Carolyn Schofield is running for Illinois lieutenant governor as an Independent in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. She shares a ticket with gubernatorial candidate Collin Corbett.
In Illinois, the governor and lieutenant governor run as a joint ticket, and the lieutenant governor takes on policy portfolios assigned by the governor. The policy positions below reflect the Corbett-Schofield ticket's shared platform, as published on the campaign's website.
Also running for lieutenant governor are Aaron Del Mar, a Republican, and Christian L. Mitchell, a Democrat.
Candidate information
- Name: Carolyn Schofield
- Party: Independent
- Residence: Crystal Lake, Illinois
- Education: Bachelor's degree in general engineering with an environmental quality specialization, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1994
Schofield describes herself on her campaign website as "an Illinois policy expert and bipartisan local leader" with more than 20 years of experience in state and local government.
Experience and public service
Schofield's background spans engineering, education and elected office, according to her campaign website and BallotReady profile data:
- Field engineer in fire protection
- Legislative director at the Illinois General Assembly in Springfield
- Substitute teacher at Crystal Lake School District 47
- Crystal Lake council member (elected 2009 and 2012)
- McHenry County board member (elected 2012, 2016 and 2018)
- Executive committee member at the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning since 2013
Schofield says she serves as president of the McHenry County Mental Health Board and as vice chair of the agency's On to 2050 Regional Plan.
On the issues
The following positions come from the Corbett-Schofield ticket's campaign website and candidate questionnaire responses. They are the candidates' own statements and have not been independently verified. Many of these proposals would require action by the governor, the Illinois General Assembly or both. The campaign has not detailed specific funding mechanisms or implementation timelines for most proposals.
Taxes and budget
The ticket says it would lower property taxes, which Schofield's campaign calls "the highest in the country." That claim is the campaign's; no independent source in the available record confirms it. Property tax rates in Illinois are set by local taxing bodies. The campaign also says it would freeze discretionary spending in its first year and put in place "transparent accountability standards that measure the impact of our tax dollars."
Healthcare
The ticket says it would reduce health care costs by reforming the Certificate of Need process and addressing market consolidation, which the campaign says is "stifling competition and artificially increasing medical prices for Illinoisans." Certificate of Need reform would require legislative action.
Energy and gas prices
The campaign says it would bring down energy costs and provide "relief at the pump." Schofield's campaign claims Illinois drivers pay "the 3rd highest gas taxes in the country under JB Pritzker." That claim is the campaign's; no independent source in the available record confirms it. The ticket also says it would strengthen manufacturing, agriculture and logistics by lowering energy costs and restoring reliability.
Government reform
The ticket says it would implement government reforms including ending partisan gerrymandering, establishing open primaries, pursuing campaign finance reform and increasing transparency. Redistricting and primary election changes would require legislation or constitutional amendments.
Public safety
The campaign says it would fix the Department of Corrections, citing alleged abuse and sexual assault of inmates, "including over 900 minors in juvenile detention facilities." Those allegations are the campaign's claims; no independent source in the available record confirms them. The ticket also says it would hold offenders accountable while investing in rehabilitation.
Carolyn Schofield's policy positions were drawn from her campaign website and BallotReady questionnaire responses. Evanston Wire did not interview the candidate for this profile.
