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Good morning, Chicago.

A historically high number of early ballots cast in Chicago helped offset the relatively low number of votes recorded at the polls on an unseasonable cold and windy Tuesday.

Voters who did make it to the polls yesterday cited concerns around affordability and excitement over the state’s first open U.S. Senate seat in 16 years.

Unofficial results showed nearly 400,000 votes had been cast in Chicago by 7 p.m., boosted in large part by people voting before yesterday at the polls or through mail-in ballots. The number of ballots cast prior to Election Day, including both in person and by mail, set a new record for a gubernatorial primary election, according to the Chicago Board of Elections.

See election results from primary races across Illinois.

Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including:

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Darren Bailey, left, and and running mate Aaron Del Mar celebrate the Republican gubernatorial nomination at their election night party in Springfield on March 17, 2026. (Daryl Wilson/for the Chicago Tribune)
Darren Bailey, left, and and running mate Aaron Del Mar celebrate the Republican gubernatorial nomination at their election night party in Springfield on March 17, 2026. (Daryl Wilson/for the Chicago Tribune)

Darren Bailey wins rematch bid against JB Pritzker in Illinois governor race

Voters in Illinois’ race for governor this fall will have a justifiable case of deja vu as Darren Bailey, the Republican Party’s unsuccessful 2022 nominee, will face off once again against two-term Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker.

Bailey, a downstate farmer who was defeated by Pritzker by nearly 13 percentage points four years ago, defeated rivals Ted Dabrowski, James Mendick and Rick Heidner in last night’s GOP gubernatorial primary results.

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton celebrates her win in the Democratic primary election for U.S. Senate, March 17, 2026, at CineCity Studios Chicago. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton celebrates her win in the Democratic primary election for U.S. Senate on March 17, 2026, at CineCity Studios Chicago. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton wins Democratic nomination for US Senate

Two-term Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton of Chicago defeated a pair of experienced members of Congress in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat long held by retiring Sen. Dick Durbin.

The Associated Press called the race for Stratton just before 9:40 p.m., a short time after five-term U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg and seven-term Rep. Robin Kelly of Lynwood conceded. Stratton will face former Illinois Republican Party Chair Don Tracy of Springfield in November.

Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss speaks with supporters after celebrating in the Democratic 9th Congressional District race during an election night watch party at Double Clutch Brewing Company, March 17, 2026, in Evanston. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss speaks to supporters after celebrating the Democratic nomination in the 9th Congressional District race during an election night watch party at Double Clutch Brewing on March 17, 2026, in Evanston. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss wins race for Democratic nomination to succeed Schakowsky in Illinois 9th District

Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss won the Democratic nomination to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky in the 9th Congressional District, delivering a loss to both the big-money interests that spent millions to elect one of his opponents and an insurgent, unconventional campaign from another.

“AIPAC found out the hard way,” Biss said in his speech declaring victory, referring to the pro-Israel lobbying group that supported another candidate. “The 9th district is not for sale.”

Donna Miller walks into her election night event as the Democratic nominee for the 2nd Congressional District on March 17, 2026, in Chicago Heights. (Vincent D. Johnson/for the Chicago Tribune)
Donna Miller walks into her election night event as the Democratic nominee for the 2nd Congressional District on March 17, 2026, in Chicago Heights. (Vincent D. Johnson/for the Chicago Tribune)

Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller wins Illinois’ 2nd District over comeback effort by former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.

Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller was declared the winner of the Democratic primary in Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District yesterday as voters rejected a comeback effort by former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.

State Rep. La Shawn Ford, right, celebrates with U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, center, and Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch at Ford's 7th Congressional District primary election night party at the National Association of Letter Carriers in Chicago, March 17, 2026. (Troy Stolt/for the Chicago Tribune)
State Rep. La Shawn Ford, right, celebrates with U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, center, and Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch at Ford's 7th Congressional District primary election night party on March 17, 2026, at the National Association of Letter Carriers in Chicago. (Troy Stolt/for the Chicago Tribune)

La Shawn Ford wins Illinois 7th District primary, despite heavy opposition from PACs

State Rep. La Shawn Ford declared victory last evening in the Democratic primary to succeed U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, a contest that piqued national interest amid heavy outside spending from special interest groups who spent millions, but failed to tip the historic Chicago race.

Melissa Bean, 8th Congressional District candidate, greets supporters as she enters her election night party at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg on March 17, 2026 in Schaumburg. (John Konstantaras/for the Chicago Tribune)
Melissa Bean, 8th Congressional District candidate, greets supporters as she enters her election night party at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg on March 17, 2026, in Schaumburg. (John Konstantaras/for the Chicago Tribune)

In race to succeed US Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Melissa Bean wins 8th District Democratic primary

Former U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean declared victory yesterday in the Democratic primary to succeed outgoing Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi in the 8th Congressional District in the northwest suburbs.

“Tonight we begin the work necessary to take our democracy back into our own hands,” Bean said.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle addresses supporters during her primary election night watch party at Little Black Pearl in Chicago on March 17, 2026. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle addresses supporters during her primary election night watch party at the Little Black Pearl in Chicago on March 17, 2026. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Pat Hynes defeats Assessor Fritz Kaegi, as Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle wins Democratic primary

Fritz Kaegi conceded defeat in his bid for a third term as Cook County assessor to rival Pat Hynes in yesterday’s Democratic primary. Kaegi, a self-described reformer who largely self-funded his campaign, trailed 47.5% to Hynes’ 52.5% with 84% of estimated votes counted, a rare upset of a countywide incumbent.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, meanwhile, declared victory against challenger Brendan Reilly in the Democratic primary, with the downtown alderman conceding defeat roughly 90 minutes after polls closed.

Chicago firefighters line Harrison Street and salute as an ambulance passes in a procession for fallen firefighter Michael Altman on March 17, 2026. Altman died after being critically injured in a Rogers Park fire on Monday.  (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago firefighters line Harrison Street and salute as an ambulance passes in a procession for fallen firefighter Michael Altman on March 17, 2026. Altman died after being critically injured in a Rogers Park fire on Monday.  (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Fourth-generation Chicago firefighter Michael Altman dies from injuries in Rogers Park fire

A fourth-generation Chicago firefighter seriously wounded Monday while fighting a blaze in the Rogers Park neighborhood died of his injuries yesterday, city officials announced.

Firefighter Michael Altman, 32, was injured while working to extinguish a fire in a multi-story building in the 1700 block of North Shore Avenue around 11:30 a.m. Monday. He was taken to Stroger Hospital and was pronounced dead yesterday morning.

Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan rushes the passer against the Eagles on Jan. 1, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan rushes the passer against the Eagles on Jan. 1, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

Chicago Bears Q&A: Is the team ‘broke’? Will they add a veteran edge rusher to the mix?

The first wave of free agency is over and focus is shifting to the NFL draft. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the Chicago Bears are done adding veterans to their roster.

So what exactly is the team’s financial situation when it comes to making further signings or trades. The Tribune’s Brad Biggs explores that and more in his weekly Bears mailbag.

The grave of Victor Frankenstein in Rosehill Cemetery, March 10, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
The grave of Victor Frankenstein in Rosehill Cemetery, March 10, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

When Frankenstein was a Chicagoan, or why Mary Shelley’s creation will never die

It’s difficult to say what’s more surprising: that one of the leading surgeons in Chicago from the 1900s through the 1940s was named Victor Frankenstein, or that after Victor Frankenstein was born in Chicago in 1869, this poor child’s parents still named him Victor Frankenstein — 51 years after Mary Shelley first published her literary landmark, “Frankenstein.” The book sold slowly at first, though by 1869 it had outsold the works of her husband, poet Percy Shelley, and the Frankenstein monster was well on his way to becoming shorthand for every patched-together invention threatening to kill its inventor.

Chef Brian Lockwood sits in a dark red velvet booth in Gingie's dining room on March 13, 2026, in Chicago. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
Chef Brian Lockwood sits in a dark red velvet booth in Gingie’s dining room on March 13, 2026, in Chicago. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Boka’s new restaurant Gingie from chef Brian Lockwood brings high-class cooking to an à la carte menu

Boka Restaurant Group is unveiling a new restaurant March 26 brimming with whimsical details, a carefully concocted ingredient-driven menu and an ode to Chicago’s culinary history.

Gingie is the brick-and-mortar debut from Boka’s newest chef partner Brian Lockwood. There is no tasting menu and everything is à la carte in a way Lockwood hopes will be accessible and fun, but refined and meticulous. Gingie’s menu concept is filed under modern contemporary but emphasizes the “three pillars” of Lockwood’s style of cooking.