Alexi Giannoulias, the incumbent Illinois secretary of state, is seeking a second term.
The Chicago Democrat faces Republican Diane M. Harris in the general election.
Giannoulias has said his priorities include expanding online and mobile services at Secretary of State facilities, strengthening government ethics rules and broadening voter registration, according to his campaign website.
Candidate information
- Party: Democratic
- Office sought: Illinois Secretary of State
- Election date: Nov. 3, 2026
- Residence: Chicago, with his wife, Josephine, and their four daughters, according to his campaign
- Education: Bachelor's degree in economics, Boston University (1998); juris doctor, Tulane University
- Background: Born in Chicago to Greek immigrant parents. His mother, Anna, is from Chania, Greece, and his late father, Alexis, was from Kalavryta, Greece. While at Boston University, Giannoulias played on the men's basketball team, helping the program reach a 1997 NCAA tournament appearance, according to his campaign.
Experience and public service
Giannoulias has held the secretary of state office since 2023. He previously served as Illinois state treasurer from 2007 to 2011, according to his BallotReady profile.
Before entering politics, Giannoulias worked as vice president and senior loan officer at Broadway Bank from 2002 to 2006, according to his campaign. He played professional basketball in Greece from 1998 to 1999 for Panionios B.C.
Giannoulias was the 2010 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Illinois. He has also served as chairman of the Illinois Community College System, as a board member of the Chicago Public Library Board of Directors and as an adjunct professor at Northwestern University, according to his campaign. He worked as a senior director at BNY Mellon Wealth Management and founded the Kanela Breakfast Club restaurant group, according to his campaign. He is chief executive officer and founder of Annoula Ventures, according to BallotReady.
On the issues
The following positions come from Giannoulias' responses on his campaign priorities page and BallotReady questionnaire responses. All statements reflect the candidate's own claims.
Digital services and office access
Giannoulias said he wants to expand the "Skip the Line" appointment scheduling program to every Secretary of State facility in Illinois. He said he plans to introduce a mobile app that would let residents upload documents, receive renewal reminders and access services without visiting a facility in person.
He said he plans to draft legislation to allow digital driver's licenses and state identification cards on phones. He said he would push lawmakers to approve it.
Giannoulias said he plans to assign "office advocates" to help individuals through the entire process, with a focus on seniors, non-English speakers and others who need assistance.
Government ethics and reform
Giannoulias said he supports requiring elected officials to disclose outside income, business relationships and payment amounts on their Statements of Economic Interest. He said he wants to expand inspectors general powers, including subpoena authority.
He said he backs a two-year "revolving door" policy to prevent state lawmakers from becoming lobbyists immediately after leaving the legislature. He said he supports a statewide searchable database of lobbyist activity and banning elected officials from lobbying local governments.
Voter registration and access
Giannoulias said he has proposed changes to the state's Automatic Voter Registration system. The change would automatically add eligible voters to the rolls without requiring extra steps during a driver's license facility visit, he said.
He said he wants to let 16- and 17-year-olds pre-register to vote and become automatically registered when they turn 18.
Criminal justice
Giannoulias said he supports providing ex-offenders with valid state identification cards before their release from prison. He said he also supports the law that prohibited the state and municipalities from suspending driver's licenses over unpaid parking tickets and fines.
Environment
Giannoulias said that as state treasurer he launched Green Rewards, which he described as the largest state-backed rebate program for fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles in the nation. He said he wants to encourage incentives for electric vehicles and additional charging stations statewide.
Endorsements
Giannoulias has received endorsements from the AFL-CIO, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, Cook County Democrats, the Illinois Federation of Teachers, Personal PAC, Equality Illinois, the Chicago Federation of Labour, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134, IUOE Local 150, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 399 and others, according to BallotReady and Windy City Times.
