Syed Leads Hills in 26th Senate District Race
Democrat Nabeela Syed holds an early lead over incumbent Republican Darby Hills in the Illinois Senate contest.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Legislative Policy
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With 17% of votes counted, Democrat Nabeela Syed has 56.5% of the vote to Republican Darby Hills' 43.5% in the 26th Senate District race. Syed currently represents the 51st House District and is serving her second term.
Why it matters
The race pits a sitting House member against an appointed incumbent in a district covering parts of several northern Illinois counties. The outcome will determine which party and which lawmaker holds the seat in the Illinois Senate.
With 17% of votes counted, Syed leads 56.5% to 43.5%, a split based on partial returns. Hills was appointed to the seat after Dan McConchie resigned in 2025, and the final result depends on votes not yet tallied.
The players
Nabeela Syed
Democratic state representative for the 51st House District, serving her second term and raised in Palatine.
Darby Hills
Republican incumbent appointed to the 26th Senate seat, a former prosecutor and founder of Barrington Children's Charities.
The details
Hills, a former prosecutor who previously served as a Barrington Hills trustee, was appointed to the 26th Senate seat after McConchie's 2025 resignation. Syed has passed more than 25 bills during her House tenure, and Hills has backed legislation closing grooming-law loopholes and adding deepfakes and electronic tracking to harassment laws.
Timeline
2025: Dan McConchie resigns and Darby Hills is appointed to the 26th Senate seat.
November 3, 2026: Election held; early returns show Syed leading.
Political Context
Hills' record of supporting grooming-law loopholes and deepfake and electronic-tracking additions to Illinois harassment law places him in an ongoing legislative effort to update state statutes. Syed's track record of more than 25 passed bills reflects a House career focused on advancing legislation in the same chamber pipeline.
The winner will hold the 26th Senate seat and vote on state harassment, grooming, and privacy laws that affect Illinois residents. Voters in Lake, Kane, McHenry, and parts of Cook County will see their next state senator determined by the final count.
The takeaway
Early returns can shift as remaining ballots are counted, so the current lead is provisional until the final tally is certified.
Further reading
For more on how state lawmakers shape rules like these, see Legislative Policy coverage in Illinois.
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