Polling Average
8%6%4%2%0%
5.6%
Illinois Republican Senate nominee?
$87.6K
MAR 24, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleAuthor
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyTrump-aligned Republican
Age57 years old (Dec 10, 1968)
GenderMale
Show moreShow less
LocationIllinois
BackgroundAuthor
EducationCentral State University
Notable personal detailsJimmy Lee Tillman II is a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Illinois and the authorizing candidate of the principal campaign committee “Jimmy Lee Tillman II for US Senate.” He is the founder of the Martin Luther King Republicans and has previously run for office in Illinois, including U.S. House (IL-01) and U.S. Senate. He has been described as an author/publisher and has cited Central State University as his education.
SourcesShowHide
fec.govjimmylee2dc.comnews.wttw.commartinlutherkingrepublicans.comen.wikipedia.orgkanewesterngop.orgelectionhistory.madisoncountyil.govnprillinois.orgdailyherald.comvote-usa.orgthecandidate.comusa.govkanecountyspeaks.comdocquery.fec.govcolesco.illinois.govillinoisrighttolifeaction.orgillinoisfamily.orgjacksoncounty-il.govchicago.suntimes.comcities929.comsjodaily.commahometdaily.comfox32chicago.comkanegop.orgivoterguide.comlee.senate.govyahoo.comcongress.govsignalhire.comvitals.comreadersupportednews.orgfacebook.comcapitolnewsillinois.comipmnewsroom.orgevanstonroundtable.comballotpedia.orgstlpr.orgsj-r.comourquadcities.comclerk.house.govsenate.govdurbin.senate.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
The candidate supports tax cuts and reducing the tax burden, favors tax breaks and incentives for small businesses, and advocates reducing federal spending and regulations to lower costs and rein in inflation. He endorsed the 2017 federal tax overhaul and proposes policies to reduce government subsidies and regulatory burdens that he says raise consumer prices.
Healthcare
Supports reducing health-care costs through price transparency and increased competition and favors limiting taxpayer-funded health care for non‑citizens; emphasizes market-based measures to lower drug prices and insurance premiums rather than expanding large federal entitlement programs.
Show moreShow less
Immigration & Border
Supports stronger border enforcement and tighter immigration limits, including caps on immigration and opposition to chain migration; favors policies such as tightening asylum/refugee systems, defunding sanctuary jurisdictions, expanded enforcement measures, and measures described as securing the border.
Climate & Energy
Opposes carbon taxes and greenhouse-gas regulation, recommends withdrawing from international climate agreements and the EPA endangerment finding, and calls for increased domestic fossil fuel production and removal of regulations that limit fossil fuel leasing and development.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate supports more restrictive gun-control measures and emphasizes public safety through law enforcement and border security to reduce illicit firearms flows. He opposes defunding police and calls for holding violent criminals accountable while linking illegal immigration to increased crime and illegal guns.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedMar 14, 2026
Jimmy Lee Tillman is in the news as an Illinois Senate candidate in the 2026 race to replace Sen. Dick Durbin, where immigration enforcement and the future of ICE have become a major campaign issue. Coverage highlights divisions among candidates over whether ICE should be abolished or reformed. He is also mentioned in broader reporting on the approaching 2026 Illinois primary elections, which will set party nominees for November.
fec.gov+41
Polls
Illinois Republican Senate nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
Illinois Republican Senate nominee?
Endorsers of Jimmy Lee Tillman for Illinois Republican Senate nominee?
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Fundraising