Carolyn Schofield is running for Illinois lieutenant governor as an Independent on a joint ticket with gubernatorial candidate Collin Corbett. She faces Republican Aaron Del Mar and Democratic candidate Christian L. Mitchell in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
In Illinois, the lieutenant governor runs on a joint ticket with the governor and cannot win the office independently. The lieutenant governor's formal powers are limited, primarily including succession if the governor leaves office and chairing certain state commissions. Most of the policy proposals below would require action by the governor, the General Assembly or both.
Schofield, according to her campaign website, describes herself as a bipartisan local leader with over 20 years of experience in state and local government. She and her husband live in Crystal Lake, where they raised three children.
Candidate information
- Office sought: Illinois lieutenant governor
- Party: Independent
- Running mate: Collin Corbett (governor)
- Residence: Crystal Lake
- Education: Bachelor's degree in general engineering with environmental quality specialization, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1994
Experience and public service
Schofield's background spans engineering, education and local government, according to her campaign website and BallotReady profile data:
- Crystal Lake council member (elected 2009, 2012)
- McHenry County board member (elected 2012, 2016, 2018)
- Former legislative director, Illinois General Assembly
- Former field engineer in fire protection
- Former substitute teacher, Crystal Lake School District 47
- President, McHenry County Mental Health Board (current, according to the candidate)
- Vice chair, On to 2050 Regional Plan, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (current, according to the candidate)
- Executive committee member, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (since 2013)
On the issues
The following positions come from the Corbett-Schofield ticket's campaign website and BallotReady candidate responses. They reflect what the candidates say they would pursue. No implementation details, funding sources or timelines were provided.
Taxes and spending: The ticket says it would lower property taxes, which Schofield's campaign describes as "the highest in the country." The campaign also pledges to freeze discretionary spending in its first year and establish accountability standards measuring the impact of tax dollars. Lowering property taxes in Illinois would require legislative action, and property tax rates are set by local taxing bodies, not the governor's office.
Healthcare: The ticket says it would reduce healthcare costs by reforming the Certificate of Need process and addressing market consolidation, which the campaign says is "stifling competition and artificially increasing medical prices." Certificate of Need reform would require legislation from the General Assembly.
Energy and gas prices: The campaign says it would bring down energy costs and provide relief at the gas pump. The ticket claims Illinois drivers pay "the 3rd highest gas taxes in the country under JB Pritzker." That ranking is the campaign's claim and has not been independently confirmed. Changing gas tax rates would require legislative action.
Government reform: The ticket says it would pursue ending partisan gerrymandering, open primaries, campaign finance reform and increased transparency, according to the campaign's reform platform. Each of these changes would require legislation. Redistricting reform has failed repeatedly in the General Assembly.
Public safety: The campaign says it would address conditions in the Department of Corrections, citing what it describes as abuse and sexual assault involving over 900 minors in juvenile detention facilities. Those figures are the campaign's claims and have not been independently confirmed. The ticket also pledges to hold offenders accountable while investing in rehabilitation.
Candidate responses were collected through BallotReady and the Corbett-Schofield campaign website. Policy positions are presented as stated by the campaign and do not represent endorsements by the Park Ridge Wire.
