Republican Jim Edgar was elected to succeed him in office, defeating Democrat Neil Hartigan by a narrow margin of about 80,000 votes.

Illinois Comptroller Roland Burris won the Democratic primary, running unopposed.

Illinois Treasurer Jerome Cosentino won the Democratic primary, running unopposed.

Lieutenant Governor of Illinois George Ryan won the Republican primary, running unopposed.

State Senator Dawn Clark Netsch defeated attorney Shawn Collins, State Representative Woody Bowman, and Kane County Democratic Party Chairman Bill Sarto.

Former Cook County Board of Tax Appeals commissioner and Chicago Revenue Director Pat Quinn defeated State Representative Peg McDonnell Breslin.

[9] Former Illinois Secretary of Transportation Greg Baise won the Republican primary unopposed.

[3] An election was held for three of nine seats for Trustees of University of Illinois system for six-year terms.

[12] Fourth-term incumbent Republican Ralph Crane Hahn lost reelection.