Illinois 16th District
Darin LaHood (R) 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
Darin LaHood
Republican · holds this seat today
ALiberty Score AOn the liberty side in 118 of 125 votes and bills.
Raised $4,205,602 since January 2025: 48% from PACs and other committees, 30% transfers and other income, 22% from people. The filing at FEC.gov
Paul Nolley
Democrat · union-trades nonprofit director from Rockford, first-time candidate
DLiberty Score D64 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Nolley has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Nolley.
Raised $639,225 since January 2025: 84% from people, 15% from PACs and other committees, 1% from the party. The filing at FEC.gov
Higher on Liberty Score: Darin LaHood. Darin LaHood: A, 96 out of 100 from recorded votes. Paul Nolley: D, 64 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count.
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.
Paul Nolley, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Nolley, so the grade above comes from this list: what Nolley has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
-
Asked whether the U.S. has an interest in a free Ukraine, he says yes and that America should stand with people fighting for their freedom.
“I do. I think that we have an interest in people being free across the globe, and I think we should stand in solidarity with people who are fighting for their freedom.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing a free Ukraine is with liberty on free nations.
-
Asked about NATO, he says the aim is not to remove it or leave it but to make it serve ordinary people.
“So it's not so much about removing NATO or getting us out of NATO.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Rejecting a US exit from NATO is with liberty on free nations.
-
His Issues page says everyone should be free to speak their mind without fear of government retaliation or repression.
“Everyone should be free to engage in the democratic process, speak their mind, and be themselves without fear of government surveillance, retaliation, or repression.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing government retaliation and repression of speech is the with side of the free speech measure.
-
He says the general model he thinks best is Medicare for All.
“the general model that I think is best right now is Medicare for All.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Government-run health care for all is against liberty on free markets.
-
He names ending the current tariffs as one of the first things he would do.
“Number two is to end this chaotic tariff regime.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing broad tariffs is with liberty on free markets.
-
He proposes taxing all wages and capital gains at $250,000 and above to fund Social Security.
“My proposal is to tax all wages and also capital gains at $250,000 and above, which would shore up the Social Security trust fund for the next 75 years.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A higher tax on high earners and capital gains is against liberty on free markets.
-
In a voters guide answer he says the U.S. should create pathways for immigrants to seek legal status, with background checks and time-in-country thresholds.
“We need to create structured, lawful, and fair pathways for immigrants to seek legal status.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A path to legal status for people already here is the against side of the migration measure.
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.
Who should win this race, and why?
Say it where other readers can answer you. Opinions, videos and corrections about this race are all in one place.
Discussion
Illinois 16th District
Opinions, videos, corrections and bug reports about this race, all in one place. What readers post is their words, not mine. My answers carry the Host tag.
Leave out anything private about anyone. The rules, what your account keeps, and what readers have changed so far
Know this race better than I do?
Argue it with the hosts on a call. The community meets every day, and members help decide what goes on these pages.