Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The people elected that day — or the incumbents serving out their terms in the veto session two weeks later — could decide whether the Chicago Bears build at the former Arlington Park. Here’s where candidates in the races covering Arlington Heights have said they stand on the stadium, based on their public statements.
Candidates are listed by office, Democrat first and Republican second within each race simply to keep the format consistent. For your polling place and ballot, check with the Cook County Clerk.
Illinois House District 54 (includes the Arlington Park site)
The entire 326-acre Arlington Park property sits inside House District 54, so this is the seat most directly tied to the stadium.
| Candidate | Stadium position (as reported) |
|---|---|
| Rep. Mary Beth Canty (D, incumbent) | Supported the spring megaprojects bill and has said the Senate should have voted on it. |
| Joseph Tracy (R) | Says he welcomes the Bears coming to Arlington Heights with “fair and equitable” taxes; open to infrastructure help but opposed to open-ended subsidies. |
Illinois House District 53
| Candidate | Stadium position (as reported) |
|---|---|
| Rep. Nicolle Grasse (D, incumbent) | A sponsor of the megaprojects bill who still supports the payment-in-lieu-of-taxes approach. Has said residents should weigh whether they want the project in their area. |
| Elizabeth Bauer (R) | Opposes the tax incentives in the bill. |
Illinois Senate District 27
| Candidate | Stadium position (as reported) |
|---|---|
| Carina Santa Maria (D) | Open to giving the Bears tax certainty if schools and residents are protected. |
| David Mathis (R) | Supports help with road infrastructure but opposes open-ended subsidies. |
Governor
| Candidate | Stadium position (as reported) |
|---|---|
| Gov. JB Pritzker (D, incumbent) | Has long opposed public money to build a privately owned stadium but backed the megaprojects concept and says he separates construction from public infrastructure. At the October 14 debate he promised to pursue a legislative fix this fall that would not come at taxpayers’ expense. |
| Darren Bailey (R) | At the October 14 debate he said Indiana Gov. Mike Braun had assured him the Indiana deal was done — a claim that has not been independently verified. I did not find a detailed stadium-funding plan from his campaign in my research. |
If either campaign publishes a more detailed position before Tuesday, I’ll add it here.
Why the timing is unusual
The veto session starts November 17, two weeks after the election. That means lawmakers who lose on November 3 will still vote on any Bears bill, and new members won’t be seated until January. Watch whether results in these districts change how local members talk about the deal.
Questions worth asking candidates
- Would you support a public authority owning a stadium that pays no property tax?
- How much state money for roads and transit near Arlington Park would you support, and how would it be paid for?
- How would you protect School Districts 15, 211 and 214, which share the Arlington Park tax base?
- Should any deal address Chicago’s remaining Soldier Field debt?
I’ll post an Election Night results update and note how each winner has said they’ll approach the veto session.
Sources
- Daily Herald: What Arlington Heights-area candidates have to say about Bears stadium proposals (Oct. 27, 2026)
- Front Office Sports: Bears stadium fight erupts during Illinois governor’s debate
- Capitol News Illinois: House approves megaprojects bill
- Illinois Delivered: Pritzker says something will get done in veto session
- Chicago Sun-Times: Bears stadium bill in Springfield, May 31, 2026