Who's In the Race
Illinois's 6th Congressional District features Democratic incumbent Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL) and Republican Niki Conforti in the Nov. 3 general election. The contest is a rematch: Casten defeated Conforti in the 2024 general election, and the two are squaring off again in 2026.
Casten is a scientist and clean-energy entrepreneur who served as CEO of energy companies, including Turbosteam Corporation and Recycled Energy Development; he holds two master's degrees from Dartmouth. He won the March 17 Democratic primary with about 76% of the vote over Joey Ruzevich. Conforti is a businesswoman and energy consultant who spent 12 years in healthcare administration and previously owned a staffing business; she holds an MBA from George Washington University. She won the March 17 Republican primary with about 82% of the vote over Skylar Duensing.
What They Stand For
Casten supports renewable energy, saying his approach would ensure Americans have access to "the most reliable and low-cost source of power available," according to his official House website. He has also supported investing in clean-energy infrastructure to address climate change, stronger unions and workers' rights to bargain for higher wages and safer workplaces, universal, affordable healthcare and strengthening the Affordable Care Act; and stricter background checks for gun owners and a ban on assault weapons.
Conforti has proposed opposing any increase to the debt ceiling and pushing to curb federal spending, according to her campaign website. She has also supported tariffs to bring back manufacturing and legislation to stimulate economic growth, requiring photo identification to vote, including three forms of ID to register and proof of ID at the polling place, expanding ICE enforcement and deporting violent criminals while supporting legal immigration; and a "Pro-Life" position with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother being in danger.
The Money Behind the Race
Through June 30, Casten had raised about $2.1 million and had about $1.3 million in the bank, roughly 57 times as much cash as Conforti, who had raised about $313,000 and had about $22,700 on hand, according to Federal Election Commission filings. Casten had about $1.3 million in cash on hand as of June 30, 2026, and a reported debt of about $456,000. Outside groups have spent about $43,799 supporting Casten, led by the National Association of Realtors, which accounts for about $31,702 of that total, according to FEC outside-spending records.
Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets
Cook Political Report rated the race Solid Democratic as of Oct. 19; Sabato's Crystal Ball rated it Solid Democratic as of Oct. 11; and Inside Elections rated it Solid Democratic as of Oct. 2. On Kalshi, traders gave Democrats a 94.72% chance of winning as of Oct. 20.
The district's recent history supports that outlook. Casten won the district with about 54% of the vote in both 2024 and 2022, a nearly identical share across both cycles. In 2022, Democrats won 14 of the state's 17 U.S. House seats, and Republicans won three. Kamala Harris carried Illinois in the 2024 presidential election with about 54% of the vote.
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