Judge Edward A. Arce faces a retention vote for his Cook County Circuit Court seat on Nov. 3, 2026. The nonpartisan ballot question asks voters whether Arce should continue serving on the bench.
Arce has served as a circuit court judge since 2008, when the Illinois Supreme Court appointed him. He was later elected by voters of the Fourteenth Subcircuit and retained in both 2014 and 2020. Cook County Circuit Court judges hear cases across civil, criminal and family law divisions in the largest unified court system in Illinois.
The race is nonpartisan. BallotReady election data lists the contest as "Retain Arce?" with no opposing candidate on the ballot, meaning voters will cast a yes-or-no vote on whether the judge keeps his seat. Arce is certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady.
Candidate information
- Name: Edward A. Arce
- Office sought: Illinois Circuit Court Judge, Cook County Circuit (retention)
- Party: Nonpartisan
- Education: Bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois (1981); J.D. from Illinois Institute of Technology (1985)
- Family: Married, father of three adult children, grandfather of four
Arce is a son of Mexican immigrants who was born, educated and practiced law in Chicago, according to the Illinois Latino Judges Association.
Experience and public service
Before joining the bench, Arce worked as a partner at Whitcup & Arce P.C. from 1986 to 2008, according to BallotReady profile data. That private practice spanned more than two decades before his appointment to the judiciary.
After his 2008 appointment, Arce served in the Domestic Relations Division at the Sixth Municipal District in Markham from 2008 through March 2014, according to the Chicago Council of Lawyers' directory of state judges. He has served as a Cook County circuit court judge from 2008 to the present, according to BallotReady.
Beyond the courtroom, Arce has served as faculty for new judge orientation and at the biennial judicial education conferences, according to the Illinois Latino Judges Association.
Prior endorsement ratings
The Chicago Council of Lawyers rated Arce "Qualified" for both his November 2014 and November 2020 retention elections, according to the council's directory of state judges in Chicago. No 2026-cycle rating was available in the reviewed candidate materials.
- Chicago Council of Lawyers — Qualified (November 2020 retention)
- Chicago Council of Lawyers — Qualified (November 2014 retention)
No issue responses or policy questionnaire answers from Arce were available in candidate materials. Endorsement ratings listed above are from prior retention cycles as sourced. Candidate information is drawn from the reviewed candidate packet, BallotReady and the Illinois Latino Judges Association.
