Illinois voters head to the polls again on March 19 for the state primary, with candidates appearing on the ballot for president, Congress, Illinois General Assembly, Illinois Supreme Court and local races.
The Tribune Editorial Board continues its decadeslong tradition of endorsing political candidates appearing on Illinois ballots.
Below are the Tribune Editorial Board‘s endorsements for the 2024 primary.
Chicago’s proposed real estate transfer tax increase
The proposed question asking Chicagoans to approve a big increase in the real-estate transfer tax has been kicked off the March ballot. The editorial board endorses voting “NO” if it returns. Read the full editorial.
Cook County state’s attorney: Eileen O’Neill Burke
Central to the candidacy of Eileen O’Neill Burke, a former prosecutor, defense attorney and judge who comes off as tough and determined, is the notion that the office of the Cook County State’s Attorney is a vessel that has teetered too far to the port side when it comes to delivering justice and keeping Chicagoans and suburbanites safe. O’Neill Burke said she is dedicating to righting that high-profile ship, should she get to replace its controversial current captain, Kim Foxx. Read the full endorsement.
Cook County Circuit Court clerk: Mariyana Spyropoulos
Given the office’s lack of glamour and given our county’s history, it’s no surprise that the post has been a particularly fertile source of corruption. In the scandal-tarred Circuit Court clerk’s office, appearances matter more than they ordinarily do in public life. Mariyana Spyropoulos understands that and has made ethics a central plank in her campaign. She told us she would mandate ethics training for this huge office’s 1,400 staffers. Read the full endorsement.
Cook County Board 1st District: Tara Stamps
County Democrats last year appointed former Chicago Public Schools teacher Tara Stamps to represent the 1st District. Stamps now is running for election in her own right to the seat. We have many points of agreement with her opponent Zerlina Smith-Members. But most of Smith-Members campaign message has focused on the migrant influx, and it’s there we part ways. Read the full endorsement.
Cook County Board of Review 3rd District: Larecia Tucker
Larry Rogers Jr., a commissioner since 2004, is running for reelection. His challenger is Larecia Tucker, who works in the Rich Township assessor’s office as a clerk and has lived in the south suburbs all her life. Tucker says she hasn’t — and won’t — accept donations from property tax lawyers. She’s clearly qualified, working in an assessor’s office and having obtained the Certified Illinois Assessing Officer designation. She was a real estate agent in her previous career. Read the full endorsement.
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Kari Steele, Sharon Waller and Marcelino Garcia
1st District Republican: Montelle Gaji
4th District Democrat: Raymond Lopez
6th District Democrat: Sean Casten
7th District Democrat: Danny Davis
11th District Democrat: Bill Foster
11th District Republican: O Kent Mercado
12th District Republican: Mike Bost
13th District Republican: Joshua Loyd
14th District Republican: No endorsement
17th District Republican: Joe McGraw
19th District Republican: Hillary Mattsey Kurzawa
20th District Democrat: Natalie Toro
37th District Republican: Tim Yager
40th District Democrat: Patrick Joyce
53rd District Republican: Chris Balkema
58th District Republican: Terri Bryant
4th District Democrat: Lilian Jiménez
5th District Democrat: Kimberly du Buclet
6th District Democrat: Sonya Harper
21st District Democrat: Vidal Vasquez
22nd District Democrat: Angie Guerrero-Cuellar
23rd District Democrat: Edgar Gonzalez, Jr.
24th District Democrat: Theresa Mah
27th District Democrat: Justin Slaughter
29th District Democrat: Gloria White
31st District Democrat: No endorsement
35th District Democrat: Mary Gill
36th District Democrat: Rick Ryan
49th District Republican: Hannah Billingsley
76th District Democrat: Cohen Barnes
76th District Republican: Liz Bishop
79th District Democrat: Billy Morgan
83rd District Democrat: Matt Hanson
88th District Republican: Chuck Erickson
99th District Republican: Kyle Moore
105th District Republican: Dennis Tipsword
107th District Republican: No endorsement
110th District Republican: Matthew Hall
116th District Republican: Dave Severin
