U.S. House, Illinois 2nd Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in Illinois's 2nd Congressional District?
Donna Miller has the strongest record in Illinois's 2nd Congressional District. Donna Miller scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Donna Miller's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Mike Noack (2 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Strongest record
Donna Miller
56 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Mike Noack
On the ballot as Michael Scott Noack
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 2 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 38
- Performance
- NR
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Donna Miller. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, with no FEC administrative fine or other official finding found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Mike Noack. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Donna Miller. No public record found.
Mike Noack. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Donna Miller. No public record found.
Mike Noack. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Donna Miller. Cook County commissioner since December 2018 with no censure or formal conduct finding found.
Mike Noack. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Donna Miller. Took the oath as a Cook County commissioner in 2018. No official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified election results found.
Mike Noack. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Donna Miller. Cook County commissioner for the 6th District since 2018, earlier a health care consultant and board chair of Planned Parenthood Illinois.
Mike Noack. Works as a truck driver. No public office or documented leadership role found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Mike Noack
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Donna Miller. Publishes priorities on health care, maternal health, jobs and costs, and technology, mostly in general terms.
Source: Campaign site, Priorities
Mike Noack. No public record found.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Donna Miller. Publishes plain-language priority pages. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Campaign site, Priorities, Ballotpedia, Donna Miller (Illinois)
Mike Noack. No public record found.
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Donna Miller. Has represented the 6th District of the Cook County Board, in the south suburbs, since 2018. FEC by-state totals show about 21 percent of itemized individual contributions from Illinois ($479,953 of $2,259,047).
Sources: Ballotpedia, Donna Miller (Illinois), Campaign site, Meet Donna, FEC contribution totals by state
Mike Noack. Born in Bonfield, Illinois; his FEC statement of candidacy lists a Bonfield address, in Kankakee County. No itemized contributions reported.
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Donna Miller. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, with no FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Mike Noack. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Donna Miller. No public record found.
Mike Noack. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Donna Miller. No public record found.
Mike Noack. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Donna Miller. No public record found.
Mike Noack. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Donna Miller. No public record found.
Mike Noack. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Donna Miller. No public record found.
Mike Noack. 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 Illinois's 2nd Congressional District?
Donna Miller has the strongest record in Illinois's 2nd Congressional District. Donna Miller scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Donna Miller's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Mike Noack (2 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Illinois's 2nd Congressional District in 2026?
Donna Miller (Democratic), Mike Noack (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Donna Miller a good candidate for Congress?
Donna Miller scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 60 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Mike Noack a good candidate for Congress?
Mike Noack has public evidence on 2 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
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.