Illinois primary election 2026: Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle projected to win 5th term, defeats Brendan Reilly

In Cook County, Illinois, Toni Preckwinkle is on track to secure her fifth term as Cook County Board President, having clinched the Democratic nomination with no Republican challenger in the race.

In an interview with ABC7, Preckwinkle confirmed that this will be her final term, expressing a desire to conclude her political career on a high note.

Note: This is an ongoing story. Details from a previous report follow.

Recently, the Democratic campaign landscape in Cook County has been dominated by aggressive advertising, as incumbents face formidable opponents in two key races.

One of the spotlight races involves the position of Cook County Board President.

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Although the high-profile Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate has garnered much of the public’s attention and funding, Cook County’s electoral battles are also significant. Candidate Brendan Reilly highlights that local issues resonate deeply with voters.

“You’ve seen lot of rhetoric about Donald Trump, while all Democrats running oppose his policies at the end of day it will likely decided on meat and potato issues,” Reilly said.

RELATED | 2026 primary elections: Voter information in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin

Focusing on affordability and property taxes, downtown Chicago Alderman Brendan Reilly is challenging Toni Preckwinkle for Cook County Board President. Reilly says when she first ran for office in 2010, he was a strong supporter of hers. Preckwinkle, who turns 79 years old Tuesday, is seeking her fifth term.

“We’re going to continue doing the good things that we’ve done with American rescue plan act resources, like eliminating medical debt, and we’re going to do the best to defend ourselves against the assaults of the federal government,” Preckwinkle said.

Preckwinkle is counting on voters to stay the course in her race for Cook County Board President.

READ MORE | Cook County Board President Preckwinkle and challenger Ald. Reilly make final appeals to voters

The winners of both Cook County primary races will win their respective offices Tuesday night, because there are no Republicans running for assessor or Cook County Board President.

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