Syed takes commanding lead in 26th Senate race

Early election results show Democrat Nabeela Syed taking a commanding lead over incumbent Republican Darby Hills in the race for the 26th Senate District.

With 62% of the estimated votes counted, Syed, of Inverness, who is serving her second term as the 51st House District representative, has secured 56.1% of votes while Hills has 43.9%.

Hills was appointed to the 26th Senate seat after Dan McConchie resigned in 2025. At the time, she was serving as a Barrington Hills trustee, a position to which she was also appointed.

A former prosecutor, Hills said in a Daily Herald questionnaire she has stood in courtrooms with victims and their families. She added she founded Barrington Children's Charities from scratch.

Hills pointed to her support for legislation closing loopholes in the state's grooming laws and adding deepfakes and electronic tracking to its harassment laws.

Syed, who was raised in Palatine, said in a Daily Herald questionnaire that during her tenure in the House she has passed more than 25 bills, many with bipartisan support.

She said she has taken on “Big Pharma” and insurers over drug prices, rejected increases to sales tax, championed expanding the senior property tax freeze, expanded insurance coverage for cancer screenings, banned junk fees, and strengthened protections around sexual assault evidence.

The 26th District encompasses much of southern, central and western Lake County; smaller parts of Kane and McHenry counties; and portions of Barrington and Palatine townships in Cook County.