The primary elections in March featured several challenges to Democratic incumbents in the General Assembly, but now that the general election Nov. 3 is almost here many politicians are running unopposed.

There are still some hotly contested races in the suburbs. However, Democrats appear unlikely to be unseated from their big majorities in the Illinois Senate and Illinois House.

After the election, lawmakers are expected to meet Nov. 17-19 and Dec. 1-3 for the fall veto session and then the new senators and representatives will head to Springfield for their regular spring session in January.

Here’s what to know.

What is the General Assembly?

The Illinois General Assembly meets at the state Capitol in Springfield every January to debate and vote on proposed laws, adjourning in May or June. There are 118 members of the Illinois House of Representatives and 59 members of the Illinois Senate.

Democrats make up 78 of the seats in the Illinois House, giving them a strong majority. All state representatives serve two-year terms with elections on even-numbered years, meaning all the seats are up for a vote in November.

Illinois Senate races, on the other hand, are staggered. There are 39 seats up for election this year. Similar to the House, Democrats have a super-majority in the Senate, controlling 40 seats to Republicans’ 19.

To locate your state Senate and House districts and learn who is representing you in Springfield, go here on the Illinois State Board of Elections website. It will also provide information about other political office holders.

Democrats see opportunities to pick up additional seats, though it likely will only pad their overwhelming dominance in the legislature, something they’ve enjoyed since 2019.

More than a quarter of the members of the Illinois General Assembly represent Chicago or portions of the city, and the vast majority are Democrats.

Democratic committees are spending to turn more seats.

What are some key races Nov. 3?

Several suburban races for Springfield lawmakers are shaping up to be highly competitive fights heading into the Nov. 3 election.

Among the most interesting races, Rep. Nabeela Syed, a Democrat, is challenging incumbent state Sen. Darby Hills, a Republican appointed to the seat, for the 26th District senate seat. The northwest suburban district includes parts of Cook, Lake, McHenry and Kane counties.

Syed is completing her second term in the Illinois House after graduating from the University of California Berkeley, while Hills is completing the term of Dan McConchie, who resigned to take a job with a nonprofit organization.

In September alone, the state Democratic Party and a committee led by Illinois Senate President Don Harmon — with the aim of bolstering Democrats’ majority — contributed almost $1 million to Syed. Republican political committees contributed almost $80,000 to Hills in September after giving her more than $300,000 in August.

In the north suburban Illinois House 52nd District, Democrats see a chance to unseat Republican Martin McLaughlin, who faces Maria Peterson in a rematch. In 2024, McLaughlin eked out a victory against Peterson, beating her by fewer than 50 votes.

In another rematch a little further from Chicago in north central Illinois, Republican Liz Bishop is challenging incumbent Democrat Amy “Murri” Briel for the 76th House District seat in a race that includes salacious allegations against Briel.

Bishop, who lost to Briel in 2024 by less than 600 votes, has called out Briel’s character and released a video interview with a former staffer alleging that Briel sexually harassed the woman, fed her a prescription stimulant drug and smoked pot while performing legislative duties.

Briel denies the allegations and points to a statehouse watchdog investigation that concluded the allegations were unfounded.