--- title: "Foster vs. Walter: 2026 Illinois’ 11th District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-il-11" updated: "2026-08-01" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Illinois’ 11th District race: Bill Foster (D) vs. Jeffrey Walter (R) Rating: Safe D · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: August 1, 2026 In Illinois' 11th Congressional District, seven-term Democratic incumbent Bill Foster faces Republican challenger Jeffrey Walter in the November 3, 2026 general election. Foster, a former Fermilab particle physicist and business co-founder, advanced unopposed from his primary, while Walter, the Mayor of Elburn and a 22-year U.S. Navy veteran, won a four-candidate Republican primary. ## Candidates - **Bill Foster** (Democrat, incumbent) · [Campaign site](https://www.billfoster.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Bill_Foster_%28Illinois%29) - **Jeffrey Walter** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://www.jeffwalterforcongress.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jeffrey_Walter) ## Issues ### Economy and Taxes Salience: high Foster champions Democratic economic regulation and public investment, whereas Walter advocates making permanent Trump's tax cuts and implementing tariffs. **Bill Foster:** Supports Democratic economic regulations and opposition to tax cuts Foster emphasizes that Democratic policies yield stronger long-term economic growth while Republican tax cuts increase debt. He advocates for Wall Street regulation, domestic manufacturing support, and policies aimed at preventing financial crises. - Co-founded a Midwest manufacturing business that created hundreds of jobs. - Helped craft legislation on the Financial Services Committee to regulate Wall Street and avert financial crises. - Voted against the 2025 Reconciliation Act (H.R. 1) and the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023. > “Democratic policies produced consistently stronger economic growth, while Republican policies drove us into debt and wrecked our economy.” > — Bill Foster, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Bill_Foster_%28Illinois%29) > “Bill has been deeply involved in writing laws which will prevent crises like the 2008 financial collapse from hurting working families in the future.” > — Bill Foster, via [Campaign site](https://www.billfoster.com) **Jeffrey Walter:** Supports making Trump tax cuts permanent and cutting spending Walter advocates for an America First economic platform centered on low taxes, deregulation, and protective tariffs. He pledges to eliminate federal waste and lower living costs caused by inflation. - Supports making the Trump tax cuts permanent. - Endorses tariffs to protect domestic workers and manufacturing jobs. - Pledges to root out fraud and reckless federal spending to combat cost of living. > “Jeff believes in rebuilding the strongest economy in the world.” > — Jeffrey Walter, via [Campaign site](https://www.jeffwalterforcongress.com) > “Jeff supports making the Trump tax cuts permanent, lowering costs for families, and rooting out the fraud and waste in Washington that drive up prices.” > — Jeffrey Walter, via [Campaign site](https://www.jeffwalterforcongress.com) ### Immigration and Border Security Salience: high Foster regularly votes against strict Republican immigration and border enforcement bills, while Walter supports completing the border wall and expanding enforcement. **Bill Foster:** Opposes restrictive Republican immigration measures Foster views the United States as a nation built by immigrants and supports policies preserving the American Dream. He consistently votes against Republican border enforcement legislation. - Voted against the Laken Riley Act (S. 5). - Voted against the Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act (H.R. 875). - Voted against the SAVE Act (H.R. 22). > “The United States is a proud nation of immigrants and we must adhere to the promise of the American Dream.” > — Bill Foster, via [Campaign site](https://www.billfoster.com) **Jeffrey Walter:** Supports completing border wall and strict enforcement Walter supports completing the southern border wall and partnering with President Trump on strict border enforcement. He focuses on curbing illegal immigration and halting the flow of illicit drugs like fentanyl. - Supports finishing the southern border wall. - Advocates strict measures to stop drug trafficking across the border. - Aligns with Trump administration border security strategies. > “Jeff will work with President Trump to continue to secure the border, finish the wall, and stop the flow of fentanyl and other drugs into America.” > — Jeffrey Walter, via [Campaign site](https://www.jeffwalterforcongress.com) ### Energy and Climate Policy Salience: medium Foster supports climate initiatives to reduce fossil fuel dependency, whereas Walter advocates deregulation to maximize domestic energy production. **Bill Foster:** Supports reducing fossil fuel reliance Foster views dependence on fossil fuels as a long-term problem and supports policies to address climate change. He opposes Republican measures designed to reduce energy regulations and boost fossil fuel extraction. - Identifies dependence on fossil fuels as a critical ongoing issue. - Voted against the Lower Energy Costs Act (H.R. 1). > “Our dependence on fossil fuels for energy production has been a growing problem for decades.” > — Bill Foster, via [Campaign site](https://www.billfoster.com) **Jeffrey Walter:** Supports unleashing domestic energy production Walter advocates for unleashing domestic energy production and cutting federal regulations to spur economic growth and lower fuel costs. - Proposes eliminating regulatory hurdles for domestic energy projects. - Links expanded domestic energy production directly to job growth and lower inflation. > “As a businessman and Navy veteran, he knows we must unleash American energy, cut red tape, and bring back good-paying jobs.” > — Jeffrey Walter, via [Campaign site](https://www.jeffwalterforcongress.com) ### Healthcare and Senior Benefits Salience: medium Foster favors government expansion toward universal health coverage, while Walter focuses on protecting existing entitlement benefits and modernizing healthcare delivery. **Bill Foster:** Supports universal healthcare coverage Foster considers healthcare to be a fundamental human right and advocates for expanding access to achieve universal coverage. - Supports legislative efforts moving the U.S. toward universal health coverage. - Frames healthcare access as a basic human right. > “Bill believes that health care is a basic human right and that we should continue moving towards universal coverage.” > — Bill Foster, via [Campaign site](https://www.billfoster.com) **Jeffrey Walter:** Supports protecting Social Security and Medicare Walter promises never to cut Social Security or Medicare for senior citizens while advocating for healthcare technology modernization and improved access. - Pledges complete protection for Social Security and Medicare benefits. - Advocates modernizing healthcare access and technology infrastructure. > “Jeff will never cut Social Security or Medicare. Our seniors worked hard for these benefits, and they must be protected.” > — Jeffrey Walter, via [Campaign site](https://www.jeffwalterforcongress.com) ### Education Salience: medium Foster supports direct public investments in education, whereas Walter advocates for school choice expansion including private and charter alternatives. **Bill Foster:** Supports federal education investments Foster emphasizes federal investment in public education as essential for future economic productivity. He opposes conservative restrictions on school athletic participation. - Supports strategic public investments in childhood education. - Voted against the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (H.R. 28). > “Wise investments in our children’s education are crucial to our long-term economic health.” > — Bill Foster, via [Campaign site](https://www.billfoster.com) **Jeffrey Walter:** Supports school choice and vocational education Walter promotes school choice options alongside a focus on foundational academic skills, career technical training, and apprenticeships. - Supports expanding school choice across public, private, charter, and vocational options. - Emphasizes core instruction in reading, mathematics, and critical thinking. - Promotes non-degree career pathways and technical apprenticeships. > “That includes expanding school choice so families have access to the best educational setting for their children, whether that’s public, private, charter, or vocational pathways.” > — Jeffrey Walter, via [Campaign site](https://www.jeffwalterforcongress.com) ### Government Reform and Governance Salience: medium Foster focuses on protecting judicial authority and constitutional norms, while Walter pushes for structural changes like congressional term limits. **Bill Foster:** Opposes judicial restriction bills and Trump actions Foster critiques executive actions by Donald Trump as constitutional threats and opposes Republican efforts to limit federal court injunction powers. - Voted against the No Rogue Rulings Act (H.R. 1526) limiting federal court nationwide injunctions. - Voted in favor of the Epstein Files Transparency Act (H.R. 4405). > “President Trump's trampling of the Constitution is a threat to our democracy” > — Bill Foster, via [Campaign site](https://www.billfoster.com) **Jeffrey Walter:** Supports congressional term limits and four-year terms Walter advocates structural reforms in Washington, including a pledge to support term limits and replacing two-year House terms with four-year terms. - Signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge. - Proposes four-year House terms limited to a maximum of two terms. - Demands 100% financial transparency across federal government agencies. > “100% in favor and have signed the term limit pledge.” > — Jeffrey Walter, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jeffrey_Walter) > “I support 4 year terms with a limit of 2 terms per member.” > — Jeffrey Walter, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jeffrey_Walter) ### Foreign Policy and Defense Salience: medium Foster votes for standard bipartisan defense budget authorizations, whereas Walter aligns with Trump's 'peace through strength' foreign policy doctrine. **Bill Foster:** Supports defense authorization legislation Foster supports funding for national defense programs, voting for bipartisan defense authorization bills in Congress. - Voted Yea on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (H.R. 2670). **Jeffrey Walter:** Supports peace through strength diplomacy Walter supports an 'America First' peace-through-strength foreign policy, backing diplomatic efforts to negotiate resolutions in foreign conflicts such as Ukraine. - Endorses Trump's 'peace through strength' approach to international relations. - Supports negotiated peaceful settlements to global conflicts like Ukraine while prioritizing national interests. > “Jeff supports Trump’s approach to foreign policy: peace through strength.” > — Jeffrey Walter, via [Campaign site](https://www.jeffwalterforcongress.com) ### Technology and Science Salience: medium Foster emphasizes federal scientific research funding and AI regulation, while Walter stresses private-sector technical leadership and data governance. **Bill Foster:** Supports federal scientific research and AI regulation Drawing on his background as a particle physicist, Foster advocates for high returns on basic scientific research investments and cautions about artificial intelligence risks. - Advocates increased federal funding for basic scientific research. - Emphasizes the necessity of federal regulation regarding Artificial General Intelligence. > “Investments in basic scientific research provide some of the highest returns on investment of any that our society can make.” > — Bill Foster, via [Campaign site](https://www.billfoster.com) **Jeffrey Walter:** Supports ethical AI governance and technological leadership Utilizing his background in corporate IT, Walter focuses on advancing technological modernization, data privacy protections, and ethical AI development. - Led private-sector AI proof-of-concepts and enterprise data strategy projects. - Advocates for U.S. leadership in AI innovation alongside data privacy regulations. > “The U.S. must lead with ethical innovation, data privacy protections, and education to remain competitive and secure.” > — Jeffrey Walter, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jeffrey_Walter) ### Public Safety and Law Enforcement Salience: low **Bill Foster:** No documented position in our sources **Jeffrey Walter:** Supports fully funding police and law enforcement Walter advocates for increased funding for law enforcement agencies, ending soft-on-crime policies, and enforcing strict criminal accountability. - Supports fully funding law enforcement agencies. - Opposes soft-on-crime criminal justice policies. > “Jeff supports fully funding law enforcement, ending soft-on-crime policies, and making sure criminals are held accountable.” > — Jeffrey Walter, via [Campaign site](https://www.jeffwalterforcongress.com) ### Reproductive Freedom Salience: low **Bill Foster:** Supports federal reproductive rights protections Foster advocates for protecting bodily autonomy and securing access to reproductive healthcare nationwide. - Pledges to defend women's bodily autonomy and reproductive healthcare access. > “Bill fight to defend women’s bodily autonomy and the right for every American to access reproductive health care.” > — Bill Foster, via [Campaign site](https://www.billfoster.com) **Jeffrey Walter:** No documented position in our sources ### Gun Control Salience: low **Bill Foster:** Supports federal gun violence prevention laws Foster considers gun violence a moral issue and criticizes congressional inaction regarding gun safety legislation. - Advocates for federal gun violence prevention legislation. > “It is a moral shame that we have so many ways to prevent gun violence in this country, but we have a Congress who has failed to do anything to protect Americans.” > — Bill Foster, via [Campaign site](https://www.billfoster.com) **Jeffrey Walter:** No documented position in our sources ### Veterans Affairs Salience: low **Bill Foster:** No documented position in our sources **Jeffrey Walter:** Supports VA healthcare and compensation reforms As a Navy veteran and VA advisory council member, Walter advocates reforming VA healthcare delivery, reducing wait times, and eliminating rules reducing retirement pay by disability benefits. - Serves on a Chicago-area VA Hospital Patient Family Advisory Council. - Advocates ending the offset connecting VA disability compensation and military retirement pay below 50% disability. > “My focus areas include promoting fiscal responsibility, improving healthcare access—especially for veterans...” > — Jeffrey Walter, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jeffrey_Walter) ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/il-11-house-election-winner) — IL-11 House Election Winner: Democrats 96.7%, Republicans 3.1% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXHOUSERACE-IL11-26) — IL-11 House winner?: Bill Foster 95.7%, Jeffrey Walter 3.6% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-il-11)