Aaron Del Mar is running for Illinois lieutenant governor as a Republican on a joint ticket with gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey. The general election is Nov. 3, 2026.
Del Mar is certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady election data. The other lieutenant governor candidates are Christian L. Mitchell, a Democrat, and Carolyn Schofield, an independent. The three-way race features candidates from three different parties.
Del Mar announced his candidacy alongside Bailey on social media, according to his account on X. This outlet profiled Darren Bailey as part of its 2026 election coverage.
Candidate information
- Party: Republican
- Office sought: Illinois lieutenant governor
- Election date: Nov. 3, 2026
- Running mate: Darren Bailey (governor)
- Education: High school diploma, Palatine High School, 1996; bachelor's degree in public policy, Indiana University, 2001; MBA, University of Illinois, 2020
Experience and public service
Del Mar has held elected office and party leadership roles in suburban Cook County.
He has served as elected highway commissioner for Palatine Township since 2016, a position he has held for a decade, according to BallotReady. Before that, he served on the Palatine Village Board as the District 1 councilmember from 2009 to 2013, according to the same source.
Del Mar says he served as chairman of the Cook County Republican Party from 2012 to 2016, according to his campaign page. Illinois Public Media reported he holds the chairmanship in 2025 and 2026 as well.
Outside government, Del Mar works as an insurance agent at Country Financial, a position he has held since 2020, according to BallotReady. BallotReady also lists him as chief executive officer of Chicago Casino & Poker Rentals, a business he has run since 2004, and CEO of Adrenaline Special Events since 2016.
On the issues
The Evanston Wire invited candidates in this race to share their policy positions. No issue responses from Del Mar were available for this profile.
Del Mar's campaign has discussed an electoral strategy goal. According to Capitol News Illinois, Del Mar said the Bailey-Del Mar ticket hopes to receive upward of 33% of the vote in the Chicago area in 2026. Bailey received 23% in Cook County in 2022. That is a campaign turnout target, not a governing proposal.
Candidate profiles are based on publicly available information, candidate responses and verified election data. The Evanston Wire does not endorse candidates.
