efforts to ban assault weapons, make Illinois a leader in clean energy and create jobs through infrastructure projects as deputy governor, according to his campaign bio.

Republicans:

Ted Dabrowski and Dr. Carrie Mendoza

Ted Dabrowski is a Wilmette resident and former president of Wirepoints, a media outlet focused on conservative economic policies and financial data. From 2011 to 2017, Dabrowski worked as a spokesperson and Vice President of Policy at the Illinois Policy Institute, a right-leaning think tank.

Dabrowski, who has never previously held political office, aims to cut and cap property tax rates, veto any and all tax increases, and repeal both Illinois’ sanctuary laws and zero-emissions energy policy, according to his campaign website.

“We must return power to the people, remove barriers to prosperity, embrace educational freedom, push political power down to its lowest level and restore the rule of law,” his campaign website says.

Dr. Carrie Mendoza, a Chicago-native with more than 25 years of experience as a physician, is running to be Dabrowski’s lieutenant governor, according to her campaign biography. Like Dabrowski, Mendoza has never held political office. Her campaign biography says she is “driven by innovation and a passion for justice.”

James Mendrick and Dr. Robert Renteria

The first Republican candidate to enter the race, DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick is campaigning on a push for public safety initiatives.

Sheriff since 2018, Mendrick has partnered with DuPage County Health Department to provide Medicated Assisted Treatment to inmates fighting opioid addiction and advocated for the use of a drug deactivation pouch system to protect people and the state’s waterways from dangerous medications, according to his campaign website.

“He is committed to ending soft-on-crime policies, defending parental rights, and delivering quality education to every child in the state,” his campaign website says.

Dr. Roberta Renteria veteran of the U.S. Army and is a prolific author and activist, according to his campaign biography.

“Dr. Renteria uses his personal story, business acumen and leadership skills to address bullying, gangs, violence, drugs, suicides and school dropout,” his campaign biography says. His books and curriculums are taught in 25 countries around the world, and he has given many Ted Talks.

Darren Bailey and Aaron Del Mar

Former state senator Darren Bailey, who unsuccessfully ran for governor of Illinois in 2022, is giving another go at assuming the political seat. A third-generation downstate farmer, Bailey’s campaign is focused on reducing government spending, cutting taxes, and cracking down on crime, according to his campaign website.

In addition to his farm work, Bailey founded a private Christian school with his wife Cindy.

He fought against spending, raising taxes and sanctuary state policies while in the Illinois House and later in the State Senate.

Aaron Del Mar is an entrepreneur who became the youngest-ever Councilman for the Village of Palatine at 29 years old in 2016. He oversees public safety and infrastructure and guides community organizations in the position, according to his campaign biography.

Rick Heidner and Christina Neitzke-Troike

Though businessman Rick Heidner has never held office, he has led several notable companies, including Gold Rush Gaming, Ricky Rocket’s Fuel Centers, Prairie State Energy, and Heidner Properties, according to his campaign website.

A lifelong Illinoisian, Heidner is “running to make Illinois safe again, affordable again, and full of opportunity again,” his website says.

Christina Neitzke-Troike is looking to step up into the lieutenant governor seat from her current role as Mayor of Homer Glen after nearly two decades in several elected positions.

Neitzke-Troike hopes to bring her “unparalleled understanding of how state mandates affect local budgets, property taxes, and public services” to Springfield, according to her campaign biography.