Paul Nolley
Paul Nolley (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Illinois' 16th Congressional District. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2026. He advanced from the Democratic primary on March 17, 2026.
Biography
Paul Nolley was born in Rockford, Illinois. He attended Illinois State University. His career experience includes working as an executive director at Project First Rate.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: Illinois' 16th Congressional District election, 2026
Illinois' 16th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 17 Democratic primary)
Illinois' 16th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 17 Republican primary)
General election
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for U.S. House Illinois District 16
Incumbent Darin LaHood and Paul Nolley are running in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 16 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Darin LaHood (R) | |
 | Paul Nolley (D) | |
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 16
Paul Nolley advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 16 on March 17, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Paul Nolley | 100.0 | 38,665 |
| Total votes: 38,665 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Joe Albright (D)
- Brendyn Morgan (D)
- Scott Best (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 16
Incumbent Darin LaHood advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 16 on March 17, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Darin LaHood | 99.8 | 52,914 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 110 | ||
| Total votes: 53,024 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Garth Gullette (R)
- John Kitover (R)
Endorsements
Paul Nolley received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
- State Rep. Maurice West II (D)
- Citizens Action Illinois
- It's Our Future (Sway voting group by Skyler Stefanski)
- Megan Thuy's Voting Guide for the Cool Kids (Sway voting group by Megan Thuy)
- P.U.L.L. (Progressive Union of Leftists Lake County) (Sway voting group by Alexandria Keating-Sofiakis)
- RogueDNC Army (Sway voting group by RogueDNC)
- Stop arming Israel (Sway voting group by Tariq Habash)
- The Dad Briefs' Kitchen Table (Sway voting group by Slade Wentworth)
- VOTE 4 NONFREAKS W ME (Sway voting group by Hxdx S)
- Vote for Peace (Sway voting group by Organize for Peace)
- We Persist (Sway voting group by Tabitha)
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
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Campaign website
Nolley's campaign website stated the following:
Save Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid
The ability to earn a dignified retirement and high-quality, affordable healthcare is under assault. These vital programs, which have kept millions of Americans out of poverty, need to be strengthened — not slashed and burned by billionaires and the politicians they buy in Washington. We need to ensure these programs are robust, sustainable, efficient, and are available for generations to come.
End Corruption & Pay-to-Play Politics
We all know corruption runs deep through the halls of Congress. The powerful interests and their army of lobbyists have a hold on politicians of both parties.
We need to put a stop to the corrupting influence of money in politics and ban members of Congress and their families from trading stocks. The powerful should not profit from their insider knowledge, status, and connections.
Preserve and Protect Family Farms
Our nation's farmers are a cornerstone of the economy yet independent and family farms have been under assault for years. Corporate consolidation, right-to-repair restrictions, and Big Ag's influence over Washington have created a system designed to bleed them dry. We'll create commonsense policies to strengthen local farming and provide paths for young people and others to pursue Ag careers.
Strengthen Unions & Workers' Rights
If you work hard, you should never have to worry about putting food on the table for your family. Workers' rights and unions have been under assault for years and the economic results have been a disaster. We will fight for pro-worker legislation that makes it easier to collectively bargain and raise wages and benefits for the people who keep this country running.
Revive Manufacturing & Blue-Collar Careers
Our country has lost nearly 7 million manufacturing jobs over the last half-century, leading to the decline in decent career opportunities in towns across the 16th District. We must champion local manufacturers that invest in their people and communities, and expand modern manufacturing as a viable career path — not just for the executives but for the welders, machinists, and line workers.
Protect Illinois Air, Water, Land & Wildlife
Environmental threats like pollution, flooding, and extreme weather hit working-class families first and hardest—damaging homes, threatening jobs, and driving up everyday costs. We need practical, common-sense solutions that safeguard our air, water, and land without hurting the workers, farmers, and small businesses who depend on them. By holding polluters accountable and creating good-paying union jobs in clean energy, we can protect our communities and build economic security for everyone.
Pass Pro-Family Policies
We need to bring relief to working families by passing Paid Family Leave legislation, expanding access to high-quality, affordable childcare, and increasing the Child Tax Credit. We should make it easier to raise a family and ensure you can actually enjoy life with your loved ones while staying financially independent.
Stand Up for Women’s Rights & the Marginalized
Everyone deserves dignity, safety, and a fair shot at a stable life—no matter their gender, age, or identity. I will stand up for women’s rights and fight alongside those who’ve been pushed to the margins, like people with disabilities, seniors, children, survivors, and LGBTQ+ youth. The powerful try to divide us so we don’t notice their corruption or the way they rig the system. But if we stand together, we can rebuild a country where hard work pays off and no one is left behind.
Fully Fund & Rebuild VA Care
The VA serves those who protect our country, but it is understaffed, underfunded, and in need of real modernization and investment. We need to rebuild and strengthen VA infrastructure, both physical and its systems, and invest in the next generation of its leaders. We must cut wait times, red tape, and ensure leadership is both empowered and accountable.
Restore Civil Liberties & Protect Human Rights
Our basic liberties like the Freedom of Speech are under assault. We must take an aggressive stance against any attacks on the rights and freedoms that so many Americans have fought and died for. Everyone should be free to engage in the democratic process, speak their mind, and be themselves without fear of government surveillance, retaliation, or repression.
— Paul Nolley's campaign website (February 18, 2026)
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
