An unusually competitive primary election is drawing Columbia students to the polls where their votes could reshape Illinois’s congressional representation.
The high-stakes nature of this year’s primary election stems from an uncommon level of turnover in the state’s congressional delegation. Illinois has five open seats in the U.S. House, along with an open U.S. Senate race following Sen. Dick Durbin’s decision not to seek reelection.
That level of turnover presents a rare opportunity for voters to influence who represents Illinois in Washington at a moment of a politically whipsawed climate.
“The primaries today are super important because you’re deciding who’s going to run,” Teddi Karnes, a member of Columbia Votes and a senior film and television major, said. “It’s very important that the people who write our federal laws and make decisions for you reflect more than just your party, but your actual interests.”
Early turnout in Illinois appears stronger than in recent primaries, but even modest gains would still leave participation well below typical general election levels.
Early voting turnout in Chicago is running ahead of recent primary elections, according to the Chicago Board of Elections, which reports that early and mail-in ballot totals have already surpassed comparable points in the 2018 and 2022 cycles. Election officials say the higher participation suggests increased voter engagement in a primary that could exceed the typically low turnout seen in past years.
In 2024, only 19% of registered voters cast their ballots, marking the lowest voter turnout in a presidential primary in at least 50 years, according to state election officials.
Samuel Martinez, a junior photography major, said the primary election presents an opportunity for the general public to “see the power their vote has.”
“With many seats open and changes bound to happen, it presents a new drastic opportunity to see how we, as the public, can influence the direction of our state,” Martinez said.
Although first-year illustration major M Santillan said they weren’t engaged with local politics, they still recognized its importance and intended on learning more about it.
“I know even the smallest of elections and state governments can change federal and nationwide,” Santillan said. “If you disagree with what’s happening and you want things to change, right now is the time to do it,”
Many Columbia students stressed the importance of voting as a form of collective action, especially since primary elections typically have low voter turnout.
Young voters, typically defined as ages 18 to 29, participate at significantly lower rates than older age groups, even in high-turnout elections, with about 47% casting ballots in the 2024 presidential election compared with much higher participation among older voters, according to the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University.
Senior music business major Gabby Mitchell said that she was “concerned about the election, and most importantly what’s going to continue afterwards.”
Mitchell said she is paying attention to what candidates will do about federal education policy amid ongoing debates over the role of the Department of Education and the future of student financial aid.
“I’m really concerned with what the new representatives are going to do to ensure that students can still afford and have the opportunity to go to school — and the safety, and making sure all students are accommodated and supported,” Mitchell said.
In the Senate race, U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi has focused on making education more affordable and aligned with workforce needs, arguing that rising college costs have put higher education out of reach for many families. Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton framed her campaign around broader support for Illinois communities and state leadership. Sean Brown, an attorney, campaigned for free tuition to attend public colleges and universities. Awisi Quartey Bustos has centered education as a key issue in her campaign, calling for greater investment and more equitable access across Illinois
Kellcey DeMoss, a junior music business major, said she feels more engaged in this election than the previous because of the current political climate.
“I think it’s more important now to be educated and know your dates. Be able to educate other people,” DeMoss said.
Vasileia McFadyen, a senior film and television major, stressed the importance of voting on every level due to the “interconnected” nature of politics.
“Know your streets, neighborhoods to cities, and know politics in your backyard as they are and how it can impact an election for even a president,” McFadyen said. “You vote for what impacts you and the people around you.”
Copy edited by Katie Peters
