Poll Finds ICE Backlash Poised To Shape Chicago-Area Primary

Overview

• Seven in 10 likely Democratic primary voters say a candidate’s stance on ICE is a top factor, and nearly two-thirds say they are more likely to back candidates active in anti-ICE protests.
• Overall, 63% of respondents hold unfavorable views of ICE, including 90% of Democrats and 62% of independents, compared with 9% of Republicans.
• Voters who witnessed raids were far more negative toward ICE, with 73% unfavorable, and 29% of Latino respondents reported personally seeing ICE agents in their communities.
• The survey of 800 registered voters in the Chicago media market was conducted March 1–4 via live phone and text-to-web and was commissioned by the Hands Off Chicago coalition; the sample was 44% Democrat and 22% Republican.
• Context for the attitudes includes the fall 2025 'Operation Midway Blitz,' which saw at least 2,800 arrests in Illinois and reported fatal and injurious incidents, while many prosecutions of protestors have been dropped as recently as last week.