Illinois Governor

Rod Blagojevich (D)* -- Attorney General Lisa Madigan has been compared often enough to New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, but the feisty prosecutor probably has more in common with Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Blagojevich has taken on just about everyone, has made high-profile enemies, yet still somehow rakes in major campaign cash. The difference, though, is Blagojevich's political future is not looking quite so bright. Bulldog federal attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has launched a number of corruption investigations that might hurt Blagojevich. Given that the previous governor, George Ryan, was convicted on corruption, it will be interesting to see what, if any, effect this will have at the ballot box.

Judy Baar Topinka (R) -- Topinka, the state treasurer and only Republican elected to a statewide office, is considered a moderate, an endangered species in the Republican Party. She is seen as pro-gay and wishy-washy on abortion, and thus is reviled by the most conservative voters. But for those same reasons, she is likely to win over up her share of independent voters, and thus represents a real threat to Blagojevich.

Rich Whitney (G) -- Attorney and former candidate for a downstate state Rep. district, Whitney and an army of campaign volunteers are currently embroiled in a legal challenge by the Democrats to his candidacy. Whitney's campaign collected more than 39,000 signatures in three months, which is nothing to sneeze at. If Whitney remains on the ballot, the race will be very interesting.

Randy Stufflebeam (C-Write-in) -- Constitution Party candidate Stufflebeam did not have enough signatures to qualify for the ballot, but is running as a write-in.

Angel Rivera (I-Write-in) -- Lung transplant procurement coordinator at University of Chicago Hospitals

Lt. Governor

Pat Quinn (D)* - Quinn's a progressive Democrat and consumer rights activist who makes the party regulars uneasy.

Joe Birkett (R) - DuPage County state's attorney, the conservative Birkett is running with the moderate state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka (R).

Julie Samuels (G) - Samuels of Oak Park became the first Green ever to receive the endorsement of a major newspaper (the Chicago Tribune) in the 2004 state rep. race against incumbent Calvin Giles (D-8th). She didn't win, but received enough votes to establish the district for the Greens.

Treasurer

[Judy Baar Topinka* - Retiring to run for governor in 2006]

Christine Radogno (R) - State senator from Lemont

Alexi Giannoulias (D) - With the help of Sen. Barack Obama, Giannoulias won the March Primary over the Democratic endorsed candidate Knox County State's Attorney Paul Mangieri. Giannoulias, a banker, has reportedly made loans to reputed mob figures, though Giannoulias denies any knowledge of that.

Dan Rodriguez-Schlorff (G) - Minister and gay activist from Chicago

Attorney General

Lisa Madigan (D)*

Stewart Umholtz (R) -- Tazwell County state's attorney from Pekin

David Black (G) -- An attorney from Rockford, Black holds a PhD in political science and a JD in law.

Secretary of State

Jesse White (D)* -- Secretary of State White may opt to retire instead of running for re-election. If so, there will be a hotly contested race for this seat, which is considered an excellent stepping stone to being governor. If White runs again, he'll win by a landslide.

Dan Rutherford (R) -- State Senator from Chenoa, Rutherford had his eye on the state Treasurer's office if Judy Baar Topinka were to retire or run for governor, but Rutherford annonced his campaign for Secretary of State against Jesse White, one of the most popular politicians in the state.

Karen Young (G) -- Media activist from Chicago.

Comptroller

Dan Hynes (D)*

Carole Pankau (R) -- State senator from DuPage County

Alicia Snyder (G) -- Snyder is a special education teacher from downstate Centralia.

U.S. Congress

1st District
Bobby Rush (D)* - Former Chicago Alderman, founding member of the Black Panther Party in 1968.
Jason Tabour (R) - Candidate from Evergreen Park library trustee and 2004 state rep candidate

2nd District
Jesse Jackson Jr. (D)*
Anthony W. Williams (L) - Pastor from Dolton and 2004 Democratic candidate
Robert Belin (R) - Candidate from Lansing

3rd District
Dan Lipinski (D)* - Son of the powerful former Rep. Bill Lipinski (D)
Ray Wardingley (R) - Retired entertainer, community activist, PhotoShop novice, frequent candidate

4th District
Luis Gutierrez (D)* - Gutierrez, it should be noted, announced in December this would be his last campaign for Congress, a hint that he may run for mayor.
Ann Melichar (R) - Candidate from the Logan Square neighborhood in Chicago.

5th District
Rahm Emanuel (D)* - Head of the DCCC, the national campaign committee for Democratic candidates for Congress.
Kevin Edward White (R)

6th District
[Rep. Henry Hyde will retire at end of term.]
Peter Roskam (R) -- State senator from Wheaton, had the field of potential candidates (mostly) cleared so he would get an easy, low-cost victory in the GOP primary. Because DuPage County is historically Republican, Roskam is considered the favorite. However, the demographics of the Western Suburbs are changing rapidly as young Democratic-leaning voters move in from the city.
Tammy Duckworth (D) - Decorated former Blackhawk helicopter pilot who lost both of her legs in the Iraq War

7th District
Danny Davis (D)*
Charles Hutchinson (R) - Candidate from Chicago

8th District
Melissa Bean (D)* -- Bean knocked off veteran Rep. Phil Crane (R) in 2004, and a number of Republicans are gunning to take back the seat. This time, she may not get much help from the labor unions, who are none too happy with her vote in favor of CAFTA.
David McSweeney (R) -- Barrington Township investment banker, who is willing to self-finance to the tune of seven-figures. McSweeney unsuccessfully challeneged Rep. Phil Crane in 1998.
Bill Scheurer (Moderate) -- Writer and anti-war activist

9th District
Jan Schakowsky (D)*
Michael Shannon (R) -- Resident of Park Ridge

10th District
Mark Kirk (R)*
Dan Seals (D) -- Former aide to Sen. Joe Lieberman and marketing executive from Winnetka

11th District
Jerry Weller (R)*
John Pavich (D)

12th District
Jerry Costello (D)*

13th District
Judy Biggert (R)*
Joseph Shannon (D) - Candidate from Woodridge

14th District
Denny Hastert (R)* -- House Speaker Hastert is rumored to be considering retirement after this next term (should he be elected).
John Laesch (D) -- Veteran from Newark

15th District
Tim Johnson (R)*
David Gill (D) - ER doctor from Clinton, Ill., and 2004 nominee, who received 39% of the vote in the general election to Johnson's 61%.

16th District
Don Manzullo (R)*
Richard Auman (D) - Former Mayor of Galena

17th District
[Lane Evans (D)* is retiring.]
Phil Hare (D) - Congressional Aide
Andrea Zinga (R) -- A former TV anchor, Zinga is the nominee once again after being defeated by Evans in 2004.

18th District
Ray LaHood (R)* decided not to run for governor, and will seek re-election in 2006.
Steve Waterworth (D) - Candidate from Easton

19th District
John Shimkus (R)*
Dan Stover (D) - Professor of political science at Kaskaskia College and a member of Centralia City Council

Cook County

Updated Aug. 16, 2006

Comments? Ideas? Contributions? Send an e-mail to editor@modernvertebrate.com.