Illinois Republican Attorney General nominee?
$10.3K
MAR 18, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleMinister (AWJ Ministries)
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyCentrist Independent
LocationIllinois
BackgroundMinister (AWJ Ministries)
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EducationLewis University — B.S. in paralegal studies
Notable personal detailsAndy Williams Jr. is an Illinois minister and community advocate who ran for Illinois Attorney General as a Republican in the 2026 cycle. He has described work in foreclosure defense and related legal support, and has been involved in prisoner-rights and voting-rights advocacy through community organizations. He has also been a Libertarian candidate for president in 2020.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate has urged protection of constitutional rights and campaigned on enforcing law-and-order while also prioritizing civil liberties. He has been a plaintiff in litigation challenging laws that categorically bar people with felony convictions from possessing firearms, indicating support for restoring or expanding firearm rights for some formerly incarcerated people. Public materials do not provide a comprehensive stance on broader gun-policy proposals (e.g., assault‑weapons bans, universal background checks, red‑flag laws).
News
Andy Williams Jr. is in the news because he is a candidate in Illinois’s primary elections, which are drawing heavy attention and spending across several major races. The broader election context includes a competitive primary season for statewide offices and an open U.S. Senate seat, with turnout boosted by early voting in Chicago. Separately, the Supreme Court is weighing a case over late-arriving mail ballots that could affect election rules in Illinois and other states, adding uncertainty to the voting process.
What to know for Tuesday's election
State officials say shifting mail ballot deadline will complicate plans
Voters could bring new faces to the Illinois General Assembly
Cold weather to greet voters Tuesday in Illinois primary races
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements
- Fundraising