Candidates vying for political offices across Illinois began filing petitions Monday morning to be placed on next year’s March 17 primary ballot.

Some candidates lined up hours before the week-long filing window opened at 9 a.m. to turn in their stacks of petitions in Springfield for statewide offices and the Cook County clerk’s Loop office for county elected positions.

Petitions were submitted for dozens of candidates — including JB Pritkzer for a potential third term as governor, his returning Republican challenger Darren Bailey and the many candidates looking to replace retiring Sen. Dick Durbin and U.S. reps Danny Davis and Jan Schakowsky. Signatures were also filed for Toni Preckwinkle, running for a potential fifth term as Cook County board president, and her primary challenger Ald

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