Secretary of State of Illinois · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Illinois secretary of state race?
Alexi Giannoulias has the strongest record in the Illinois secretary of state race. Alexi Giannoulias scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Diane Harris at 61, as of October 9, 2026. Alexi Giannoulias's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Diane Harris'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 · incumbent
Strongest record
Alexi Giannoulias
64 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 50
Republican
Diane Harris
On the ballot as Diane M. Harris
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.
Alexi Giannoulias
- Mark against2026-03
The Auditor General's compliance examination of his office for fiscal 2024 and 2025 gave a modified opinion with material weaknesses and 13 findings, seven repeated.
- Unresolved2026-09-22
On Sept. 22, 2026 mayoral candidate Bill Quinlan sued in Cook County Circuit Court seeking a ruling that Election Code section 10-7 bars Giannoulias from seeking reelection while also filing for Chicago mayor.
Where it stands: Pending; no ruling reported as of Oct. 9, 2026. Quinlan seeks an expedited hearing before the Nov. 3 election; an election law expert quoted by the Sun-Times called the suit a long shot.
Sources: Chicago Sun-Times, Sept. 22, 2026, Capitol News Illinois, Sept. 22, 2026
- Unresolved2026-02
In February 2026 the U.S. Transportation Department said a federal review found nearly 1 in 5 Illinois non-domiciled commercial licenses issued illegally and threatened $128 million in highway funds; his office disputes it.
Where it stands: Disputed. No final federal determination or withheld funds were found in the sources opened; coverage found is from February 2026.
Sources: NewsNation, February 2026, FOX 2 St. Louis (WTVO), February 2026
- On the record2026
Is running for Chicago mayor in 2027 while seeking reelection as secretary of state in November 2026.
Sources: Capitol News Illinois, Election Guide 2026, Capitol News Illinois, Sept. 22, 2026
- On the record2024-04-11
Proposed House Bill 4591 in 2024 to require lobbyists to disclose pay from each client and to give his office investigative power over lobbying law.
- On the record2023-06
Initiated House Bill 2789, signed in June 2023, which ties state library grants to library policies against removing books; it passed with only Democratic votes.
- Credit2025-11-18
His office launched digital driver's licenses and IDs in Apple Wallet in November 2025, accepted at more than 250 airports.
- Credit2025-06-12
Announced in June 2025 that 46 out-of-state law enforcement agencies had searched Illinois license plate reader data in violation of state law, and directed vendor Flock Safety to cut off the access.
Diane Harris
- On the record2026
Elected Joliet Junior College trustee who won the 2026 Republican nomination for secretary of state after earlier runs for Congress, state Senate and state House.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Alexi Giannoulias. Committee Citizens for Giannoulias is active with reports on file at the State Board of Elections. PolitiFact has rated two statements, one True and one Mostly False. No ethics, court or campaign finance finding found.
Sources: Illinois State Board of Elections, Citizens for Giannoulias (committee 19323), PolitiFact, Alexi Giannoulias scorecard
Diane Harris. Committee to Elect Diane M Harris, created Nov. 4, 2021, 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, Committee to Elect Diane M Harris (committee 37026)
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Alexi Giannoulias. No public record found.
Diane Harris. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Alexi Giannoulias. Holds news conferences on office actions, including a June 2025 announcement on illegal out-of-state license plate reader searches. No 2026 debate with Diane Harris was found.
Diane Harris. Campaigned in person across the state, citing about 100 Lincoln Day Dinners before the primary, and gave an on-record interview to the Herald-News. No 2026 debate with Giannoulias was found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Alexi Giannoulias. State treasurer 2007 to 2011 and secretary of state since 2023 with no formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Alexi Giannoulias
Diane Harris. Elected Joliet Junior College trustee 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.
Alexi Giannoulias. Sworn secretary of state since Jan. 9, 2023 and treasurer 2007 to 2011, with no finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified results found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Alexi Giannoulias
Diane Harris. Serves in elected office as a Joliet Junior College trustee with no finding of misuse of office found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Alexi Giannoulias. Illinois secretary of state since 2023, one full term, and state treasurer 2007 to 2011. Earlier chaired the Illinois Community College Board.
Source: Ballotpedia, Alexi Giannoulias
Diane Harris. Elected Joliet Junior College trustee. Her campaign describes her as a retired ComEd liability representative, small business owner and Joliet Public Library appointee.
Sources: Capitol News Illinois, Election Guide 2026, Diane Harris for Secretary of State, home page
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Alexi Giannoulias. Sitting secretary of state. Launched digital driver's licenses and IDs in 2025 and in 2024 proposed House Bill 4591 to require lobbyists to disclose pay from each client.
Sources: Capitol News Illinois, Nov. 18, 2025, Capitol News Illinois, April 11, 2024
Diane Harris. Publishes specific plans within the office's powers: self-service kiosks in all 102 counties, mobile DMV units downstate, a unified online portal and a review of the office budget.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Alexi Giannoulias. Two channels documented: news conferences and committee testimony by his office on his proposals. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey; the campaign site blocked automated reading.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Alexi Giannoulias, Capitol News Illinois, April 11, 2024
Diane Harris. Four channels documented: a campaign issues page, a Shaw Local candidate questionnaire, the WTTW voter guide Q&A and a Sun-Times candidate questionnaire. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Diane Harris, Diane Harris for Secretary of State, Issues, Shaw Local, Feb. 2, 2026, WTTW voter guide, Diane M. Harris, Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ, Oct. 1, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Alexi Giannoulias. Born in Chicago to Greek immigrant parents and lives in Chicago. In-state share of contributions not available from the sources opened.
Sources: Wikipedia, Alexi Giannoulias, Ballotpedia, Alexi Giannoulias
Diane Harris. From Joliet and lives in Joliet, per her questionnaire; elected Joliet Junior College trustee and ran for Joliet mayor in 2011. In-state share of contributions not available.
Sources: Shaw Local, Feb. 2, 2026, The Herald-News (Shaw Local), March 21, 2026
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Alexi Giannoulias. Heads the secretary of state's office, with over 4,000 employees in 20 departments. Committee active since 2005 with reports on file; no Board fine found.
Sources: Capitol News Illinois, Jan. 25, 2023, Illinois State Board of Elections, Citizens for Giannoulias (committee 19323)
Diane Harris. Describes herself as a small business owner and retired utility liability representative; committee reports on file with the State Board of Elections.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Alexi Giannoulias. Launched digital licenses and IDs accepted at over 250 airports (2025). In 2025 found 46 out-of-state agencies searched Illinois plate-reader data in violation of state law and had a vendor cut off access.
Sources: Capitol News Illinois, Nov. 18, 2025, Capitol News Illinois, June 12, 2025
Diane Harris. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Alexi Giannoulias. No public record found.
Diane Harris. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Alexi Giannoulias. No public record found.
Diane Harris. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Alexi Giannoulias. No public record found.
Diane Harris. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Alexi Giannoulias. The Auditor General's compliance examination of the Office of the Secretary of State for the two years ended June 30, 2025 gave a modified opinion with material weaknesses and 13 findings, seven repeated.
Diane Harris. 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 secretary of state race?
Alexi Giannoulias has the strongest record in the Illinois secretary of state race. Alexi Giannoulias scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Diane Harris at 61, as of October 9, 2026. Alexi Giannoulias's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Diane Harris'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 secretary of state race in 2026?
Alexi Giannoulias (Democratic, incumbent), Diane Harris (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Alexi Giannoulias a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Alexi Giannoulias scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 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 Diane Harris a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Diane Harris 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.