Illinois 17th District
Eric Sorensen (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
Eric Sorensen
Democrat · holds this seat today
FLiberty Score FOn the liberty side in 53 of 100 votes and bills.
Raised $2,657,085 since January 2025: 56% from people, 38% from PACs and other committees, 5% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Dillan Vancil
Republican · coffee shop owner, former railroad engineer and school board member
No gradeNo grade yetI have no votes in Congress to count for Vancil, and what Vancil has said and done settles only 3 of my principles. I went through it on October 31. A grade needs 4.
Raised $406,023 since January 2025: 92% from people, 4% from PACs and other committees, 4% the candidate’s own money. The filing at FEC.gov
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.
Dillan Vancil, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Vancil, so the grade above comes from this list: what Vancil 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 about the Iran war, he calls the regime in Iran a terrorist regime, says there is no room for negotiation with it and that it cannot have a nuclear weapon.
“For decades, Iran has been run by a radical terrorist regime that sponsors terrorism, threatens our allies, and holds the world's economy hostage. We're watching that happen right now in the Strait of Hormuz. A regime like that leaves no real room for negotiation, and it cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Refusing a deal with the regime and refusing it a nuclear weapon is the with side of the Iran measure.
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Asked about intervention in Ukraine, Israel and Venezuela, he says the United States should not write blank checks for Ukraine or Israel, and names no cut, condition or vote.
“The United States should not be writing blank checks for Ukraine or Israel, especially when our own border is insecure, our debt is exploding, and families here are struggling with the cost of living.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Refusing 'blank checks' without saying aid should end or on what terms does not settle whether he backs Ukraine.
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In the same answer he says the United States should not write blank checks for Israel, and names no condition on weapons or aid.
“The United States should not be writing blank checks for Ukraine or Israel, especially when our own border is insecure, our debt is exploding, and families here are struggling with the cost of living.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Aid with no condition named is unclear on the free nations test; he does not call for cutting weapons or tying them to human rights.
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He says he will defend the First and Second Amendments, which he says have been under attack, and names no policy.
“The First Amendment, the Second Amendment, and the rights that make this country strong and free have been under attack.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
He names no censorship policy to oppose or support, so it does not settle the measure.
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He wants small business taxes kept low, the small business deduction made permanent, and new payroll taxes on jobs blocked.
“Easing the burden starts with keeping small business taxes low and predictable, making the small business tax deduction permanent, blocking new payroll taxes on jobs, cutting back burdensome reporting and regulations, and lowering health care and energy costs so owners can raise wages, hire, and grow.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Lower named taxes and less regulation is with liberty on free markets.
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He describes the Trump tariffs on China as targeted and as a bargaining tool, and says they have worked though not perfectly.
“Targeted tariffs have been an important bargaining tool to bring them to the table and start rebalancing that relationship.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
He backs tariffs but calls them targeted, and the measure counts only broad tariffs as the against side, so it does not settle.
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He proposes no federal income tax on the first $25,000 of income for individuals and $50,000 for couples.
“Let working families keep more of their paychecks by not taxing the first $25,000 of income for individuals or $50,000 for couples.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
A named tax cut is with liberty on free markets.
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He says he cannot support a substantial increase to the military budget and asks how to raise it given the national debt.
“We have got to get this spending under control. We're $39 trillion in debt and we want to raise the military budget substantially?”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
He opposes a large increase but does not call for cutting the budget, so it fits neither side of the defense test.
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He says Congress should not add new restrictions on immigration officers and that they should enforce the law as written.
“I do not believe we need to handcuff our officers with new restrictions from Congress. Instead, we should allow them to enforce the law as written.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing enforcement and removals without new limits on agents is the with side of the migration measure.
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He calls the Laken Riley Act, which directs removal of illegal immigrants convicted of crimes, the right approach.
“The Laken Riley Act is a good example of the right approach.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing the removal of immigrants convicted of crimes is the with 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.
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Illinois 17th District
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