IL-08 Republican nominee?
$5.1K
MAR 24, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleFounder/CEO, EnergyCX
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
GenderMale
LocationIllinois
Show moreShow less
BackgroundFounder/CEO, EnergyCX
Notable personal detailsMark Rice is a Republican candidate for the U.S. House in Illinois’ 8th Congressional District. He ran against incumbent Raja Krishnamoorthi in the November 5, 2024 general election and is running again in the 2026 cycle. He has described his occupation as founder/CEO of EnergyCX and has highlighted themes including affordability, federal spending restraint, and border security.
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.
Show moreShow less
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 is in the news as one of the Republican candidates running in Illinois’s 8th Congressional District. He recently took part in a candidate forum focused on immigration, with health care and gun rights also discussed. The race is heading toward the Illinois primary, with the winner moving on to the general election.
8th Congressional District GOP hopefuls debate U.S. immigration policies
DuPage and suburban Cook county’s official March 2026 primary election results
What to know for Tuesday's 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.
- Polls
- Endorsements