See where Sims and Walls stand on taxes, schools and jobs. Names follow official Kankakee County election filings.
Elgie R. Sims Jr. (Democratic), Frederick L. Walls (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot; Elgie R. Sims Jr. 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.
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, Elgie R. Sims Jr., is on the ballot.
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Illinois › Kankakee County › Illinois Senate District 17
Elgie R. Sims Jr. is an attorney who previously served in the Illinois House from 2012 to 2018, per the Illinois General Assembly. He has represented the 17th District in the Senate since 2018 and serves as Majority Caucus Appropriations Leader, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Top priorities
From the campaign site
Walls is a journeyman carpenter of nineteen years and a small business owner, per the campaign site. Walls describes himself as not a lawyer or lobbyist and says he is running for Illinois State Senate District 17, per the campaign site.
Who is running for Illinois Senate District 17 in 2026?
2 candidates are tracked for Illinois Senate District 17 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Elgie R. Sims Jr. and Frederick L. Walls. Candidate information follows official Kankakee County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below. See where they stand on taxes, schools and jobs.
When is the Illinois Senate District 17 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 Kankakee 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.
Candidate roster from official Kankakee County and state election office filings, last verified October 14, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
Cross-check with the official Illinois election office, or see the full Kankakee County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
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