Get up to date with last night’s results in statewide and local Loyola area races.
Pritzker staves off Bailey:
Governor J.B. Pritzker has defeated his Republican challenger Darren Bailey, becoming the first Illinois governor to win re-election since Rod Blagojevich in 2006.
Pritzker, who focused his re-election campaign on protecting abortion rights and his accomplishments during his first term, performed best in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs, while Bailey — a downstate state senator — carried the more rural regions of the state.
In his victory speech, Pritzker said he will continue working for higher wage jobs, expanded health care access and green energy. He reiterated his commitment to protecting access to abortion in the state.
“I choose to fight to protect Illinois families,” Pritzker said. “I choose to fight to protect our workers. I choose to fight for women’s rights, for civil rights, for voting rights.”
During the speech, Pritzker took aim at what he termed “extremist” Republicans aligned with former President Donald J. Trump and their attacks on democratic institutions.
“The fight for democracy, the fight for freedom, the fight for liberty, the fight for decency should be peaceful but should not be timid,” he said. “It needs to be out-loud. It should afford no politician a convenient rhetorical hiding place.”
Bailey conceded the race at approximately 9:40 p.m. Tuesday night.
Pritzker, an heir to the Hyatt Hotel fortune with an estimated net worth of $3.6 billion, pumped millions of his own dollars into his re-election campaign, filling the airwaves with ads which sought to paint Bailey as too extreme.
With 94% of the votes reported, Pritzker earned 2,066,915 votes constituting 54.4%, as opposed to Bailey who received 1,624,631 votes trailing Pritzker by eighth percentage points with 42.8% of the vote tally.
Libertarian Party candidate Scott Schluter received 106,544 votes, totaling 2.8% of the ballots cast. Pritzker ran way ahead of Bailey in Cook County, where 72.7% of voters chose the governor over his rival.
In his concession speech, Bailey said he would continue to oppose Pritzker and the Democrats politically despite no longer holding elected office after he gave us his state senate seat to run for governor.
“Illinois can be better, Illinois must be better,” Bailey said. “Our leaders must be better. And J.B. Pritzker, you need to be better. You need to be better for Illinois. You need to be better for our children, and you need to be better for our grandchildren.”
During the campaign Pritzker was able to withstand criticism from Bailey and Illinois Republicans who attacked the governor and the Democrats for not being tough enough on crime. The Democrat’s criminal justice reform bill known as the SAFE-T Act which will eliminate cash bail was a particular point of contention.
Looking ahead, Pritzker and his allies will seek to enact more of his agenda in Springfield. There are questions over whether Pritzker his entire four-year-term as the governor has taken steps to raise his profile in recent months and some have suggested he may have presidential aspirations.
Duckworth wins second term as U.S. senator
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth succeeded in her re-election bid, topping Republican Kathy Salvi.
Duckworth declared victory and Salvi conceded the race within an hour of polls closing throughout the state.
Duckworth slightly outperformed Pritzker, as with 95% of the votes reported she received 56.2% of the vote, totalling 2,137,282 votes. Salvi, a private attorney, received just 42% of the ballots cast, adding up to 1,597,718 votes.
In her victory speech, Duckworth, an Army National Guard veteran who lost her legs fighting in Iraq in 2004, said she plans to keep fighting for Illinois veterans, women and those with disabilities.
“I’m going to roll my wheelchair into every office in the Capitol if necessary, working to ensure that our nation’s first great pledge, that everyone has the right to pursue happiness, holds true all these years later,” Duckworth said in her speech.
“While she and I differ on many issues, we share the view that we need to strengthen our economy, make communities safe and restore civility to our political system,” Salvi said in her concession speech.
Duckworth’s profile on the national stage has risen in recent years. She was included in President Joe Biden’s shortlist for his vice president in 2020, The Associated Press reported.
Jan Schakowsky cruises to 13th term in IL-09
U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky sailed to victory over political newcomer Max Rice in Illinois’ ninth congressional district, which includes Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus (LSC).
With her victory, Schakowsky, a Democrat, extended her dominant tenure representing the district which includes portions of Chicago’s north side and northern suburbs. Schakowsky was originally elected 24 years ago in 1998.
Schakowsky, a member of the congressional progressive caucus, previously told The Phoenix her top policy priorities surround the environment, healthcare and reproductive freedom.
Democrats dominate races for state legislature
State Sen. Mike Simmons, of the seventh district, and State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, of the 14th district, both secured re-election after running unopposed.
A lack of a challenger for both Simmons and Cassidy reflect the dominance of the Democratic party in Chicago. Democrats are set to hold their majorities in both houses of Illinois’ general assembly.
Democrats Triumph in Cook County Board of Commissioners Contests
Incumbent Bridget Gainer sailed to victory in the 10th Cook County Board district, which encompasses the southern portion of the LSC, defeating Republican Laura Mary Kotelman.
In the 13th district which includes the northern portion of the LSC, Democrat Josina Morita defeated Republican Andrew Border to secure her seat on the county board.
Democrats are poised to maintain their majority on the board and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle was able to win re-election.
Democrats maintain their hold on the body, allowing them to continue their control over the Cook County fiscal budget.
Gainer is set to begin her fourth term on the board while Morita, who formerly served as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, will start her first stint as a member of the board. Morita will be the first Asian American woman to serve as a Cook County Commissioner.
Amendment 1 Passes, Enshrining Collective Bargaining Rights into State Constitution
Voters came down in favor of the only popular referendum in Illinois this election. Amendment 1 — called “The Workers’ Rights Amendment” by supporters — enshrines a guaranteed right to collective bargaining into the Illinois constitution.
With 85% of the votes counted, 58.8% of those who casted ballots voted in favor the measure while 41.2% voted against it.
The amendment will be inserted into the Illinois Bill of Rights, and also includes language which prevents future laws from being passed which prohibit employees from forming unions in their workplaces.
The measure, which received broad support from organized labor, was criticized by some who claimed if passed it would lead to increased taxes.
