State Representative Dan Swanson is headed toward another term in the Illinois House. As of early Wednesday morning, Swanson led Democrat challenger, Christopher Demink, 61% to 38%. That is with only a little more than 50% of votes counted in the newly redrawn district which includes a portion of Knox County to McDonough County and up to the Quad Cities. Democrat candidate Mike Halpin, with more than 70% of votes counted in the 36th IL State Senate race, Halpin holds 55% of the vote, leading Republican candidate and Rock Island Mayor, Mike Thoms who currently holds 44%. This comes despite Thoms showing strong in Henry, Mercer, and McDonough Counties. Halpin made gains that gave him the advantage in Knox and Rock Island County.
A Democrat controlled Congressional seat targeted by Republicans as vulnerable, the Illinois 6th Congressional race, remains in the hands of Democrats as Sean Casten has apparently won re-election in the 6th district. In statewide races in Illinois, Democrats swept back to office on the back of Governor J.B Pritzker’s strong showing against Darren Bailey. Incumbents in each of the statewide races, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Comptroller Suzana Mendoza, and Treasurer Michael Frerichs were winners on Tuesday night. And, for the first time in 24 years, the State of Illinois has a newly elected Secretary of State as Democrat Alexi Giannoulias fended off his Republican challenger Dan Brady. Secretary of State Jesse White announced his retirement last year after having held the office for nearly 2 and a half decades.
One race in Illinois that has the eyes of Washington D.C this morning is in the 17th District of Illinois where Democrat Eric Sorensen holds a slim lead over Republican Esther Joy King. The margin is close enough that the results are not yet completely official but, with 88% precincts reporting this morning, Sorensen holds a lead over King, 51% to 49%. King won in Henry County though it was highly contested in the Republican leaning county with King winning by just over 800 votes.
