Donna Miller Wins 2nd Congressional District Seat: AP

Donna Miller is the projected winner for the U.S. Representatives 2nd Congressional District in the Nov. 3 General Election, a seat vacated by Robin Kelly, who held it since 2013. Kelly left the seat to pursue candidacy for Sen. Dick Durbin's seat, but lost in the March 2026 primary.

The Associated Press called the race in Miller’s favor just before 8 p.m.

Cook County Commissioner Miller beat out 9 other candidates in a Democratic primary to face Republican Mike Noack, who ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Write-in candidate Independent Ashley Banks also contended for the spot.

With polls closed across Illinois, and votes being tallied, here are AP unofficial vote totals so far:

71 percent of votes counted as of 10:15 p.m.

• Donna Miller (D): 144,825

• Michael Scott Noack (R): 52,821

Speaking Tuesday night, Miller thanked her family and supporters.

"Along the way, I've learned so much more about the 2nd District, which is a microcosm of America," Miller said. "It's urban, suburban and rural. It borders Bronzeville to the north and Danville to the south. We literally sit at the crossroads of America, and we're the largest logistics hub in North America.

"We have 4,000 farms in the 2nd District, and I want to thank Congresswoman Robin Kelly for making sure we know each other and work together so they can continue to feed Illinois, America and the world. That's what this campaign season was all about — the price of groceries, gas, healthcare, rent, mortgages and other living expenses."

Republican contender Noack touted himself as a truck driver running for Congress "because somebody from this district needs to finally fight back." He pointed to "crushing" property taxes, expensive healthcare costs, high gas tax and blighted roads as catalysts for his run.

Independent candidate Banks told voters that she survived a rare medical condition that taught her "the importance of access to quality healthcare and accountability."

Her priorities included infrastructure work ensuring safe water and modern pipelines, economic development revitalizing business and services and healthcare access restoring local emergency care.

Following announcement of her projected win, Miller spoke of the new faces that have been selected to lead as a "generational change."

"While we may be losing institutional knowledge, we're gaining fresh ideas and new perspectives, all while being able to ask those whom we're replacing to share their wisdom with us," Miller said. "That doesn't happen often.

"So, we're in a good place to undo the damage this administration has done to America; to make Congress do its job and stand up to this president; to stop the corruption; to stop the Supreme Court from further eroding our rights; to stop the attacks on immigrants from South America, Africa, Haiti and elsewhere; to bring civility back to government, and to stop gaslighting the American people."

Miller said she plans to work for the people of the Southland.

"Affordability, healthcare, veterans, infrastructure, education, voting rights and providing an environment where everyone can succeed are my priorities," she said.

"I'm going to Washington to work, not fight. But make no mistake, I won't back down from a fight—anybody who messes with me will know they were in a fight."

The 2nd Congressional District includes the far southeast side of Chicago (including Hyde Park); Cook County suburbs of Blue Island, Calumet City, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Dolton, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Harvey, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Lansing, Matteson, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Richton Park, Sauk Village, South Holland, and Steger; Crete, Monee, Peotone, and University Park in Will County; Aroma Park, Bourbonnais, Bradley, Kankakee, Manteno, and Momence in Kankakee County; portions of southern Will and Kankakee counties, including Pembroke Township.

Election results are unofficial until certified by election authorities.