The Ballot Brief
Cook County, Illinois

Illinois House District 2

See where Hernandez and Hruska stand on housing, schools and jobs. Names follow official Cook County election filings.

About this race

Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez (Democratic), Laura Hruska (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot; Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez 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.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez, is on the ballot.

We use AI to research and write election information. Errors are possible. Verify important details with official sources.

Illinois › Cook County › Illinois House District 2

Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez

Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez

DemocraticIncumbent

Top priorities

From the campaign site

  • Fair wages and workplace protections
  • Increased public school funding
  • Expanded health care access and reproductive care
Biography

Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez is the Democratic candidate for Illinois House District 2 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the State Board of Elections' certified candidate list. Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez is the sitting member, per the General Assembly's roster. Hernandez is a full-time state legislator who has served as Deputy Majority Leader since 2007, per her ilga.gov legislative profile. She previously worked as a Senior Policy Advisor to Lt. Governor Patrick Quinn and spent 17 years with Cicero Public Schools. She holds degrees from Morton College and Northeastern University and is active with Cicero-area youth and children's services organizations.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Laura Hruska

Republican

Biography

Laura Hruska is a longtime Brookfield resident who holds a doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Illinois Chicago, per the Riverside-Brookfield Landmark. She served on the Riverside-Brookfield High School District 208 school board before entering the race. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Illinois House District 2 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Illinois House District 2 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez and Laura Hruska. Candidate information follows official Cook County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below. See where they stand on housing, schools and jobs.

When is the Illinois House District 2 election in Illinois?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Illinois are on the Illinois election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Cook County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Cook County and state election office filings, last verified October 15, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Illinois election office, or see the full Cook County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

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Candidate profiles
Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez, full profileLaura Hruska, full profileOfficial Illinois election office