Polling Average
8%6%4%2%0%
5.6%
Republican
R.Cary Capparelli
Illinois Republican Senate nominee?
$87.6K
MAR 24, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleGeography instructor/professor
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
LocationIllinois
BackgroundGeography instructor/professor
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EducationBAJ, Public Relations, Drake University
Notable personal detailsR. Cary Capparelli is a Republican political candidate in Illinois who ran in the 2026 Republican primary for U.S. Senate. He has worked in marketing and business and has taught geography at South Dakota State University. He has served as a public member of the Illinois Banking & Real Estate Board and as a member of the Illinois International Port District board, where he chaired multiple committees including Homeland Security.
SourcesShowHide
chicago.suntimes.comsdstate.eduen.wikipedia.orgwill.illinois.edufec.govvote-usa.orgshawlocal.comcbsnews.comtransparencyusa.orgwifr.comeinpresswire.comballotready.orgricogop.orgkanecountyspeaks.comcms5.revize.com0e190a550a8c4c8c4b93-fcd009c875a5577fd4fe2f5b7e3bf4eb.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.commchenrycountyil.govjacksoncounty-il.goveffinghamcountyil.govrcarycapparelli.netsjodaily.comeinnews.comjustfacts.votesmart.orgnews.wttw.comkanegop.orgcaryillinois.comdailyherald.commarquardtco.commchenrycountyblog.comcary.healthmahometdaily.commilitary.einnews.comcdn.ballotpedia.orgstatic.votesmart.orgapnews.comdocquery.fec.govhistory.house.govsenate.govcongress.govclerk.house.govdurbin.senate.govnga.orgduckworth.senate.govvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgdemocrats.senate.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Healthcare
Supports making healthcare available and affordable for all Americans and identifies mental health as a crisis; does not provide detailed policy prescriptions such as support for Medicare for All, a public option, or specific market-based reforms in the cited materials.
Immigration & Border
Supports preventing illegal entry and maintaining secure borders, framing immigration as a national security and law-and-order issue. Emphasizes enforcement measures and homeland-security-focused oversight rather than proposals for expanded legal pathways or broad regularization.
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Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate has received endorsements and ratings from pro‑life organizations and has been rated 100% by Illinois Right to Life Action, indicating opposition to abortion access and alignment with restrictionist positions. The campaign website does not include an explicit policy statement on abortion.
Climate & Energy
The candidate emphasizes safe water management, flood/runoff solutions, and describes his approach to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District as “ecology-friendly yet fiscally responsible.” His campaign priorities list general goals like economic strength and national security but do not present a clear, detailed policy on climate or energy transitions.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate emphasizes support for police and addressing mental-health crises as part of public-safety priorities but does not state a clear, detailed firearms policy on his campaign site. Past interest-group ratings show a mixed record on gun issues (for example, a 42% NRA rating in 2020).
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedMar 14, 2026
R. Cary Capparelli is in the news as the 2026 Illinois U.S. Senate race takes shape and candidates spar over immigration enforcement, including whether ICE should be abolished or reformed. He is also appearing in broader coverage of Illinois’ upcoming 2026 primaries, as voters prepare to pick nominees for major statewide races including U.S. Senate.
chicago.suntimes.com+44
Polls
Illinois Republican Senate nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Total raisedCash on hand
$13.5K
$10.1K
$6.7K
$3.4K
$0
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2026
$13.5K
$828.50
$12.6K
$790.21
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements