U.S. House · Illinois's 17th District

Northwestern Illinois, including Rockford, the Quad Cities (Moline/Rock Island), and Peoria-area suburbs.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

✓ Fact-checked 2026-09-25: 13 claims re-checked against their sources

A second, independent research pass re-opened every cited source for this race and corrected or removed anything the source didn’t support.

On the ballot · 2 candidates

Where they stand — side by side

Only positions documented in a cited source are shown. Where an officeholder’s recorded votes speak to an issue, the votes set the position (marked “votes”). A dash means we found no clear public position — not that the candidate has none.

ISSUEEric Sorensen
D
Dillan Vancil
R
Protect legal access to abortionSupports[3]—
Expand immigration enforcement and deportationsMixed[8][9][10][11][12]votes—
Raise taxes on high earners or corporationsSupports[9][10][11]votes—
Expand public health coverageSupports[9][10][11][13]votes—
Faster transition away from fossil fuelsSupports[9][10][11]votes—
Increase police funding and staffingSupports[7]—
Broad tariffs on imported goodsOpposes[14]votes—

The candidates, in full

Eric Sorensen

DINCUMBENTU.S. Representative (since 2023)

Won the March 17, 2026 Democratic primary unopposed

Eric Sorensen is the Democratic U.S. Representative for Illinois's 17th District, first elected in 2022. He worked as a television meteorologist before entering politics.[1]

Key votes in Congress

  • YesWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · H. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · 2026-06-03 roll call ↗The resolution directs the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran that Congress has not authorized, invoking the War Powers Resolution. It passed the House with support from Democrats and a number of Republicans.
  • YesResolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · H.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · 2026-02-11 roll call ↗The resolution terminates the national emergency the President declared in February 2025 to justify a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada, ending that tariff if it becomes law. It passed with a bipartisan majority, including several Republicans who broke with the administration on trade policy.
  • NoConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government funding · H.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · 2026-02-03 roll call ↗The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026.
  • YesBreaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · H.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · 2026-01-08 roll call ↗The bill extends for additional years the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that were expanded in 2021 and had lapsed at the end of 2025, lowering health-insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on ACA marketplaces. It passed with support from nearly all Democrats and a small group of Republicans.
  • YesWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela · H. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · 2025-12-17 roll call ↗The resolution would have directed the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized. It failed after U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels off Venezuela had raised questions in Congress about the administration's legal authority for military action in the region.
  • YesNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passage · S. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · 2025-12-10 roll call ↗The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. It also sets policy on military personnel, procurement, and other Defense Department programs for the year.
  • YesEpstein Files Transparency Act · H.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · 2025-11-18 roll call ↗The bill directs the Department of Justice to publicly release its investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, while allowing redactions to protect victim identities, ongoing investigations, and law enforcement techniques. It passed with near-unanimous support.
  • NoContinuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending vote · H.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · 2025-11-12 roll call ↗The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. It also reversed shutdown-related federal layoffs and funded SNAP benefits retroactively.
  • YesCLARITY Act — digital asset market structure · H.R. 3633 · Passed 294–134 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The CLARITY Act creates a regulatory framework dividing oversight of digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It sets registration and disclosure requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges and other digital-asset intermediaries.
  • YesGENIUS Act — stablecoin regulation · S. 1582 · Passed 308–122 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and to comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation enacted into federal law.
  • NoOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 218–214 · 2025-07-03 roll call ↗H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and raises the cap on state and local tax deductions. It increases border security and defense spending while cutting projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adding new work requirements; President Trump signed it into law on July 4, 2025.
  • NoRescissions Act of 2025 · H.R. 4 · Passed 214–212 · 2025-06-12 roll call ↗The Rescissions Act canceled about $9 billion in previously approved federal spending, mostly for foreign aid programs and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was the first rescissions package Congress had approved in decades.
  • NoOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 215–214 · 2025-05-22 roll call ↗H.R. 1 extends and modifies the 2017 individual and business tax cuts, creates new deductions for tips and overtime pay, and increases spending on border security and defense. It also reduces projected spending on Medicaid and food-assistance programs and adds new work requirements for some recipients.
  • NoSAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · H.R. 22 · Passed 220–208 · 2025-04-10 roll call ↗The SAVE Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person when registering to vote in federal elections. It also directs states to establish procedures to remove noncitizens identified on voter rolls.
  • NoFull-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 · H.R. 1968 · Passed 217–213 · 2025-03-11 roll call ↗The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown ahead of a March 14 deadline. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations.
  • YesLaken Riley Act — final passage · S. 5 · Passed 263–156 · 2025-01-22 roll call ↗The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions.
  • NoSecure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · H.R. 2 · Passed 219–213 · 2023-05-11 roll call ↗Would have resumed border-wall construction, restricted asylum eligibility, expanded detention, and mandated E-Verify for employers.

On the record — official actions

  • actionIn the 119th Congress (2025-2026), serves on the Committee on Agriculture (General Farm Commodities, Risk Management and Credit; Conservation, Research and Biotechnology) and the House Committee on Armed Services (Readiness; Tactical Air and Land Forces).[1]

Positions on the issues

  • SupportsProtect legal access to abortion

    Says reproductive health care decisions should be made between a patient and their doctor, not lawmakers, and that he will work to remove barriers to reproductive care.[3]

    “I believe that reproductive health care decisions should be made between an individual and their doctor – not lawmakers. ... I will continue to work in Congress to break down barriers to accessing reproductive care, not building them.”
  • SupportsFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits.[9][10][11]

    What they say: Says the climate is changing and calls for investing in clean power sources while protecting communities from severe-weather damage.[4]

    “We need to find ways to protect our homes and farms from draughts, floods, and other adverse weather events while investing in clean power sources that will create sustainable, good-paying jobs right here in our district.”
  • SupportsIncrease police funding and staffing

    Says he is working to invest more into local law enforcement agencies to support training, recruitment, and retention.[7]

    “As your Representative, I am taking strides to invest more into local law enforcement agencies to support their training needs, help them better retain and recruit officers, and build better relationships with the communities they serve.”
  • SupportsExpand public health coverageFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements. Voted yes on Breaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08).[9][10][11][13]

    What they say: Says he wants to protect and expand the Affordable Care Act to cover preexisting conditions and let Medicare negotiate prescription drug prices.[5]

    “I believe we need to protect and expand the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to ensure preexisting conditions are covered. I also support solutions that bring down the cost of prescription drugs, like allowing Medicare to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies.”
  • MixedExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22). Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations. Voted no on Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2, 2023-05-11).[8][9][10][11][12]

  • SupportsRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent.[9][10][11]

  • OpposesBroad tariffs on imported goodsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11).[14]

In their words — priorities

  • My top priority is addressing rising costs that are hurting Illinoisans from the grocery store to the gas pump. I'm also committed to bringing down out-of-control drug prices, especially for our seniors.[6]
  • I believe everyone has the right to be healthy, which is why I'm working in Congress to make health care more affordable, accessible, and efficient.[5]
  • We need to find ways to protect our homes and farms from draughts, floods, and other adverse weather events while investing in clean power sources that will create sustainable, good-paying jobs right here in our district.[4]

Background

  • Born in Rockford, Illinois; earned a bachelor's degree from Northern Illinois University in 1999.[1]
  • Worked as a meteorologist and served on the boards of Clock, Inc. and the Project of the Quad Cities.[1]

Campaign money

Raised $2.2M · spent $1.0M · $1.3M cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗

Dillan Vancil

R

Won the March 17, 2026 Republican primary with 58.4% of the vote

Dillan Vancil is the Republican nominee for Illinois's 17th Congressional District. He is a small business owner, railroad worker, and school board member.[2]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Background

  • Born in Illinois.[2]
  • Career experience as a small business owner and railroad worker; served as a member of the West Central School Board.[2]

Campaign money

Raised $309K · spent $272K · $57K cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗

Research notes & limits

Sorensen's positions and priorities are drawn from his official House issues pages. No campaign website or citable public statements were found for Dillan Vancil beyond basic biographical facts.

Sources · 14

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.Eric Sorensen · Ballotpedia Reference
  2. 2.Dillan Vancil (Illinois) · Ballotpedia Reference
  3. 3.Reproductive Rights · Office of Rep. Eric Sorensen Candidate's own words
  4. 4.Energy and the Environment · Office of Rep. Eric Sorensen Candidate's own words
  5. 5.Health Care · Office of Rep. Eric Sorensen Candidate's own words
  6. 6.Jobs, Small Business, and the Economy · Office of Rep. Eric Sorensen Candidate's own words
  7. 7.Public Safety · Office of Rep. Eric Sorensen Candidate's own words
  8. 8.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  9. 9.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  10. 10.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  11. 11.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  12. 12.Roll call: Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2023-05-11 Official record
  13. 13.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  14. 14.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record