Hastings, Joyce lead state Senate races as incumbents lead in House
Issues such as property taxes were seen as key by candidates in Illinois House and Senate races in the south and southwest suburbs.
In the 19th Senate, unofficial results show, that with 85% of precincts reporting, incumbent Michael Hastings, a Frankfort Democrat, had 59% of the vote to 41% for Republican Samantha Jean Gasca, of New Lenox.
Hastings began serving in the Senate in 2013.
Gasca was one of three candidates in the Republican primary in March while Hastings was unopposed on the Democratic side.
In the 40th Senate race, Democratic incumbent Patrick Joyce faced Republican challenger Philip Nagel, whom Joyce defeated two years ago.
Unofficial results showed Joyce leading, with 63% of the vote compared with 37% for Nagel.
Joyce, of Essex, took office Nov. 8, 2019, appointed to the seat to replace Sen. Toi Hutchinson, whom Gov. JB Pritzker picked to oversee the rollout of Illinois' foray into legalized production and sales of recreational marijuana.
Joyce won a full term in 2020, capturing 58.5% of the vote while
Joyce was reelected in November 2022, defeating Nagel, of Braidwood, with 59% of the vote to Nagel's 41%.
In this year's March primary Joyce defeated Democratic challenger Kimberly Earling, of Braidwood, garnering 79% of the vote to 21% for Earling.
Nagel was unopposed in the Republican primary.
The district includes portions of Cook, Grundy, Kankakee and Will counties.
In the Illinois House 35th District, incumbent Democrat Mary Gill had 52% of the vote over Republican challenger Herb Hebein with 48%, unofficial results show with 98% of precincts reporting.
Gill, from Mount Greenwood, was unanimously selected by Democratic Party leaders in 2023 to replace Rep. Fran Hurley, who was appointed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker to serve on the Labor Relations Board.
Also from Mount Greenwood, Hebein has sought the district seat four times, first running against Hurley in 2018, and again in 2020 and 2022.
Hebein ran uncontested in the Republican Primary and Gill defeated financial adviser David Dewar in the Democratic Primary.
The district includes all or portions of Beverly, Mount Greenwood, Palos Heights, Palos Park, Orland Park, Worth and Alsip.
In the 30th House District, incumbent William "Will" Davis, 56, D-Homewood, has served since 2003 and is facing Patricia Bonk, 67, of Midlothian. Bonk, a Republican, unsuccessfully challenged Davis in the 2022 election.
The 30th District includes all or part of Dolton, Flossmoor, Hazel Crest, Harvey, Homewood, Markham, Midlothian, Olympia Fields, Oak Forest and South Holland.
In the 34th House District, incumbent Nick Smith, 50, D-Chicago, began serving in 2018 and faces Republican Frederick Walls, 53, of Crete.
The district includes all or parts of Burnham, Calumet City, Lynwood and Sauk Village.
Two candidates are seeking to replace former state Rep. Kelly Burke in the 36th House District.
Rick Ryan, 58, of Evergreen Park, has Burke's endorsement and is facing Christine Shanahan McGovern, 54, of Oak Lawn.
The 36th district includes all or parts of Beverly, Evergreen Park, Chicago Ridge, Oak Lawn, Palos Hills and Worth.
In the 79th District, unofficial results show incumbent Jackie Haas of Bourbonnais leads with 55% of the vote, compared with 45% for Monee Township Trustee William "Billy" Morgan, with 87% of precincts reporting.
Haas has been serving in the House seat since 2020.
Morgan was one of four candidates in the Democratic primary in March while Haas was unopposed on the Republican side.
The district encompasses parts of Will, Kankakee and Grundy counties.
In the 80th District, unofficial results show incumbent Democrat Anthony DeLuca of Chicago Heights leads with 65% of the vote, compared with 35% for Republican challenger Adam Beaty.
DeLuca has held the seat since 2009, but Beaty, a Braidwood police officer, is hoping to unseat him. Both candidates ran unopposed in the March primaries.
The district includes parts of Braidwood, Wilmington, Symerton, Wilton Center, Wilton, Manhattan, New Lenox, Richton Park, Park Forest, Crete, Steger and Chicago Heights.
Republicans gather
Less than an hour after the polls shut down for the 2024 presidential election, Orland Park's Coach's Corner Bar and Grill was packed with Cook County Republicans excited to watch the results.
Tony Migacg was passing out Make America Great Again hats to others at the bar.
"I had about 20 of them in my car," Migacg said. "I can't fathom why people vote for Kamala."
Migacg came to strip mall sports bar, five blocks from his Orland Park home, unaware the Cook County Republican Party was hosting an watch party, their only scheduled in the Southland. But party Chair Sean Morrison, of Palos Park, said the enthusiasm confirmed south suburban residents are looking for change.
Morrison said he was confident that local systems are secure.
"I checked in with our folks with the state party stuff not even an hour ago, asked if there was any major issues that were reported to them," Morrison said at about 8 p.m. Tuesday. "As of right now, there's been nothing that's been distressing reported to me."
While signs and decorations centered on Trump, elected officials, including two based in Orland Park, said almost equally important for the region was the race for Cook County state's attorney, where Republican Bob Fioretti faced Democrat Eileen O'Neill Burke.
O'Neill Burke later declared victory, but Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau had hoped for a Fioretti victory.
"Pretty much the other races are going to stay in the same hands, but if that flips, it has a huge difference for us, because the state's attorney does not support our police," Pekau said. "We have a very safe town, and the problems we have are mostly driven by the state's attorney."
The sentiment was shared by Village Trustee Cynthia Nelson Katsenes, a county party committee person who wore a bright green Fioretti T-shirt in contrast to the sea of red, white and blue. She said she had hoped endorsements from high profile legacy politicians like Rev. Jesse Jackson Jr. would have helped Fioretti win.
