SPRINGFIELD – Illinoisans are already voting early for the primary elections on March 19, but in most districts their choices are limited.
Capitol News Illinois reports about 88 percent of state-level legislative and judicial primary contests are uncompetitive, meaning there is either no one running or a single candidate. This is at least a 20-year high, according to data from the State Board of Elections.
John Shaw at SIU’s Paul Simon Public Policy Institute says the lack of competition stems from long-term trends in political polarization, and decades of partisan redistricting.
The state’s primary contests also highlight the urban-rural divide, with competitive primaries in downstate Illinois more likely to feature Republicans. Chicago and its suburbs are seeing more Democratic candidates.
