In 2008, Illinois held its primary for all federal and state office in February. It was the earliest regularly-scheduled congressional primary in U.S. history. If the legislature does nothing, then the 2010 primaries will also be in February. The Pioneer Local, the on-line voice of 39 Illinois weeklies in the Chicago area, has this editorial in its May 4 edition, scolding the legislature for keeping the primary in February. There are bills to move the primary to a later month, but they have made no headway.
Mike Madigan likes the primary where it’s at. It’s not moving.
Why not go to a Top 2 system and hold the first round a few weeks or months before the final election, as is done in Washington or Louisiana.