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Illinois 2026 › U.S. House IL-11

Illinois’ 11th Congressional District: who’s running on Nov. 3, 2026

2 candidates · Every summary links to its public source · Updated Oct 18, 2026

Summaries were compiled with AI assistance from public sources and are not independently verified. They may contain errors. Check the linked source.
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The candidates

Bill Foster

Democratic · Incumbent

U.S. Representative for IL-11 since 2013 (also served 2008–2011); physicist and businessman by background.

Jeff Walter

Republican

Elburn village president since 2017 and former village trustee; Navy veteran and retired IT consultant.

Where they stand, issue by issue

Cost of living

1 = More gov. support5 = More free market
Foster2/5

Voted against the 2025 reconciliation tax-and-spending law (H.R. 1); campaign highlights financial-regulation work aimed at protecting working families.

Walter4/5

Supports free enterprise, cutting federal spending and regulations, and fewer unfunded federal mandates.

Sources: ivoterguide.com (candidate's own answers to a questionnaire by iVoterGuide, a project of the American Family Association) · news.wttw.com

Health care

1 = Public option5 = Private choice
Foster1/5

Supports a public option open to individuals and employers and step-by-step progress toward universal coverage.

Walter4/5

Opposes a government-run system; proposes reforming the ACA with more plan choice and HSAs while keeping preexisting-condition protections.

Immigration

1 = Expand pathways5 = Stricter limits
Foster2/5

Supports a path to citizenship with background checks and fines, plus E-Verify; says he won't fund ICE without reforms.

Walter4/5

Proposes enforcement-first border policy and supports ICE; open to earned legal status only after border control.

Abortion

1 = Protect access5 = Restrict access
Foster1/5

Cosponsored the Women's Health Protection Act of 2025 (H.R. 12) and supports writing Roe's protections into federal law.

Walter5/5

Supports legal protection of life from conception and opposes public funding of abortion providers.

Source: ivoterguide.com (candidate's own answers to a questionnaire by iVoterGuide, a project of the American Family Association)

Taxes

1 = Fund programs5 = Cut taxes
Foster2/5

Voted against the 2025 tax law; supports reversing 2017 tax cuts for high earners, more IRS enforcement and higher Social Security payroll contributions from top earners.

Walter4/5

Supports simplifying the tax code and opposes asking higher earners to pay more.

Crime & safety

1 = Reform-focused5 = Enforcement-focused
Foster2/5

Voted for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act (2020) to hold abusive officers accountable; in 2022 voted for the Invest to Protect Act funding local police.

Walter5/5

Campaign site says he supports fully funding law enforcement, ending soft-on-crime policies and holding criminals accountable; prefers enforcing existing gun laws over new restrictions.

Sources: jeffwalterforcongress.com · ivoterguide.com (candidate's own answers to a questionnaire by iVoterGuide, a project of the American Family Association)

Education

1 = More public funding5 = More school choice
Foster1/5

Opposes cuts to the U.S. Department of Education and supports funding public schools, community colleges and student-loan relief.

Walter4/5

Campaign site supports expanding school choice across public, private, charter and vocational options; opposes eliminating the U.S. Department of Education, citing national standards.

Sources: jeffwalterforcongress.com · ivoterguide.com (candidate's own answers to a questionnaire by iVoterGuide, a project of the American Family Association)

Climate

1 = Faster clean-energy shift5 = Prioritize energy costs
Foster2/5

Voted for the Inflation Reduction Act's clean-energy investments; also backs nuclear, energy storage research and ethanol.

Walter4/5

Supports an all-of-the-above energy strategy including domestic oil, gas and nuclear power; names small modular reactors for rising demand.

Sources: ivoterguide.com (candidate's own answers to a questionnaire by iVoterGuide, a project of the American Family Association) · news.wttw.com

Foreign policy

1 = More engaged abroad5 = Focus at home
Foster1/5

Voted for 2024 Ukraine aid and for a 2026 resolution to end U.S. hostilities with Iran absent authorization; says trade wars push allies away.

Walter4/5

Says the U.S. has become too involved in other countries' affairs; backs Israel's self-defense and wants Congress to authorize sustained military action.

Sources: ivoterguide.com (candidate's own answers to a questionnaire by iVoterGuide, a project of the American Family Association) · news.wttw.com

Trade & competitiveness

1 = Open trade5 = Tariffs to protect industry
Foster1/5

Opposes the 2025 tariffs, citing higher consumer costs and lost manufacturing jobs.

Walter4/5

Supports the President's tariffs when they counter unfair trade, with regular review, and wants Congress to set limits on tariff authority.

Quick answers

When is the election?

Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Early voting is open now. Your county election office has locations and hours.

Am I in this district?

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No. It never recommends a candidate and never guesses a position from party. Where no public position exists, it says so.

Where do these summaries come from?

Candidates’ own websites, votes, questionnaires, debates and news coverage, all linked. Candidates are listed alphabetically by last name.

Other races on Illinois ballots

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