Illinois 11th District
Bill Foster (D) holds this seat and is running again. 2 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.Discuss
Bill Foster
Democrat · holds this seat today
FLiberty Score FOn the liberty side in 41 of 122 votes and bills.
Raised $2,588,027 since January 2025: 57% from people, 38% from PACs and other committees, 4% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Jeff Walter
Republican · Elburn village president, retired Navy master chief, IT consultant
B+Liberty Score B+87 out of 100 across 5 principles. Graded on what Walter has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Walter.
Raised $431,415 since January 2025: 51% from people, 47% the candidate’s own money, 1% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov
Higher on Liberty Score: Jeff Walter. Jeff Walter: B+, 87 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count. Bill Foster: F, 30 out of 100 from recorded votes.
Voting in Illinois: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Jeff Walter, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Walter, so the grade above comes from this list: what Walter has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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Asked in his iVoterGuide questionnaire whether the US relationship with Israel is important, he says it is, because Israel is a democratic ally.
“The relationship is important because it is a close democratic ally in a strategically vital and often unstable region.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Treating Israel as an ally is with liberty on free nations.
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His campaign site says he trusts President Trump to negotiate peace in places like Ukraine while keeping America first.
“he trusts President Trump, the best dealmaker to ever sit in the oval office, to negotiate peace in places like Ukraine while keeping America First.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Negotiating peace names no aid, no side and no NATO position, so it does not settle the free nations test.
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In his iVoterGuide questionnaire he rejects higher taxes on those who can afford to pay more and says raising taxes reduces investment.
“raising taxes often reduces incentives to invest and expand businesses, which can ultimately limit wages and employment.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing higher taxes is with liberty on free markets.
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His campaign site says he supports making the Trump tax cuts permanent.
“Jeff supports making the Trump tax cuts permanent, lowering costs for families, and rooting out the fraud and waste in Washington that drive up prices.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing a named tax cut is with liberty on free markets.
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His campaign site says he supports President Trump's economic plan, including tariffs that protect American workers and jobs.
“he supports Trump's America First economic plan, including tariffs that protect American workers and jobs.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Praising broad tariffs is against liberty on free markets.
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In his iVoterGuide questionnaire he says biological males should not compete in women's sports.
“biological males should not be allowed to compete in women's sports because doing so undermines fairness and safety in athletic competition.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Keeping women's sport female is with liberty on equal rights.
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He answered 'Strongly Agree' that attempts to transition a child to the opposite sex are child abuse, and explains why in his own words.
“children lack the maturity and capacity to give informed consent to life-altering decisions that can have permanent physical, psychological, and emotional consequences.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing gender transition for children is with liberty on equal rights.
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Asked what separation of church and state means to him, he says government neither establishes nor favours any religion while protecting free exercise.
“ensuring the government neither establishes nor favors any religion while also protecting the free exercise of faith.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Government that favours no religion, with free exercise for all, is with liberty on conscience.
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His campaign site says he will work with President Trump to secure the border and finish the wall.
“Jeff will work with President Trump to continue to secure the border, finish the wall, and stop the flow of fentanyl and other drugs into America.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Securing the border and building a wall is with liberty on borders.
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In his iVoterGuide questionnaire he says he opposes sanctuary cities.
“I do not support sanctuary cities because they undermine the rule of law and interfere with cooperation between local and federal authorities.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing sanctuary policies is with liberty on borders.
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
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Illinois 11th District
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