Syed defeats Hills in Cook County Senate race

48,051. That is the number of votes state Rep. Nabeela Syed collected to win Illinois Senate District 26, which called the race at 11:15 p.m. Tuesday night.

Syed, a Democrat from Palatine, defeated Republican incumbent Darby Hills of Barrington Hills. With 95% of the total votes tallied, the gap between the two candidates stood at 11,769 ballots in Syed's favor. Hills received 36,282 votes in the contest.

Syed first entered the Illinois House in 2022 at the age of 23. She defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Chris Bos to become the youngest woman ever elected to the Illinois General Assembly. Her legislative record includes 21 passed laws. These measures cover a ban on price-gouging for generic drugs, paid leave for organ donors, and the ability for 16-year-olds to preregister to vote.

The race featured a unique dynamic as it was the only contest in the state with two incumbent lawmakers on the ballot Illinois. Syed currently represents House District 51, which occupies half of the geographic area for Senate District 26. Hills had been appointed to the Senate seat in early 2025 after fellow Republican Dan McConchie resigned.

Before her Senate appointment, Hills served on the Barrington Hills Village Board. She was appointed to that local body in 2022 and elected in 2023. She also founded Barrington Children Charities.

The candidates offered different approaches to state finances. Syed said Illinois that improving education funding and reducing mandates on school districts are key steps to lowering property taxes. She also supports expanding eligibility for the senior property tax freeze and providing capital assistance for small business owners.

Hills focused on state spending habits. She said Springfield should stop adding to the bill, noting she voted against the last two state budgets and every fee increase presented to her in the Senate. "The state does not have a revenue problem; it has a prioritization problem," Hills said. She co-sponsored Senate Bill 4205, a measure that would have temporarily cut the state sales tax on gasoline to 1.25% from July through December 2026, but the bill has not advanced since it was filed in May.