Robert W. Fioretti, a Republican attorney and former Chicago alderman, is running for Illinois attorney general in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Democratic incumbent Kwame Raoul.

Fioretti announced his candidacy on Oct. 14, 2025, at Manny's Deli in Chicago, according to CBS Chicago. He is certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady election data. Lake County voters will see this race on their November ballots.

Candidate information

  • Party: Republican
  • Born: March 8, 1953, in Chicago
  • Education: High school diploma, Mendel Catholic High School (1971); bachelor's degree in political science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (1975); juris doctor, Northern Illinois University (1978)
  • Current work: Attorney at Disparti Law Group (since 2023); adjunct professor of law at Northern Illinois University

Fioretti switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party in 2022. He has said the switch reflected his belief that "the Democratic Party left me. They left family values, fiscal responsibility and freedom behind," according to the Chicago Tribune.

Experience and public service

Fioretti served as alderman of Chicago's 2nd Ward from 2007 to 2015. He also served as 2nd Ward Democratic committeeman for the Cook County Democratic Party, according to Wikipedia.

His legal career includes work as a special assistant state's attorney for Cook County and special assistant attorney general for the state of Illinois, according to WTTW. He was a law partner at Roth Fioretti LLC from 2014 to 2023 and previously served as senior supervising attorney in Chicago Mayor Harold Washington's administration.

Before winning elected office, Fioretti represented the family of Baby Tamia in a high-profile 2005 interstate custody case that led to changes in Illinois adoption law, according to CBS Chicago. He also served as president of the Northern Illinois University National Alumni Association from 2000 to 2004, overseeing the establishment of a Chicago alumni office and the creation of the Barsema Alumni Center on campus.

Since leaving the City Council, Fioretti has run unsuccessfully for Chicago mayor (2015, 2019), Cook County Board president (2018, 2022) and Cook County state's attorney (2020, 2024). He also ran for Illinois State Senate in 2016, according to Capitol News Illinois.

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from Fioretti's responses to the Chicago Tribune and his campaign website.

Criminal justice and public safety: Fioretti said he wants to revisit the SAFE-T Act's electronic-monitoring and judicial-discretion guidelines, which he believes are too lenient. He said he would use the attorney general's office to "stand up for crime victims instead of violent criminals." He said he would also examine statewide use of grand juries to increase prosecution of public corruption and violent crime. He said he supports recent legislation increasing maximum prison sentences for those who use illegal guns to commit violent crimes.

Government reform and accountability: Fioretti's campaign said it would withdraw from lawsuits filed by Raoul that, in the campaign's view, impede law enforcement or interfere with efforts to address corruption in Illinois elections. The campaign also said it would drop suits that target law-abiding gun owners' rights or substitute Raoul's judgment for parental decision-making on education, health care and the general welfare of children. Fioretti said he would hold government accountable by exposing corruption and ensuring transparency at all levels.

Other priorities: Fioretti said he would protect consumers and families from fraud, scams and corporate abuse. He said he would safeguard civil rights so every Illinoisan has equal protection under the law and enforce laws guaranteeing equal access and fair treatment for students and families in education.

Endorsements

The following endorsements are claimed by the endorsing organizations, according to BallotReady:

  • Illinois - Lake County GOP
  • Illinois - Madison County GOP

Candidate positions and statements are based on responses provided to the Chicago Tribune, BallotReady questionnaires and the candidate's campaign website. They reflect the candidate's own claims and have not been independently verified.