Raoul seeks third term as Illinois attorney general

Kwame Raoul, the 42nd attorney general of Illinois, is running for a third term in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. The Democrat faces Republican Robert W. Fioretti.

Raoul was first sworn in as attorney general in January 2019 and took the oath for a second term on Jan. 9, 2023, according to the Illinois Attorney General's office. He is certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady election data.

This profile draws on Raoul's questionnaire responses, public records and biographical sources. Policy positions reflect the candidate's own statements unless otherwise noted.

Candidate information

Party: Democratic
Born: Sept. 30, 1964, in Chicago, to Haitian immigrants, according to Raoul's campaign website
Family: Married to Dr. Lisa Moore; four children: Che, Mizan, John and Madison, according to his campaign website
Education: High school diploma, University of Chicago Laboratory Schools (1982); bachelor's degree in political science, DePaul University (1987); juris doctor, Illinois Institute of Technology (1993)
Memberships: Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.; 100 Black Men of Chicago; founding member, Haitian American Lawyers Association of Illinois, according to The HistoryMakers

Experience and public service

Raoul served in the Illinois State Senate from 2004 to 2019. He previously worked as a prosecutor at the Cook County State's Attorney's Office and as a senior staff attorney at City Colleges of Chicago. He was also a partner at Quarles & Brady LLP. He has served as attorney general since 2019 and said he co-chairs the Democratic Attorneys General Coalition.

On the issues

Criminal justice and public safety: Raoul said he created the state's first Organized Retail Crime Task Force to investigate smash-and-grab crimes tied to drug and human trafficking. He said the task force has recovered millions of dollars in stolen merchandise. Raoul also said he directed an investigation of Illinois Catholic clergy that revealed nearly 2,000 cases of child sexual assault. He said he sponsored legislation to abolish the death penalty. On guns, Raoul said he sues to revoke the licenses of gun makers that produce cheap guns used in carjackings and other crimes. He said he provides training for teachers, administrators and parents on preventing mass shooting incidents in schools.

Healthcare: Raoul said he secured a $7.4 billion settlement from his lawsuit against Purdue Pharma over opioid peddling. He said affordable health care is a personal priority as a cancer survivor and that he protects state laws ensuring access to gender-affirming health services.

Reproductive rights: Raoul said he led the Illinois legislature to enact laws expanding access to reproductive health care, including emergency and medication abortion, miscarriage management and fertility treatment.

Wages and worker protection: Raoul said he created a Worker Protection Unit to enforce labor laws and prevent wage theft. He said he secured a $25 million settlement with GrubHub over alleged deceptive business practices. He also said he advocated for raising the minimum wage.

Civil rights and voting: Raoul said he is leading the fight for the Equal Rights Amendment. He said he sent lawyers to monitor Illinois polls during the November 2024 presidential election. He also said he is leading a lawsuit with fellow attorneys general to get fired federal employees their jobs back.