Comptroller of Illinois · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Illinois comptroller race?
Margaret Croke has the strongest record in the Illinois comptroller race. Margaret Croke scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Bryan Drew at 61, as of October 9, 2026. Margaret Croke's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Bryan Drew's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Strongest record
Margaret Croke
65 / 100
Public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 50
Republican
Bryan Drew
61 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Margaret Croke
- On the record2026-04
As comptroller nominee in 2026 sponsored a bill to fully repeal Illinois' interchange fee prohibition but said she did not plan to move it.
- On the record2025 to 2026
Chairs the Illinois House Financial Institutions Committee in the 2025 to 2026 session.
- Credit2021
Introduced 2021 legislation broadening the insurance definition of infertility to cover same-sex couples, single women and women over 35; it was signed into law.
Source: Wikipedia, Margaret Croke
Bryan Drew
- On the record2026
Served eight years as an elected Rend Lake College trustee, two as chairman, and has practiced personal injury and civil litigation law in southern Illinois for more than 25 years.
- On the record2026-09
Proposes making the comptroller's website easier to use, tracking state spending on nongovernmental organizations, and using AI to flag potential waste and fraud.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Margaret Croke. Committee Croke For Illinois, created Nov. 18, 2019, is active with reports on file at the State Board of Elections. No ethics, court or campaign finance finding found; PolitiFact has no ratings of her statements.
Source: Illinois State Board of Elections, Croke For Illinois (committee 35784)
Bryan Drew. Committee Drew For Illinois, created Jan. 2, 2026, is active with reports on file at the State Board of Elections. No ethics, court or campaign finance finding found.
Source: Illinois State Board of Elections, Drew For Illinois (committee 41029)
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Margaret Croke. No public record found.
Bryan Drew. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Margaret Croke. Took part in a November 2025 Democratic primary candidate forum and gave an on-record interview to Capitol News Illinois in September 2026. No 2026 general election debate with Bryan Drew was found.
Sources: Capitol News Illinois, Sept. 29, 2026, NPR Illinois (Capitol News Illinois), Nov. 19, 2025
Bryan Drew. Gave an on-record interview to Capitol News Illinois in September 2026 and says he has driven about 80,000 miles campaigning across the state.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Margaret Croke. State representative since January 2021 and earlier deputy chief of staff at the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, with no formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Margaret Croke
Bryan Drew. Eight years as an elected Rend Lake College trustee, two as chairman, and more than 25 years as an attorney, with no formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Margaret Croke. Sworn member of the Illinois House since Jan. 13, 2021 with no finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified results found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Margaret Croke
Bryan Drew. Elected Rend Lake College trustee for eight years with no finding of misuse of office found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Margaret Croke. Illinois House member for District 12 since 2021, three terms. Earlier deputy chief of staff at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Margaret Croke, Capitol News Illinois, Sept. 29, 2026
Bryan Drew. Elected Rend Lake College trustee for eight years, including two as board chairman; personal injury and civil litigation attorney for more than 25 years; cafe owner.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Margaret Croke. Chairs the House Financial Institutions Committee (2025 to 2026). Plans include budget-to-billing tracking software, enhanced vendor reporting and continued enforcement of the Prevailing Wage Act through payment withholding.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Margaret Croke (committee assignments), Croke for Illinois, Priorities
Bryan Drew. Specific plans within the office's powers: rebuild the comptroller's website so spending is understandable, publish spending on nongovernmental organizations, and use AI to flag waste and fraud.
Sources: Capitol News Illinois, Sept. 29, 2026, Bryan Drew for Illinois Comptroller, Transparency
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Margaret Croke. Four channels documented: a campaign priorities page, a Sun-Times candidate questionnaire, a November 2025 candidate forum and press interviews. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Margaret Croke, Croke for Illinois, Priorities, Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ, Oct. 1, 2026, NPR Illinois (Capitol News Illinois), Nov. 19, 2025
Bryan Drew. Two channels documented: campaign issue pages and a press interview. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Bryan Drew, Bryan Drew for Illinois Comptroller, Transparency
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Margaret Croke. Born in Oak Park, Illinois, and lives in Chicago, where she represents District 12. In-state share of contributions not available; CNI reports more than $2.6 million raised since 2025.
Source: Ballotpedia, Margaret Croke
Bryan Drew. Benton resident who has practiced law in southern Illinois for more than 25 years. In-state share of contributions not available.
Sources: Capitol News Illinois, Sept. 29, 2026, Illinois State Board of Elections, Drew For Illinois (committee 41029)
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Margaret Croke. Held leadership posts at the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and on Pritzker's 2018 campaign staff. Committee reports on file; no Board fine found.
Bryan Drew. Chaired the Rend Lake College board of trustees for two years; owns a cafe with his wife and runs a law practice. Committee reports on file; no Board fine found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Margaret Croke. In 2021 introduced legislation broadening the insurance definition of infertility, which was signed into law. Full sponsorship record not opened (ilga.gov blocked).
Source: Wikipedia, Margaret Croke
Bryan Drew. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Margaret Croke. No public record found.
Bryan Drew. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Margaret Croke. No public record found.
Bryan Drew. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Margaret Croke. No public record found.
Bryan Drew. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Margaret Croke. No public record found.
Bryan Drew. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Illinois comptroller race?
Margaret Croke has the strongest record in the Illinois comptroller race. Margaret Croke scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Bryan Drew at 61, as of October 9, 2026. Margaret Croke's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Bryan Drew's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Illinois comptroller race in 2026?
Margaret Croke (Democratic), Bryan Drew (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Margaret Croke a good candidate for Comptroller?
Margaret Croke scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 50 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Bryan Drew a good candidate for Comptroller?
Bryan Drew scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Illinois race scored, and the Illinois 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.