NASW-IL Announces Endorsements for 2026 Illinois General Election
NASW-IL Announces Endorsements for November 3, 2026, Illinois General Election
Chicago, IL—The National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Chapter (NASW-IL) announced its endorsed candidates for the November 3, 2026, Illinois General Election, highlighting the critical role state leadership will play as social workers and human service systems face growing uncertainty at the federal level.
Download our Voting Guide here.
2026 Endorsements:
Governor and Lieutenant Governor: JB Pritzker and Christian Mitchell
Governor Pritzker signed the WOPR Act, which bans AI from providing therapy in Illinois, and HB 1085, which makes private insurers pay more for mental health care. He has consistently worked to remove barriers to care and fund more mental health professionals. Governor Pritzker and Christian Mitchell deserve four more years.
Attorney General: Kwame Raoul
Attorney General Raoul has been Illinois' backstop against federal budget cuts and harsh policies out of Washington. He's gone to court again and again to protect the health care, services and civil rights our clients count on.
Secretary of State: Alexi Giannoulias
Secretary Giannoulias made sure people leaving jail and prison get a free state ID, which they need to land a job, housing and benefits. He also led the fight against library book bans.
Comptroller: Margaret Croke
As Comptroller, Representative Croke will decide how fast Illinois pays the agencies where our members work. We're counting on her to make sure the people doing the state's hardest work never wait on a check.
Treasurer: Michael Frerichs
Treasurer Frerichs has been a strong advocate for social workers and our clients for more than a decade. He built Illinois ABLE for people with disabilities and Secure Choice for workers with no retirement plan.
Illinois General Assembly
A record six of our endorsed legislative candidates are social workers or hold social work degrees. They are marked below. Find your districts at elections.il.gov.
State Senate
• District 8: Ram Villivalam
• District 9: Patrick Hanley
• District 14: Emil Jones III
• District 17: Elgie R. Sims Jr.
• District 21: Laura Ellman
• District 25: Karina Villa (SW)
• District 26: Nabeela Syed
• District 27: Carina Santa Maria (SW)
• District 29: Julie A. Morrison
• District 36: Michael W. Halpin
• District 42: Jared Ploger
• District 48: Doris Turner
• District 57: Christopher Belt
State House
• District 2: Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez
• District 12: Paul Kendrick
• District 13: Demerike “Demi” Palecek
• District 17: Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
• District 18: Robyn Gabel
• District 19: Lindsey LaPointe (SW)
• District 21: Abdelnasser Rashid
• District 25: Curtis J. Tarver II
• District 35: Mary Gill
• District 39: Will Guzzardi
• District 41: Janet Yang Rohr
• District 42: Margaret A. DeLarosa
• District 44: Fred Crespo
• District 45: Martha “Marti” Deuter (SW)
• District 46: Diane Blair-Sherlock
• District 49: Maura Hirschauer
• District 51: Jenny Levin
• District 52: Maria Peterson
• District 53: Nicolle Grasse
• District 54: Mary Beth Canty
• District 56: Michelle Mussman
• District 57: Tracy Katz Muhl
• District 61: Joyce Mason
• District 65: Ricky Rivard
• District 66: Suzanne Ness
• District 68: Dave Vella
• District 69: Peter Janko
• District 75: Caroline McCree
• District 77: Norma Hernandez (SW)
• District 78: Camille Lilly
• District 79: Jackie Haas (SW)
• District 81: Anne Stava
• District 83: Matt Hanson
• District 85: Dagmara “Dee” Avelar
• District 97: Jessica Dixon Heitman
• District 98: Natalie A. Manley
• District 104: Mary Catherine Roberson
• District 111: Rosetta “Rosie” Brown
• District 112: Katie Stuart
SW = candidates with a social work license or a social work degree.
About Our Endorsements
This year the NASW-Illinois Political Action Committe (NASW-IL PAC) endorsed only in contested races. Many legislators who fight hard for social workers don't have an opponent in November, and they would have easily earned our endorsement. If a candidate isn't in this guide, that doesn't mean they aren't a champion for our profession.
Additional endorsements may be announced pending further review by the NASW-IL PAC.
The NASW-IL PAC is the nonpartisan political arm of the National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Chapter. As a political action committee, NASW-IL PAC endorses and financially contributes to candidates from any party who support NASW’s policy agenda. The national PACE Board of Trustees endorses and contributes to federal candidates running for U.S. House and Senate seats; state chapter PAC units decide on local and state races.
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world, with over 120,000 members. The NASW-Illinois Chapter is one of the association's largest chapters representing over 20.000 licensed Illinois social workers and school social workers, with over 5,000 active members. NASW strives to advance social work careers, grow social work businesses, and protect the profession.
