A candidate from Crete is running in Illinois' 17th Senate District this fall. Frederick Walls is challenging Democratic state Sen. Elgie Sims in a general election.
Both men ran unopposed in their respective 2026 primaries, according to the Chicago Tribune, which reported in March that “State Rep. Elgie Sims is running unopposed in the Democratic primary” while “Republican Frederick Walls is running unopposed” on the GOP side. That sets the stage for a Nov. 3 general election matchup, where Walls is listed as a candidate for the seat, per iVoterGuide.
Walls, who was 53 in 2024, is a journeyman carpenter and small-business owner from Crete. He has discussed property taxes and his experience as a small-business owner.
A Familiar Face From a Different Race
He unsuccessfully challenged Democratic Rep. Nick Smith for the 34th House seat, a race covered by the Chicago Tribune.
Walls has said he noticed Sims distributing campaign literature while Walls was running against Smith, and he figured he might as well take on the senator directly, reasoning he could likely accomplish more in the Senate than in the House. Sims, 56, has represented the 17th District since 2018 and previously served as the 34th District's state representative from 2012 to 2018. He is now the Illinois Senate's majority caucus appropriations leader and a Chicago Democrat with a law degree from Loyola University, a bachelor's degree from Illinois State University and a master's in public administration from the University of Illinois Springfield.
Crime, Bail and the Safe-T Act
Policy differences between the two candidates run deep, starting with criminal justice. Sims was instrumental in passing the Safe-T Act, the 2021 law that eliminated cash bail in Illinois. Per his website, he believes prison should be reserved for people who pose a threat to public safety rather than those who commit poverty-related crimes or crimes stemming from mental illness or substance abuse, and he has said deterrence requires investment in education, stable healthcare, job readiness and good-paying jobs.
Sims did not respond to repeated interview requests.
Walls on Taxes
Education funding is another flashpoint. Sims, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, supports school funding reform and has said he negotiated larger investments in education while working on past state budgets. Illinois enacted a law in 2025 requiring schools to provide free, optional mental health screenings, a policy Walls has criticized as part of a broader pattern of Democrat-led education changes.
Walls has said public education should not use taxpayer money to push its agenda, and he argues the state should fulfill its obligation to fully and equally fund all public schools while eliminating what he calls progressive programs. He has also said school funding should not depend on how much a community contributes in local taxes.
Businesses are leaving Illinois, and Walls opposes raising taxes or adding mandates or fees.
The Money Gap
Financially, the race looks every bit as uneven as Walls' prior bid against Smith. During the April-June quarter, Walls' campaign received no contributions, spent $1,050 and started the period with $720 on hand. Sims' campaign also received no contributions in that same window but spent $19,300 and had about $451,300 available at the end of June. State campaign finance disclosure reports for the two candidates' more recent July-September quarter were not yet available as of last Thursday.
