Despite low voter turnout, the stage is set for the November election when residents in Will County will let their voices be heard on who the president of the United States will be and who will take legislative and judicial seats.
Voter turnout Tuesday in Will County was just 15.54 percent with only 66,857 of the 430,310 registered voters in the county voting.
Election results are considered unofficial until all votes are counted which include provisional ballots cast on Election Day and all remaining vote by mail ballots that were postmarked by March 19. Provisional ballots will be complete on April 2 and results will be official after canvassing on April 9.
Incumbent Democrat Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant and Republican Charles “Chuck” Maher did not face challengers in the primary for Will County Executive. They will face each other November 5 in the General Election.
Jim Glasgow will serve his eighth term as Will County state’s attorney as the Democrat was not challenged by a GOP candidate. He will serve another four years.
Voters Tuesday also selected two representatives in each Will County Board district, and up to two candidates are chosen in each party primary for the general election.
Residents voted in District 6 for two Will County Board representatives in Tuesday’s primary. Incumbent Democrat Denise E. Winfrey was the high vote getter with 1,590 former district 6 Will County Board member Herbert Brooks Jr., who regained his previous seat came in second receiving 1,258 votes. Incumbent Janet Diaz, who came in third received 798 votes. Enrique Ruiz was the Republican candidate. Brooks ran as a write-in candidate for Will County Board in 2022 after he was removed from the ballot for lack of valid signatures on his petition.
Unofficial winners to represent the county board’s District 7 seat are Democrats David Lozano and Dawn Bullock, who received 1,536 votes and 1,948 votes, respectively. Demond Dorris came in third with 1,145 votes. Republicans Elizabeth “Beth” Naglich and incumbent Vince Logan of Joliet were the two candidates, which means they both win.
District 10 board filers and unofficial winners were Democrats Meta Mueller, an incumbent, and Kelly Hickey; and Republicans David Scriven-Young and incumbent Julie Berkowicz. All Will County Board seats are four-year terms.
Incumbent Democrat Rachel Ventura will try to retain her seat as representative of the Illinois State Senate District 43. She is challenged by GOP Jen Monson in the Nov. 5 election. District 43 serves the residents of Romeoville, Bolingbrook, Joliet, Lockport, Shorewood, Fairmont, and Preston Heights neighborhoods. Ventura and Monson did not have primary challengers.
Challenger Republican Katie Deane-Schlottman will trying to oust incumbent Democrat Meg Loughran Cappel as representative of Illinois State Senate District 49 in November. The district includes Joliet, Plainfield, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Shorewood, Crest Hill, and Plainfield, Joliet and Lockport townships.
U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood did not face a Democratic challenger in Tuesday’s primary. But the incumbent will face Republican winner James Marter, who defeated Charlie Kim on Tuesday. Marter received 9,657 votes, to Kim’s 2,778.
Underwood’s Illinois 14th Congressional District includes Plainfield, Joliet, Oswego, Naperville, and Yorkville.
Likewise, Illinois State Rep. Natalie Manley (D) did not face a Democratic or Republican challenger during the election cycle. Incumbent Manley’s General Assembly 98th Representative District covers Bolingbrook, Crest Hill, Crystal Lawns, Romeoville, and Joliet.
Will County residents also made their choice known in the election of judges.
The unofficial Democratic winner for judge of the Appellate Court Third Judicial District to fill the vacancy of the Honorable Tom M. Lytton is Democrats John Anderson, who defeated challenger Joe Hettel by a vote of 21,997 to 7,695. Anderson will face Republican candidate Kenton Skarin in November, as there was no other GOP candidate in Tuesday’s primary.
Since there were no challengers to their petitions on March 19, Democrat Linda Davenport will face Republican Jason Helland in November. They are seeking to fill the vacancy of the Honorable Mary K. O’Brien as judge of the Appellate Court Third Judicial District.
Democrat Lance Peterson will square off against Republican John Costello Jr. in November as they too also did not face challengers in Tuesday’s primary to fill the vacancy of the Honorable Daniel L. Schmidt as judge of the Appellate Court Third Judicial District.
Democrat Colette Safford defeated Phil Villasenor for judge of the Circuit Court 12th Judicial District to fill the vacancy of the Honorable Susan T. O’Leary. Safford received 20,189 votes, to Villasenor’s 9,460 votes. Safford will face Republican Art Smigielski in November, who did not face a challenger in the primary.
The county’s 12th Judicial Circuit Court 2nd Subcircuit has not determined a winner yet between Democrat Jennifer M. Lynch, who has a narrow lead over Democrat Rolonda V. Mitchell. Lynch has 2,882 votes to Mitchell’s 2,715 votes. The victor will run against Katie Rabenda who was the only filer for the 12th Judicial Circuit Court 2nd Subcircuit from the Republican party.
Residents in Bolingbrook also decided if the village clerk position should remain an elected position or if it should be appointed by the mayor. No votes were leading with 4,227 votes compared to 2,096 people who voted yes in the binding referendum. If the numbers stand, the village clerk post will continue to be an elected position.
The Lockport Township High School 205 referendum asked voters to approve a $85 million school building bonds issue will likely be defeated as the no votes were leading by 963 in last updated count before presstime.