Who is running for Illinois House District 8 in 2026?

Illinois House District 8: 2026 Candidates & Ballot

One candidate is tracked for Illinois House District 8 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Shantel Franklin. Candidate information follows official Cook County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

Shantel Franklin (Democratic) is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot. The seat is open: Rep. La Shawn K. Ford (Democratic), the sitting member per the General Assembly's roster, is not on the November ballot. 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.

Shantel Franklin

Democratic

Shantel Franklin is the Democratic candidate for Illinois House District 8 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the State Board of Elections' certified candidate list. Franklin is a policy professional and real estate agent who spent six years working in community outreach and legislative liaison roles at the Illinois Attorney General's Office, per her campaign site. She holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science and a master's degree in Public Affairs. She grew up on Chicago's West Side and has spoken about her own experience with homelessness and educational instability.

2026 priorities (per the campaign site)

Expanding safe, stable and affordable housing
Strengthening public schools and support for students facing housing insecurity
Gun violence prevention through community-based approaches

Source: candidate campaign site, roster verified 2026-09-01.

Campaign site →