2018 Illinois Secretary of State election
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The 2018 Illinois Secretary of State election was held on November 6, 2018, to elect the next Illinois Secretary of State. Incumbent Democratic secretary of state Jesse White, who had been in office since 1999, initially announced in August 2015 that he would retire. On August 17, 2017, White reversed this decision and announced that he would run for re-election to a sixth term. Governing magazine projected the race as "safe Democratic".
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Jesse White, incumbent secretary of state
Withdrew
- Mike Hastings, state senator
Declined
- Walter Burnett Jr., alderman for Chicago's 27th ward
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jesse White (incumbent) | 1,209,978 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 1,209,978 | 100.0 |
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Jason Helland, Grundy County State's Attorney
Declined
- J.C. Griffin, Iraq War veteran
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jason Helland | 609,190 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 609,190 | 100.0 |
General election
Endorsements
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Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Governing | Safe D | October 11, 2018 |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jesse White (incumbent) | 3,120,207 | 68.26% | +2.56% | |
| Republican | Jason Helland | 1,336,079 | 29.23% | −2.16% | |
| Libertarian | Steve Dutner | 114,556 | 2.51% | −0.38% | |
| Total votes | 4,570,842 | 100.0% | N/A | ||
| Democratic hold |
By congressional district
White won 17 of 18 congressional districts, including four that elected Republicans.
| District | White | Helland | Representative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 83% | 15% | Bobby Rush |
| 2nd | 85% | 13% | Robin Kelly |
| 3rd | 71% | 26% | Dan Lipinski |
| 4th | 88% | 9% | Chuy García |
| 5th | 79% | 18% | Mike Quigley |
| 6th | 63% | 35% | Sean Casten |
| 7th | 89% | 9% | Danny Davis |
| 8th | 69% | 28% | Raja Krishnamoorthi |
| 9th | 78% | 19% | Jan Schakowsky |
| 10th | 71% | 27% | Brad Schneider |
| 11th | 70% | 27% | Bill Foster |
| 12th | 57% | 41% | Mike Bost |
| 13th | 62% | 35% | Rodney Davis |
| 14th | 60% | 37% | Lauren Underwood |
| 15th | 45% | 53% | John Shimkus |
| 16th | 55% | 42% | Adam Kinzinger |
| 17th | 62% | 36% | Cheri Bustos |
| 18th | 53% | 45% | Darin LaHood |