You may have heard that there's a presidential election coming up next month. But what other contests will be on the ballot when Evanston voters go to the polls?
Here's a quick rundown of some of the key contests.
U.S. Senate
Polls say incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Mark Kirk is trailing his Democratic challenger, U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth.
Duckworth has a seven point lead according to polls tracked by RealClearPolitics, a nine point lead according to Huffington Post.
Duckworth on Friday won an endorsement from the Chicago Tribune, while the Daily Herald endorsed Kirk on Saturday.
U.S. House
U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston) is seeking a 10th term in Congress, facing a challenge from Republican Joan McCarthy Lasonde.
The two staked out substantially different positions on various issues in a forum featuring questions from junior high school students in Wilmette.
Schakowsky has averaged better than 70 percent of the vote in her previous campaigns, though that margin has slipped a bit since redistricting added more conservative precincts to the district.
State House – 14th
In the 14th District, which includes a small slice of south Evanston just north of Howard Street, incumbend Democrat Kelly Cassidy is facing a challenge from independent Arthur Siegel. Cassidy has been endorsed by the Sun-Times and the Tribune.
State House 17th
In the 17th District, which includes most of Evanston north of Emerson Street and west of Green Bay Road, State. Rep. Laura Fine (D-Glenview) is unopposed in her race for a third term.
State House – 18th
In the 18th District, which includes the rest of Evanston, State Rep. Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston), seeking a 4th full term in the state legislature, is facing a challenge from Republican Jessica Tucker.
Tucker, a former Winnetka village president, has been endorsed by the Tribune; Gabel by the Sun-Times.
Gabel, appointed to fill a vacancy after narrowly winning a five-way Democratic primary in 2010, has only faced a Republican challenger once before, in 2012, when she won with 63 percent of the vote.
What else?
Voters will also be facing decisions about who should be the state comptroller and several contests for county-wide offices as well as Metropolitan Water Reclamation District positions and numerous judicial offices.
You can find details about who will be on your ballot at the Cook County Clerk's website.
Early voting starts at the Evanston City Clerk's office and other locations on Oct. 24. Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 8.
