A heated governor’s race, an open congressional seat, competitive statewide contests and redrawn legislative districts combined to produce crowded ballots for many Illinois Quad Cities primary voters. Early voting in the Tuesday, June 28, primary election began Thursday, May 19, for most Illinois counties, including the Illinois Quad Cities region. Voters in Rock Island, Henry […]
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A heated governor’s race, an open congressional seat, competitive statewide contests and redrawn legislative districts combined to produce crowded ballots for many Illinois Quad Cities primary voters.
Early voting in the Tuesday, June 28, primary election began Thursday, May 19, for most Illinois counties, including the Illinois Quad Cities region. Voters in Rock Island, Henry and Mercer counties who want to see a list of all the primary races on their own election ballot can find a sample ballot, including county board races, by entering their address at ballotready.com.
At the top of Illinois ballots, Republicans will choose from among seven candidates seeking to unseat U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who is running for a second term and is unopposed on the Democratic ballot.
Her GOP challengers are businessman Casey Chlebek of Lake Forest; Navy veteran and former police officer Peggy Hubbard of Belleville; portfolio manager Robert “Bobby” Piton of Geneva; author and producer Jimmy Lee Tillman II of Chicago; the Rev. Anthony Williams of Dolton; Kathy Salvi, a lawyer from Mundelein; and Matt Dubiel of Naperville.
In Illinois’ 17th Congressional District, a number of candidates from both parties are vying to replace U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Moline, who opted not to run for a sixth term.
Candidates for the Republican nomination are: Charles “Charlie” William Helmick, Jr., a small business owner from East Moline, and Esther Joy King, of East Moline, who mounted a strong challenge to Ms. Bustos two years ago.
Democrats are Rock Island County Board Member Angie Normoyle of Moline; Eric Sorensen of Moline, a former WQAD meteorologist; former Illinois state Rep. Litesa Wallace of Rockford; Marsha Williams, an admissions advisor from Channahon; Jacqueline McGowan, a Palos Hills businesswoman; and Jonathan Klarer Logemann, a Rockford alderman and school teacher.
Statewide races:
Illinois’ Democratic primary for governor pits incumbent Gov. J.B. Pritzker against an upstart campaign launched by Chicago nurse Beverly Miles.
Six Republicans also are vying to be Illinois’ next governor. The candidates with the highest profile and whose dueling commercials are filling the Quad Cities airways and television commercials are Illinois state Sen. Darren Bailey and Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin.
The field also includes: conservative venture capitalist Jesse Sullivan; suburban Chicago businessman Gary Rabine; Max Solomon of Hazel Crest; and former state Sen. Paul Schimpf, a lawyer.
Competing to fill the office held by Secretary of State Jesse White, who is retiring at the end of a record sixth term, are: Democrats Alexi Giannoulias, former state treasurer; David H. Moore, Chicago alderman; Anna M. Valencia, Chicago city clerk; and Sidney Moore of Joliet. GOP candidates are: Illinois state Rep. Dan Brady and John C. Milhiser, former U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois.
Republicans running to unseat incumbent Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raul, who is unopposed in the Democratic primary, are: Steve Kim, an international business attorney from Deerfield; Chicago attorney David Shestokas; and Thomas G. DeVore, a Greenfield attorney who has brought several Illinois anti-masking lawsuits.
For Illinois Statehouse
In Senate District 36: GOP voters will choose between Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms, who says if he wins he’ll retain his mayor’s post, and Glen Evans Sr., of Rock Island, a frequent candidate for office. The winner will face state Rep. Michael W. Halpin, D-Rock Island, who opted to run in the redrawn Senate district, instead of his current 72nd District House District.
In Senate District 37: Financial planner Brett S. Nicklaus, of Dixon, will face incumbent state Sen. Win Stoller of Germantown in the GOP primary. No Democrats filed to run.
In Senate District 47: Current Republican State Sen. Neil Anderson, whose Andalusia, Illinois, home was drawn out of the old 36th Senate District, is running unopposed. His large new 16-county district includes all of Mercer County and parts of Henry and Rock Island counties.
In House District 71: Incumbent Republican Dan Swanson, of Alpha, faces a GOP primary challenge from Matthew Rauschert of Avon. The winner will face Democrat Christopher Demink who is running unopposed on June 28.
In House District 72: Democratic voters will choose from three candidates for the open seat: Rock Island County Board Member Jeff Deppe of East Moline; former state Senate candidate Gregg Johnson of East Moline; and Thurgood Brooks of Rock Island, former Rock Island mayoral candidate. The winner will face Republican Tom Martens of Rock Island.
In House District 74: Incumbent state Rep. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria, is the only candidate on the ballot for either party.
In Rock Island County, the only contested countywide primary is to replace retiring Sheriff Gerry Bustos. Democrats are: Darren Hart, of Andalusia, a lieutenant in the sheriff’s department; and Marcus Herbert of East Moline, a sheriff’s department special deputy. The winner will face Patrick Moody of Andalusia who is running unopposed in the GOP primary.
