Who's In the Race

Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) faces Republican Jeff Wilson in the Nov. 3 general election in Illinois's 13th District. Budzinski has represented the district since 2023, coming to Congress after a labor-movement career and a 2021 stint as chief of staff at the White House Office of Management and Budget. ​

She won the Democratic primary with about 75 percent of the vote over Dylan Blaha. Wilson is a retired nuclear power engineer and U.S. Navy veteran who earned a master's degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He won the Republican primary with about 67 percent of the vote over Joshua Loyd.

What They Stand For

Nikki Budzinski has backed legislation that would set deadlines for negotiating first union contracts. He has advocated for a Farm Bill that supports Illinois agriculture and family farmers, access to quality health care and affordable housing as priorities for solving pressing national issues, and securing federal grants for the district, with her campaign website crediting her with bringing more than $288 million in federal funding to the area.

Wilson has proposed expanding Midwest energy production to bring down utility bills, according to his campaign website. He has also supported strengthening local farms and supply chains to reduce food prices, tariffs, and immigration enforcement.

The Money Behind the Race

Federal Election Commission filings show Budzinski raised about $2.9 million through June 30 and had about $2.6 million in the bank. Wilson raised about $348,000 through June 30 and had about $12,000 cash on hand. His filings also show about $196,000 in debt, more than half his total receipts. Outside groups spent about $84,000 in the race as of Oct. 13, all of it supporting Budzinski. The sole outside spender was Protect Progress, which accounted for the entire total.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

The Cook Political Report rated the race "Solid Democratic" as of Oct. 9; Sabato's Crystal Ball gave it the same rating as of Oct. 11; and Inside Elections also called it "Solid Democratic" as of Oct. 2. On Kalshi, traders gave Democrats a 92.54 percent chance of winning as of Oct. 13; Republicans stood at 7.46 percent.

Budzinski won the district with about 57 percent in 2022 and about 58 percent in 2024. Democrats held 14 of Illinois's 17 U.S. House seats after both the 2022 and 2024 elections. Democrat Kamala Harris carried Illinois in the 2024 presidential election with about 54 percent of the vote.

Online registration is open through Sunday, Oct. 18; grace-period registration is available from Wednesday, Oct. 7 through Election Day. Early voting runs Thursday, Sept. 24 through Monday, Nov. 2, with hours varying by location. Mail-ballot applications must be received by Thursday, Oct. 29. Polls on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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