Pritzker wins a third term, and a new assessor is coming. What Tuesday's state and county results mean at City Hall

Democrats won every statewide and countywide office in unofficial returns. The governor, who opposes the Mayor's head tax, starts a new term as the Council writes the 2027 budget.

By Chicago PoliticsUpdated Nov 4, 2026

Gov. JB Pritzker won a third term Tuesday, and Democratic candidates won every statewide and countywide office on Chicago's ballot, according to unofficial results. The Associated Press called the governor's race at 7 p.m., when polls closed and before any votes were counted, and by 10:45 p.m. Pritzker had nearly 60% with about 80% of the vote in, Block Club Chicago reported.

Why it matters for Chicago: the governor and legislature decide what taxes the City can levy and how much state money it gets, and the County sets the property assessments behind every Chicago tax bill. Pritzker has said repeatedly that he opposes the Mayor's proposed head tax, which the Council is weighing in the 2027 budget right now.

State results

According to Block Club's results roundup, with the share of votes counted at the time each figure was reported:

Governor: Pritzker defeated Darren Bailey in a rematch of 2022. NBC Chicago's results page showed 59.8% to 36.8% at about 91% of the expected vote.
U.S. Senate: Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton won the seat Dick Durbin is leaving, with 61% at 93% counted Wednesday morning.
Secretary of State: Alexi Giannoulias, 65% to 35% at 75% counted. He is also running for mayor; our story.
Attorney General: Kwame Raoul, 61% at about 85%.
Comptroller: Margaret Croke, 61% to 39% at 70%. The office is now held by Susana Mendoza, who is running for mayor.
Treasurer: Mike Frerichs, 62% to 38% at 74%.

In his Navy Pier victory speech, Pritzker talked about universal preschool and keeping the Chicago Bears in Illinois, ABC7 Chicago reported. He is the first Illinois Democrat elected to a third term as governor, Patch reported.

County results

Board President: Toni Preckwinkle, 79% at 60% counted.
Sheriff: Tom Dart, 86% at 55%.
Assessor: Pat Hynes, 86%. Hynes beat incumbent Fritz Kaegi in the March primary, so he takes over the office that sets the assessed values on Chicago homes and businesses, ABC7 reported at the time.
Clerk Monica Gordon and Treasurer Maria Pappas were unopposed.

Block Club didn't report results for the Board of Review, County Board seats or the 61 judges up for retention.

What our records add

The head tax. Pritzker said Oct. 29 that the tax on employers with 125 or more workers "sends a signal" to employers, the Chicago Tribune reported. The governor doesn't vote on the City budget, but the Council does. Last December, 29 alderpersons voted for an alternative 2026 revenue plan that left a head tax out (SO2025-0021719). This year's version is in the 2027 revenue ordinance, and the Mayor's office expects about $101 million from it, CBS Chicago reported. Where the votes stand.

How each ward voted

29 yea, 19 nay, 2 not voting · Dec 19, 2025 · Passed

Yea Nay Not voting

SO2025-0021719: the roll call, the timeline and the documents

The Bears. Any lakefront stadium would need state involvement, because the state owns the land, and City approvals, as we explained last week.

The millionaire tax. Chicago voters backed a Cook County question asking the state to adopt a 3% surcharge on income over $1 million, about 80% yes in unofficial returns. That would take a change to the state constitution, which only the legislature can put on a statewide ballot. All six ballot questions.

What's next

Nov. 17: the last day for mail ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted.
Through Nov. 10: the Council's budget hearings, which resumed today.
Dec. 31: the Council's deadline to pass a balanced 2027 budget.