Answers by state
Illinois Citizenship Test Answers (2026)
The answers to the civics questions that depend on where you live in Illinois: your U.S. senators, your U.S. representative, your governor and your capital. Checked against official government lists on September 27, 2026.
Quick answers
- Who is one of your state’s U.S. senators now?
- Name one: Tammy Duckworth or Dick Durbin
- Name your U.S. representative.
- It depends on where you live. Illinois has 17 representatives, one for each congressional district (see the list below).
- Who is the governor of your state now?
- JB Pritzker
- What is the capital of your state?
- Springfield
Illinois’s U.S. senators
Like every state, Illinois has two U.S. senators. The officer asks for one name, so pick the one that is easier for you to say and remember.
- Tammy Duckworth (Democrat)
- Dick Durbin (Democrat) This seat is on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
Senators elected in November take office on January 3, 2027. Until then, the current senator is the right answer. We update this page when the new senator is sworn in.
Illinois’s U.S. representatives
Illinois has 17 members of the House of Representatives. Each one represents a congressional district, so your answer depends on your home address. The fastest way to find yours is to enter your ZIP code on house.gov.
Find your representative by ZIP code
| District | Representative | Party |
|---|---|---|
| District 1 | Jonathan L. Jackson | Democrat |
| District 2 | Robin L. Kelly | Democrat |
| District 3 | Delia C. Ramirez | Democrat |
| District 4 | Jesús G. "Chuy" García | Democrat |
| District 5 | Mike Quigley | Democrat |
| District 6 | Sean Casten | Democrat |
| District 7 | Danny K. Davis | Democrat |
| District 8 | Raja Krishnamoorthi | Democrat |
| District 9 | Janice D. Schakowsky | Democrat |
| District 10 | Bradley Scott Schneider | Democrat |
| District 11 | Bill Foster | Democrat |
| District 12 | Mike Bost | Republican |
| District 13 | Nikki Budzinski | Democrat |
| District 14 | Lauren Underwood | Democrat |
| District 15 | Mary E. Miller | Republican |
| District 16 | Darin LaHood | Republican |
| District 17 | Eric Sorensen | Democrat |
All House seats are on the ballot on November 3, 2026, and the new terms start on January 3, 2027. You only need the name, not the district number or party.
Governor of Illinois
The governor of Illinois is JB Pritzker. Illinois elects a governor on November 3, 2026. If the office changes hands, the new governor takes office in the following weeks, and the answer changes on that day. Until then, give the current governor’s name.
On the 2025 test this is one of the 20 questions for applicants who qualify for the 65/20 exception, so older applicants should know it well.
Capital of Illinois
The capital of Illinois is Springfield.
Common mistake: Chicago is the largest city, but it is not the capital. The answer is Springfield.
If an answer changes before your interview
Officers expect the name of the person in office on the day of your interview. Elected officials can change after elections, resignations and appointments, so check the answers again the week of your interview. USCIS also posts changes at uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates.
Last checked September 27, 2026. Sources: senate.gov, the Clerk of the U.S. House (clerk.house.gov) and the National Governors Association (nga.org).
Practice the rest of the test
These four questions are only a small part of the civics test. Practice the others with the free mock test, which follows the real pass rules.
Common questions
Do I need to know both senators from Illinois?
No. The question asks for one of your state’s senators, so one correct name is enough.
Do I need to know my representative’s party or district number?
No. The name is enough. The party and district are listed here only to help you find the right person.
I just moved to Illinois. Which answers do I give?
Give the answers for the place where you live on the day of your interview. You must live in the state or USCIS district for at least 3 months before you file, so your new address should match your application.
Are these questions on the 65/20 test?
On the 2025 test, only the governor question is part of the 20 questions for 65/20 applicants. On the 2008 test, the senator and capital questions are on the 65/20 list.