Republican candidates will appear first on Chicago ballots for the 2026 midterm elections, following a lottery held May 1 at the Cook County administrative building. The order was determined by Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon, who drew cards representing Democrats, Republicans, and Libertarians from a plastic bowl in a brief ceremony.
The order of party placement—Republicans first, Democrats second, and Libertarians third—will affect how candidates are listed for voters in the Nov. 3 election. Placement on the ballot can influence voter choices and is often watched closely by political parties.
Three members of the Libertarian Party of Chicago attended the lottery with concerns about fairness after Democrats had secured top placement since 2018. Nico Tsatsoulis, a Libertarian candidate for Cook County assessor, questioned whether all cards were identical before they were placed into film canisters to be mixed. “That has a slightly different color than the other ones,” Tsatsoulis said about the Democratic card. Gordon responded: “This is the same color… I don’t play games. My integrity is everything.” After Republicans won top placement this year, Tsatsoulis said: “Judging from the outcome, I think it was fair… These fears are now dispersed.”
Frank Herrera, spokesman for the county clerk’s office, addressed concerns about transparency in a statement: “The ballot position lottery conducted by the Cook County Clerk’s Office is an open and transparent process that has remained consistent and unchanged for decades… Suggestions like this risk undermining public trust in a process that is designed to be fair and transparent.” He also said there was no evidence supporting doubts raised by some participants.
Libertarians gained ballot access in 2022 after suing to lower signature requirements during COVID-19 restrictions; they have maintained their spot on city ballots by receiving at least five percent of votes in one race. The party’s local mailing list includes about 1,400 addresses and holds monthly meetings but has filled only eight out of fifty ward committee seats.
Looking ahead to November’s general election, Pat Hynes will face Tsatsoulis after winning this year’s Democratic primary against incumbent Fritz Kaegi.
