* Sen. Linda Holmes…
After 20 years representing Illinois’ 42nd District, Assistant Senate Majority Leader Linda Holmes announced Monday that she will not seek reelection and will withdraw her name from the November 2026 ballot. Holmes, who was first elected to the Illinois Senate in 2006, said the progression of Multiple Sclerosis, a condition she’s lived with for 37 years, has led her to make the difficult decision to retire from public office at the conclusion of her current term. Senator Holmes issued this statement reflecting on her decision and her years of public service:
“This is a difficult letter to write to my friends, colleagues and supporters. It is with a heavy heart that I will withdraw my name from the November 3, 2026 ballot. As many of you know, I have had MS for 37 years. While I have been fortunate these past several decades to have been able to operate with few symptoms, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is now forcing me to slow down.
“I am very grateful to have represented the 42nd District in the Illinois State Senate for the past 20 years. Serving constituents since I was elected in 2006 has been a true honor. It is a task I never took lightly. I have treasured being able to have been your voice in Springfield.
“I was pivotal in helping Illinois achieve the status of being one of the most pet friendly states in our nation. Because of MS and living with a chronic disease, I have fought for better health insurance for all people. As a past business owner, I carried legislation to help small businesses. I fought hard to protect and provide good paying jobs in Illinois. As a former Kane County Board member and neighborhood advocate, I fiercely protected local control for the 1,294 cities, towns and villages that make up Illinois. Throughout the pandemic, I was the Senate leader working on unemployment issues and ensuring we maintained a stable unemployment trust fund. That was a collaborative effort with both legislative chambers and both political parties, as well as representatives from both business and labor.
“The legislation of which I am most proud to have sponsored is Medical Aid in Dying (MAID). MAID allows terminally ill individuals with a prognosis of six months or less to live to have the choice to end their life with dignity. This was a passion project to honor my parents, who both passed from terminal cancer. That law goes into effect September 2026.
“I intend to serve the full remainder of my term and will be active from now until January 2027 to personally meet with the elected officials in my district who strive each day to build strong communities and neighborhoods. I cherish the opportunity to meet with as many constituents as possible and express my heartfelt gratitude for their trust in me and allowing me this opportunity of a lifetime.
* Capitol News Illinois…
Just who that somebody else will be on November’s ballot is up to the Democratic County chairs based on a weighted vote in the four counties where Holmes has constituents — Kane (about 41%), Kendall (about 29%), DuPage (about 19%), and Will (about 11%).
Holmes declined to mention who she’ll be backing for the nomination — though she does have a preferred candidate. That person would face Aurora Republican Edgardo “Eddie” Perez.
“We want to give people the opportunity to run,” she said. […]
[Kane County Democratic Party chair Mark Guethle] will wield 41% of the vote when the Democratic chairs sit down to name Holmes’ replacement on the ballot. Holmes’ opinion on her successor, he said, will carry a lot of weight, at least for him.
“She worked hard for this many years, and she’s entitled to what she thinks would be the best fit,” he said.
- OneMan - Monday, Jun 22, 26 @ 10:16 am:
Nice that she waited until after the primary. I would suggest Aurora Mayor John Laesh as a possible replacement. Kifowit would be an interesting choice, but I doubt that will happen.
Part of me thinks the folks outside Kane County are going to end up consolidating on someone and picking them.
- Candy Dogood - Monday, Jun 22, 26 @ 11:05 am:
Always a treat when an elected official decides that one of the last acts of their tenure in public office will be to deny the voting public an opportunity to weigh in on who will be their candidate in the general election.
===“We want to give people the opportunity to run,”===
This is the opposite of that. Unless that county chair legitimately believes that an electorate of FOUR people really counts as an election.
Linda Holmes’ stunt makes everyone involved look bad.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Monday, Jun 22, 26 @ 11:18 am:
=“She worked hard for this many years, and she’s entitled to what she thinks would be the best fit,” he said.=
Or - and hear me out here - maybe, just maybe, her constituents deserve their voices heard on who’s the best fit.
Just a (democratic) thought
- Lincoln Lad - Monday, Jun 22, 26 @ 12:39 pm:
Don’t be naive, Don Harmon likely set this timetable and he likely will play a big role in choosing who comes next. He will dangle financial support.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Jun 22, 26 @ 12:40 pm:
@Joe -
Voters will have their say in November.
YDD
- Friendly Bob Adams - Monday, Jun 22, 26 @ 12:48 pm:
I think people take a step back in terms of critiquing Holmes’s motivation. MS is a very serious condition that progresses over time. To say she should have understood the timing of her condition in relation to the primary election seems a bit unkind.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Monday, Jun 22, 26 @ 12:53 pm:
@YDD - Republican *voters* got to choose their candidate. Why shouldn’t Democratic voters get that opportunity?
Or maybe you’re just an old machine guy?
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Jun 22, 26 @ 4:16 pm:
*** Don’t be naive, Don Harmon likely set this timetable ***
Sure. Right after he cut a 250 foot tear in the Lincoln Reflecting Pool and filled it with algae.
Seriously: It is a safe seat. Harmon is unlikely to pick a fight with the county chairmen over a seat Democrats have zero chance of losing. Mark Guethle was unanimously re-elected chair of the Democratic County Chairman’s Association today.
@Joe - Democrats did get a chance to pick their nominee. And also, Democrats elected the precinct committeemen who elected the county chairs who will fill the vacancy on the ballot.
“There, but for the Grace of God, go I.” MS shortens your life expectancy by 7 to 14 years. Senator Holmes is now 67 y.o. and has given 20 of those years to the people of her district and our state. Honorably. It is baffling to me that anyone thinks attacking Holmes is a wise thing to do, rather than expressing an ounce of compassion, but go for it.
- David Agnew - Monday, Jun 22, 26 @ 4:35 pm:
Holmes has $1.2 million in her campaign fund. I think that gives her a big say in her successor. It will not be Kiffy nor will it be Mayor Laesch (although he could do much less damage in Springfield than in his current position.)
- Just Me 2 - Monday, Jun 22, 26 @ 5:03 pm:
=== We want to give people the opportunity to run ===
So, when will petitions be circulated for this office? Oh wait.
- Juice - Monday, Jun 22, 26 @ 5:05 pm:
I understand the frustration with her making this announcement now.
But to YDD’s point, should could have waited until after the election to retire. And then someone would be appointed to the seat by the exact same group of people, and be in that seat for two years before the voters have any kind of say.
Is this ideal? Of course not. But at least voters still have some say in the general election.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Monday, Jun 22, 26 @ 5:21 pm:
=“She worked hard for this many years, and she’s entitled to what she thinks would be the best fit,” he said.=
All due respect, Holmes won her last race by 20 points. This is a D seat and whoever is appointed will win barring a major disqualifying event. So in effect, being appointed to the seat is what’s happening. I know I always love it when the powers that be tell me who I’m allowed to vote for. That’s the best /s
- Haters hate everything - Wednesday, Jun 24, 26 @ 1:41 pm:
Please. Set aside your accusations about anyone retiring from public service on health issues. Would someone suffering at the level Sen. Holmes has likely been experiencing for some time, how likely would they be to put in the time and energy to walk all over their district getting signatures if they were planning to retire? She has served the 42nd District and the state impeccably for 20 years.