US SENATE
Republican Candidate Profiles
United States Senate Government Leadership. Learn about the GOP Candidates for US Senate. U.S. Senators serve six-year terms, representing their state's interests in Congress by drafting, debating, and voting on federal legislation. Key duties include providing "advice and consent" on presidential nominations and treaties, conducting executive branch oversight, and acting as the jury in impeachment trials.
Candidates span from experienced party leaders to business executives and grassroots conservatives focused on economic freedom, national security, immigration enforcement, and lower taxes—all key conservative themes.
Note: Open Seat due to Dick Durbin's Retirement.
DISCLAIMER: Candidate profile information may be generated or summarized using AI tools, including ChatGPT, and is based on publicly available sources at the time of publication. Accuracy is not guaranteed, and readers should verify all information with the candidate or official sources.
R. Cary Capparelli
US Senate (Conservative Republican)
"The 'Common Sense' Republican candidate for United States Senator from the State of Illinois."
Follow the Money...
https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/S6IL00490/
Campaign Sites with Links to Social Media
WHY RUNNING
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“There is a need to give its voters an incentive to vote when it counts and that path is to not elect ‘establishment’ Republicans but to elect ‘grass root’ Republicans."
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
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Entrepreneur & global business executive with over 40 years leading companies and international ventures, including sporting events and an award-winning vineyard.
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Past Board Member-Illinois International Port District, 2000-2009
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Chairman of the Legislative Committee
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Chairman of the Marketing Committee
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Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee
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Member of the Executive Committee
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Past Public Member-Illinois Banking and Real Estate Board, 1997-1999
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Academic credentials: Holds multiple degrees, including a Ph.D., and teaches geography at the university level.
KEY PRIORITIES
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Strong national defense & veterans: Supports robust military strength and veteran services.
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Affordable healthcare: Advocates accessible care with attention to mental health services.
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Economic growth: Emphasizes a strong American economy to support families, businesses, and global competitiveness.
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Public safety & immigration: Calls for secure borders and law enforcement support.
Casey Chlebek
US Senate (Conservative Republican)
"Let’s Make America the Greatest Nation Again (MAGNA).” Bold MAGNA Agenda to Empower Taxpayers, Protect Families, and Restore American Strength."
Follow the Money...
https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00903823/
Campaign Sites with Links to Social Media
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
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Business leader and public policy advocate who immigrated from Poland and worked in IT and entrepreneurship.
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Previous Senate campaigns in 2020 and 2022 build name recognition and refine his message to GOP voters.
WHY RUNNING
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“It's not about left or right—it’s about right and wrong." “Illinoisans are being crushed by taxes, ignored by politicians, and forced to settle for broken promises. I’m not here to play games. I’m here to fight for your home, your freedom, and your family’s future.”
KEY PRIORITIES
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MAGNA seven signature pillars to restore dignity, ownership, and opportunity for the American people:
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Abolish Property Taxes – initially, starting with seniors, disabled Americans, veterans, and first-time homeowners, through a mix of federal tax credits and voluntary state partnerships.
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Abolish Social Security Taxes – so workers keep more of what they earn, and seniors receive what they have been promised.
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Abolish IRS Taxes on Retirement Income – ending the unfair taxation of Social Security, pensions, and retirement savings.
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No Federal Taxes for Individuals Under 23 – or under 26 for full-time students and married couples, helping young Americans start strong.
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Five-Year Tax Holiday for New Small Businesses – automatic extensions to allow all new small businesses to establish themselves firmly in their new ventures.
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Free Prescription Drugs for Seniors, Disabled Citizens, and Veterans – by eliminating price-gouging middlemen and redirecting wasteful spending.
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Restore Dignity Through Work and Ownership – and just like President Trump, Chlebek vows not to take a Senate salary: “I want to work for you, not for a paycheck.”
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Jeannie Evans
US Senate (Conservative Republican)
"Returning Billions to American Taxpayers. Fighting for Families and a Stronger Illinois. Not a Politician."
Follow the Money...
https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/S6IL00672/
Campaign Sites with Links to Social Media
WHY RUNNING
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“Th
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
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Attorney with degrees from Brigham Young University and Harvard Law School.
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Legal career focusing on advocating for individuals and fairness in markets.
KEY PRIORITIES
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Promote Emerging Businesses and Jobs - will work to make Illinois a welcoming, dynamic environment for small businesses so that more companies will launch and locate in Illinois to succeed.
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Bring Down the Cost of Living - will work to promote fair markets and healthy competition, and hold corporations accountable for wrongful conduct.
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Cut Taxes and Strengthen the Economy - will work to reduce the tax burden and remove unreasonable regulations.
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Fight Crime and Make Communities Safe - will support our law enforcement officers to create new solutions and ensure they have the tools and resources they need to protect our families, neighborhoods, and businesses.
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Support Freedom and Democracy - will work for the people and to protect freedom of speech and individual liberties for ourselves and the next generation.
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Reform Education and Job Training - will work to modernize our education system to prepare Illinois students for a variety of career paths, including world-leading innovation and a renaissance of skilled trades.
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Back Our Farmers & Agriculture Interests - will be an advocate for Illinois agricultural producers in the United States Senate, and I will work to expand US agricultural exports and open new markets for Illinois farmers.
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Fiscal responsibility: Reduce taxes, curb federal overspending, and streamline government.
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Tech & competition: Promote transparency in artificial intelligence and defend U.S. competitiveness against foreign surveillance and influence.
Pamela Denise Long
US Senate (Conservative Republican)
"Of the People. By the People. For ALL the People."
Follow the Money...
https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/S6IL00540/
Campaign Sites with Links to Social Media
https://longforsenate2026.com/
(Includes videos of her stand on issues)
https://ballotpedia.org/Pamela_Denise_Long
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Pamela-Denise-Long
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
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While not a current officeholder with legislative records, Long’s notable accomplishments from her career and public work include:
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Award-winning business consultant, and political commentator featured on The Griot Politics/Black News Channel, her Newsweek column, FOX News, Breitbart, AM 560 The Answer Chicago, WVON 1690 am Chicago, Epoch TV and more.
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National Coordinator for the Coalition of Concerned Freedmen™ a collective that focuses on safeguarding and implementing the interests of Legacy Black Americans; those who are descendants of the founding Black population. This work has garnered her and the GOP a backing of originalist Black supporters.
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Academic engagement — Experience teaching and mentoring students in higher education.
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Grassroots campaign building — Has engaged voters across Illinois’ 102 counties in campaign outreach.
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WHY RUNNING
Long has publicly explained her motivation for running for the U.S. Senate in interviews and campaign messaging:
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Asserts that experienced politicians underestimate the possibility of a Republican winning statewide in Illinois, and she wants to challenge that assumption.
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Frames candidacy as a fighter for substantive problem-solving over partisan politics and says she is committed to speaking truth to power regardless of party.
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Emphasizes a “Big Tent” Republican approach — appealing to a diverse electorate by focusing on issues with broad impact rather than strictly partisan culture battles.
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Highlights a desire to engage underrepresented communities, including Black voters, within the Republican coalition.
KEY PRIORITIES
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"ALL Americans First" candidate calling elected officials to stand on first principles, and developing capacity of voters, public servants, and organizational leaders to recognize the importance of free speech and viewpoint diversity in the development of rules, regulations, solutions, and sound public policy.
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Speaking up for ALL Illinoisans, no matter their race nor where they live in the state. No American gets left behind in the work that they do. Some of the top issues for Denise include:
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Leading the health insurance redesign to cut costs and improve quality of care including health equity, trauma-informed care, prevention of abuse and exploitation, and implementing best practices to improve fetal-maternal health outcomes.
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Design and implementation of a native-born labor sourcing plan to put Americans first, (in 2024, Dr. Long was invited to DC to brief Congressional staffers about).
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Ensuring legislation and implementation guidance are efficient and effective to cut waste, fraud, and abuse while prioritizing stability in domestic and foreign policy for ourselves and our children’s children. :
Jimmy L. Tillman II
US Senate (Conservative Republican)
"Leading the MAGA Calvary as the Only GOP Senate Candidate Who Can Win Illinois. A true conservative warrior."
Follow the Money...
https://www.fec.gov/data/ (1/31/26 no current data)
Campaign Sites with Links to Social Media
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
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Non-career politician focused on professional management rather than partisan politics.
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Author, historian, and conservative activist with leadership in grassroots organizing.
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Heritage Foundation Academy Fellow, and President of the Martin Luther King Republicans.
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Religious Freedom Victory - When the Pritzker Administration closed churches during COVID, stood up for the Right to Worship. They ONLY allowed 10 people back in, so led the charge—ready to go to jail for Jesus if necessary. Result? Total victory for religious freedom across Illinois. Churches stayed open.
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Credited by some GOP circles with mobilizing public engagement on key policy debates.
WHY RUNNING
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Your champion warrior, voters across Illinois are joining our America First movement. The Choice Is Clear.
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We can seize this moment and give Illinois the powerful conservative voice in the Senate we've been waiting for, or we can settle for another candidate who sounds good but lacks the proven ability to deliver results when it counts.
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The time for wishing is over. The time for winning is now.
KEY PRIORITIES
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Regulatory reform: Audit agencies and cut red tape to reduce costs for families and businesses.
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Fiscal restraint: Support legislation aimed at trimming federal spending.
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Immigration enforcement: Strong border security and adherence to immigration laws.
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National security: Support counterterrorism oversight and condition foreign aid on protections for religious minorities.
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Healthcare affordability: Expand Health Savings Accounts and interstate insurance competition.
Don Tracy
US Senate (Conservative Republican)
"Defender of the American Dream. Returning accountability to government by tackling affordability, security, and representation for all of Illinois—not just Chicago."
Follow the Money...
https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/S6IL00615/
Campaign Sites with Links to Social Media
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
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Self-funded his Senate campaign with over $2 million, signaling commitment and capability to compete statewide.
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Currently Senior Counsel at the law firm Brown, Hay & Stephens—the oldest law firm in the state, where a young Abraham Lincoln once practiced law
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Former Chair of the Illinois Republican Party (2021–2024)
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50 years of legal experience
WHY RUNNING
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Wants to bring common-sense solutions to Washington
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Aiming to restore a two-party balance in Illinois
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Appeals to Independent: While proud of his Republican roots, winning statewide in a blue state requires beyond-the-base outreach to independents and moderate voters.
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Pro-growth, pro-family conservative
KEY PRIORITIES
Lowering Cost-of-Living
- Reduce the burden on working families by tackling high costs across the board:
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Energy & utility costs: lower energy and gas prices by promoting an all-of-the-above energy strategy, including support for reliable fossil fuels alongside responsible innovation.
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Healthcare affordability: market-driven reforms—more price transparency, competition, and expanded Health Savings Accounts rather than expanding big federal programs. He would consider short, targeted extensions of Affordable Care Act credits only if tied to permanent reform.
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Tax relief: Emphasizes lowering overall taxes and rolling back burdensome regulations that suppress economic activity and job creation.
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Championing “Common Sense” over “Extreme Agendas (Fighting “far-left” policies)"
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Public safety and law enforcement: Opposes defunding the police; champions accountability and support for law enforcement as fundamental to safety.
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Social issues: Opposes taxpayer-funded benefits for non-citizens and Medicaid expansion, and opposes redefining sports or social norms.
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Representing ALL of Illinois: Stresses that Chicago doesn’t speak for the whole state—aims to give a voice to suburban and downstate residents in Washington.
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Trump agenda support: Endorses key elements of the Trump agenda, including peace, prosperity, and law and order.