Julie Bickelhaupt
IL-17 Republican nominee?
$3.8K
MAR 24, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleFarmer
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
GenderFemale
LocationIllinois
Show moreShow less
BackgroundFarmer
EducationUniversity of Illinois (attended)
Notable personal detailsJulie Bickelhaupt is a Republican candidate for the U.S. House in Illinois’ 17th Congressional District (2026). She is a farmer and local elected official in Carroll County, Illinois, and has served as chair of the Carroll County Board. Her campaign emphasizes agriculture, energy costs, and education policy.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Healthcare
Julie Bickelhaupt has said she wants to lower costs for families, including health care costs, but has not provided detailed policy proposals on health coverage or specific reforms. Public statements emphasize reducing overall living costs and supporting market-oriented priorities in other policy areas, with no clear endorsement of major progressive or conservative healthcare platform items. Available reporting does not identify specific positions on the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Medicaid, or a public option.
Immigration & Border
The candidate supports stronger border security and enforcement of existing immigration laws, prioritizing public safety and economic stability. She calls for increased border security resources, closing enforcement loopholes, deporting violent illegal immigrants, and cracking down on drug dealers and human smugglers.
Show moreShow less
Climate & Energy
Supports increasing production from both renewable and nonrenewable energy sources to lower costs and energy bills; says solar can play a role but cannot meet all needs and emphasizes using all domestic energy sources to boost energy independence and lower rates.
News
Julie Bickelhaupt was defeated by Vancil in the Republican nomination race for Illinois' 17th Congressional District. Vancil won about 57% of the vote and will face Democratic incumbent Eric Sorensen in the November election. Earlier coverage had placed Bickelhaupt among the Republican candidates in the race.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262026
LatestCycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements