The Winner
If you live in Illinois's 16th U.S. House District, you will continue to be represented in Congress by Darin LaHood (R-IL), who has been declared the winner of the 2026 congressional race, according to the Associated Press.
The Associated Press called the race shortly after 9 p.m. CST on Nov. 3, and the general-election results were still listed as counting, with no vote totals yet recorded.
The Race
Paul Nolley, the Democratic opponent, advanced through the March 17 Democratic primary to reach the general election ballot. Cook Political Report rated the seat Solid Republican heading into Election Day. Sabato's Crystal Ball and Inside Elections each rated it Solid Republican as well.
Illinois's 16th Congressional District has a total population of about 748,900 residents, a median household income of about $84,400, and a median age of about 41.7, according to geographic data for the district.
About 31.6 percent of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher; the district's population is about 86 percent white, 7.3 percent Hispanic, 2.5 percent Black, and 2.5 percent Asian, with an unemployment rate of about 4.5 percent and about 8.2 percent of residents living below the poverty line.
The district covers Boone, Bureau, Grundy, Henry, Jo Daviess, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, Marshall, Ogle, Putnam, Stark, Whiteside, and Woodford counties, along with parts of DeKalb, Ford, and several other counties, according to the Illinois General Assembly.
What's Next
LaHood is set to take office on Jan. 3, 2027.
LaHood said he would continue prioritizing national security and domestic semiconductor supply chains, citing his support for a provision in the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act to restrict Pentagon procurement of certain semiconductors manufactured in China, according to a statement published on Congressman Darin LaHood's official website in July 2026.
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