Incumbent Lauren Underwood, 40, ran unopposed in her Democratic primary and will now face Republican James Marter, 63, in the 14th District, which covers west and southwest suburban areas including all or parts of Plainfield, Joliet, Aurora and Sycamore.
We have endorsed Underwood since her first campaign in 2018, always finding her to be a bright, energetic force in Congress. She represents a district in which politicians need to be able to find common ground and has made efforts to work in a bipartisan fashion. “My approach to working across the aisle is built on relationships and trust, with shared values as the foundation for our collaboration,” she told us. Underwood, a nurse, has also consistently supported pro-market healthcare price transparency initiatives, which we like.
Marter lost to Underwood in 2024, and we did not endorse him — or his opponent — in the March Republican primary. Marter told us that he supports zero-based budgeting and opposes gerrymandering, which sits well with us. However, the former delegate for Donald Trump aligns closely with the president on a wide range of issues. He has also said, alas, he has “zero concern for bipartisanship.”
Lauren Underwood is endorsed.
Read all of the Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsements for the 2026 Illinois general election here.
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