IL-08 Republican nominee?
$3.7K
MAR 24, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleBusiness executive
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
LocationIllinois
BackgroundBusiness executive
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Notable personal detailsMark Rice is a Republican candidate for the U.S. House in Illinois’ 8th Congressional District and previously ran in the district in 2024. He is an energy-industry executive and has been described as the founder/CEO of EnergyCX. His campaign has emphasized issues including affordability/cost of living, taxes and regulation, border security, and government accountability.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports reducing federal spending, enforcing fiscal discipline and a balanced budget, and pursuing pro-growth tax policies and regulatory rollbacks to lower costs for families and businesses. Emphasizes addressing the national debt and cutting government waste as a way to control inflation and strengthen the middle class.
Healthcare
Opposes government-run health care and supports patient-centered, market-oriented reforms to expand choice, competition, and transparency; favors reforming the Affordable Care Act rather than a government takeover.
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Immigration & Border
The candidate emphasizes stronger border security and enforcement of existing immigration laws, calling for increased funding, personnel, and technology at the border and opposing sanctuary-city practices that house undocumented migrants. He frames controlling illegal immigration as necessary for public safety, economic stability, and to reduce strain on local resources.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports abortion access with some limits; frames abortion as a decision between a person and their doctor while endorsing exceptions such as rape and incest and expressing support for some restrictions (including late-term limits).
Climate & Energy
Supports energy independence and reducing federal regulations on energy; emphasizes rolling back regulations that increase energy costs and highlights private-sector energy experience. Focus is on market-driven policies and prioritizing affordable energy rather than aggressive emissions mandates.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate emphasizes defending Second Amendment rights and frames gun rights as increasingly important amid rising crime and public-safety concerns. He prioritizes public safety and backing law-enforcement-oriented approaches while linking crime reduction to securing communities. No public statements found that endorse major new federal gun restrictions such as assault-weapons bans or red-flag prohibitions.
News
Mark Rice appeared at a League of Women Voters forum with other Republican candidates running in Illinois’s 8th Congressional District. He debated U.S. immigration policy and also addressed issues including health care and gun rights. The discussion comes ahead of the March 17 primary, with the winner moving on to the general election.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262024
2026
LatestCycle 2024
Cycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
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