Illinois › Cook County › Illinois House District 17
2 candidates are tracked for Illinois House District 17 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz and James "Jim" Geldermann. Candidate information follows official Cook County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (Democratic), James "Jim" Geldermann (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot; Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz is the sitting member, per the General Assembly's roster. Party nominees were chosen at the March 17 primary (plurality, no runoffs); independent and new-party candidates qualified by petition. The field is the State Board of Elections' 2026 General Election candidate list (status Active, read September 7, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz is the Democratic candidate for Illinois House District 17 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the State Board of Elections' certified candidate list. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz is the sitting member, per the General Assembly's roster. Gong-Gershowitz is the sitting state representative for the 17th District and chairs the House Judiciary - Civil Committee. She is a human rights attorney who previously litigated at Winston and Strawn, per the General Assembly's roster. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 7, 2026.
James "Jim" Geldermann is a software designer and head of the business-to-business software company Wireless.dev, per the Journal & Topics Media Group. He spent 15 years in ministry work accompanying people at the end of their lives, per North Cook News. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 7, 2026.
2026 priorities (per the Journal & Topics Media Group)
- Opposes state budget increases and minimum wage increases
- Wants to end social promotion in schools
- Seeks removal of state curriculum mandates unrelated to core academic and financial-literacy skills
