Polling Average
8%6%4%2%0%
5.6%
Republican
Jimmy Lee Tillman
Illinois Republican Senate nominee?
$136.3K
MAR 24, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleAuthor
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyTrump-aligned Republican
GenderMale
LocationIllinois
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BackgroundAuthor
EducationCentral State University
Notable personal detailsJimmy Lee Tillman II is a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Illinois (2026 cycle). He is a Chicago-based author and historian and has led conservative activism and organizing, including founding the Martin Luther King Republicans in 2007. He previously ran as the Republican nominee for Illinois' 1st Congressional District and has also been involved in other Illinois Republican campaigns.
SourcesShowHide
fec.govjimmylee2dc.comcbsnews.commartinlutherkingrepublicans.comchicago.suntimes.comen.wikipedia.orgapplications.kanecountyil.govsenate.govcities929.comdailyherald.comkanecountyspeaks.comipmnewsroom.orgthexradio.comwglt.orgdocquery.fec.govlakecountyil.govvercounty.orgjacksoncounty-il.govillinoisfamily.orgcolesco.illinois.govsjodaily.commahometdaily.comfox32chicago.comkanegop.orgivoterguide.comnews.wttw.comlee.senate.govyahoo.comcongress.govsignalhire.comvitals.comreadersupportednews.orgballotready.orgvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgcba.ballotpedia.orglegislation.ballotpedia.orgfrontpage.ballotpedia.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orgwashingtonpost.comfoxnews.comdurbin.senate.govvotesmart.org
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.
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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 updatedMay 28, 2026
Jimmy Lee Tillman is in the news because he is a candidate in Illinois’s March 17 primary election. The race is part of a crowded and competitive primary season, with many candidates vying for open seats and voters heading to the polls across the state. Recent coverage also highlights voting logistics, including concerns that USPS mail-in ballot postmark delays could affect whether ballots are counted.
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Articles
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TAThe Associated Press3 months ago
Illinois sees a candidate frenzy for March primary
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Polls
Illinois Republican Senate nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
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