Illinois Federation of Teachers Announces Slate of Endorsements for 2026 Primaries

WESTMONT, IL - The Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT), representing state workers and educators in every corner of the state, announced its slate of endorsements for the 2026 primary elections. 

“We are living through a time when state workers are having to fight for democracy and educators are having to fight for our students. Therefore, IFT members are backing candidates with a commitment and a plan to counter the cuts and attacks that are coming from Washington, as well as to fix the generations of underfunding our state services, schools, colleges, and universities have already faced. Illinois should be a leader at every level of government. Our elected leaders ought to set the example for the rest of the country to follow. The IFT is proud to endorse candidates who will work to defend our students and the members of our unions and to deliver for everyone in our state,” explained IFT President Stacy Davis Gates.

Members of the Illinois Federation of Teachers held regional meetings with candidates, reviewed candidate questionnaires, and made recommendations that were reviewed and finalized by Executive Board members who represent locals from every region and profession within the union.

IFT members across the state will be knocking doors, making phone calls, and texting fellow union members to turn out voters for an agenda of fully funding public schools, stopping dishonest forces from Washington from resuscitating voucher programs that Illinois has already rejected, and seeking to fix Illinois’ notoriously unfair tax code by taxing the ultra-rich the way Massachusetts and other states have done. From now until the final day, volunteers will talk directly with voters about the candidates and the issues facing our schools and communities. 

IFT is proud to endorse the following candidates in 2026:

U.S. SENATE

 Juliana Stratton

"As the daughter of a public school teacher and from my time serving in Springfield as a legislator and Lieutenant Governor, I know the effort it takes to fully fund our public schools and ensure that every student has what they need to thrive. I'm proud to stand with the Illinois Federation of Teachers in defending our public schools from right-wing attacks and attempts to redirect vital resources toward private schools, both here in Illinois and nationally. In the U.S. Senate, I will help lead the fight against the dismantling of our public education system and for full, equitable funding of schools in every neighborhood."

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Sean Casten - 6th Congressional District



"I'm grateful for the endorsement of the Illinois Federation of Teachers. In Congress, I've stood with educators and I will keep fighting to make sure the federal government delivers for our public schools, not dismantles them. That means fully funding public education, protecting it from voucher schemes that take money from neighborhood schools, and keeping public dollars in public schools where they belong." 

Melissa Conyears-Ervin - 7th Congressional District

"I'm proud to have the support of the Illinois Federation of Teachers. Few things strengthen communities and set our state on a path to success like fully funded neighborhood public schools and the dedicated people who educate our children every day. I will be a voice in Congress that stands up for Illinois’ students and fights to reverse the tax cuts for the rich that rob our public institutions of what they need. Count on me to be a champion so that students in Illinois and across the nation get a world-class education."

Kevin Morrison  - 8th Congressional District

Daniel Biss - 9th Congressional District



"I'm honored to have the endorsement of the state workers and educators in the Illinois Federation of Teachers. I will stand with educators and state workers defending democracy to challenge all of the ways President Trump is attacking our state, whether that’s denying funds to our schools, diverting them to private vouchers, or trampling our constitutional rights. I will make sure working families, not billionaires, are the priority in Congress."


Brad Schneider - 10th Congressional District



"I'm beyond grateful to again earn the endorsement of the Illinois Federation of Teachers. In Congress, I will always support our educators and help them ensure we teach our children the skills and lessons they need to succeed. I will continue to work for universal preschool, to fully fund IDEA, and to lift up our teachers so that they can continue to lift up our nation’s children."

Nikki Budzinski - 13th Congressional District

"I'm honored to have the endorsement of the Illinois Federation of Teachers. From Champaign to Springfield to the Metro East and all the rural communities in between, I hear from families who rely on strong public schools and who need accessible higher education. I’ll continue standing up for them and opposing the President’s voucher schemes, protect our public schools and colleges, and seek to bring fairness to our tax code so that every student in Central and Southern Illinois gets the resources and opportunities to succeed."

Jennifer Todd  - 15th Congressional District

CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICE

Karina Villa - Illinois Comptroller

"I'm proud to have the endorsement of the Illinois Federation of Teachers. As a former school social worker and school board member, I've seen firsthand how underfunded classrooms and voucher schemes hurt students and families. As Comptroller, I'll fight to ensure billionaires and corporations pay their fair share, invest in schools and services, and oppose anything that drains money from them. I'll defend Illinois against attacks from Washington to keep Illinois a welcoming home for all of us."

STATE SENATE

    •    Sara Feigenholtz - 6th District

    •    Patrick Hanley - 9th District

    •    Emil Jones III - 14th District

STATE HOUSE

    •    Aaron Ortiz - 1st District

    •    Lilian Jimenez - 4th District

    •    Shantel Franklin - 8th District (see quote below)

    •    Adam Braun - 13th District

    •    Kam Buckner - 26th District

    •    Aja Kearney - 34th District

    •    Miguel Alvelo-Rivera - 40th District (see quote below)

    •    Lynn LaPlante - 42nd District

    •    Erin Chan Ding - 52nd District (see quote below)

    •    Jared Ploger - 84th District (see quote below)

JUDICIAL

    •    Judith Rice - 1st Appellate Court

    •    Margaret "Peggy" O'Connell - 3rd Appellate Court

Additional Quotes from Endorsed Candidates: 

Shantel Franklin - Illinois State House 8th District

“I’ve lived what happens when instability shows up in the classroom and I’ve seen how educators become the steady force students can count on. I’m proud to be endorsed by the Illinois Federation of Teachers and I’m committed to partnering with educators to build strong schools, support families and make sure every student has a real chance to succeed.”

Miguel Alvelo-Rivera - Illinois State House 40th District

"I'm honored to have the endorsement of the Illinois Federation of Teachers. Neighborhood public schools are essential to our communities and I will fight for the ultra-wealthy to pay what they owe in order to fully fund them and reject vouchers that take resources away from our students. As a state representative and the son of a teacher and union organizer, I'll defend our schools and make sure every child has access to quality education and fully funded classrooms.”

Erin Chan Ding - Illinois State House 52nd District

"I'm so grateful for the endorsement of the Illinois Federation of Teachers. As a twice-elected member of the Barrington 220 school board, I've fought for students and educators, worked to bring free full-day kindergarten to our district, and defended LGBTQ+ authored books on our public high school library shelves. I'll keep fighting for fully funded neighborhood public schools and oppose any effort to steal public dollars from our classrooms. I'm excited to continue partnering with labor and families to protect and strengthen public education."

Jared Ploger - Illinois State House 84th District

"I'm proud to have the endorsement of the Illinois Federation of Teachers. As an IFT member myself and president of the Valley View Council 604, I know what public schools with full funding can do for our students and what happens when that funding is threatened. I'll keep fighting to keep public dollars in public schools and bring fairness to our state's tax code that makes the ultra-wealthy pay more and lets working families pay less. Together, we can deliver for our students, our school staff, and our families."

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