U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Highland Park, quickly shifted his attention to helping the Democratic party win a majority in the House of Representatives in the Nov. 3 general election after claiming victory over Morgan Coghill of Mundelein Tuesday in the 10th District primary for his party’s nomination.
“Tonight is not the finish line — it’s the starting point,” Schneider said in a statement Tuesday night. “We have important work ahead to take back the House majority and restore a check on Donald Trump, standing up to his continued abuses and defending our democracy.”
Schneider is making plans to face Republican Carl Lambrecht of Highland Park in the Nov. 3 general election. Lambrecht was unopposed in the GOP primary.
The 10th is one of four U.S. House districts that include parts of Lake County, all of which were the subject of primaries contested on Tuesday.
Schneider had 79% of the more than 67,000 votes cast Tuesday night compared to Coghill’s 21%, according to unofficial results reported by the Chicago Tribune, and the Associated Press called the race for Schneider.
He said in a statement that he is ready to work hard in the general election to continue representing constituents.
“Every day, I have the privilege of having the people I serve trust me enough to share their stories, their concerns, and their hopes for the future,” Schneider said. “These conversations inspire me and guide my work in Congress.”
“We have an opportunity to advance the solutions that build an economy that works for everyone, strengthen our communities and ensure every family has a fair shot at success,” he added.
Coghill ran to Schneider’s left, saying the country needs a progressive majority to enact polices like universal healthcare and heavier taxes on the wealthy.
Currently in his sixth term, Schneider, chair of the moderate New Democratic Coalition, campaigned on a platform of affordability, saying reachable prices for healthcare, family care, housing, groceries and energy are essential.
The 10th District extends along the Wisconsin state line from Lake Michigan to just west of Hebron in McHenry County. The Lake County portion hugs the shoreline south to Lake Cook Road and continues west to the eastern part of Buffalo Grove. From Buffalo Grove, the district goes northwest on a jagged path through Mundelein, Fox Lake, and into McHenry County. It also includes portions of northeast Cook County.
In other Congressional primaries impacting Lake County, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss claimed victory in a 15-person Democratic primary with 29.4% of 121,354 votes counted, according to unofficial results. He hopes to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Evanston.
In a hotly contested primary, Kat Abughazaleh was in second with 26.2% of the vote, state Sen. Laura Fine, D-Glenview, had 20.3% and the other candidates were all in the single digits, according to the Tribune.
“AIPAC found out the hard way,” Biss said in his speech declaring victory, referring to the pro-Israel lobbying group that supported another candidate. “The 9th District is not for sale.”
AIPAC supported Fine. Biss is the grandson of Holocaust survivors who moved to Israel in 1948 when the state was founded. His mother grew up there.
Biss will likely face Republican John Elleson in the fall. Elleson is leading the GOP primary with 49.1% of 14,873 counted in a four-way race. The district is heavily Democratic.
Schakowsky, a stalwart progressive who endorsed Biss, became a national voice on abortion rights, consumer protection and opposition to the Iraq War. The slate to replace her is diverse, reflecting the broader region, as both longtime politicians and a handful of outsiders have proved competitive.
“I feel so optimistic about the direction that he’s going to take things in,” she said. “And many of the issues that I care about, I’m going to see going forward through Daniel.”
The 9th District includes all or part of Buffalo Grove, Tower Lake and Hawthorn Woods, as well as parts of Cook and McHenry counties.
In the 11th Congressional District, Elburn Mayor Jeff Walter claimed victory in a four-way Republican primary with 42.6% of the votes counted for the right to face U.S. Rep Bill Foster, D-Naperville, in the fall to represent the 11th Congressional District, according to the Tribune.
Walter has 42.6% of 31,815 votes cast, while Michael Pierce had 38.9%, Charlie Kim had 12.9% and Tedora Brown 5.7%.
“There is real momentum across this district for new leadership,” Walter said in a statement after claiming victory. “After more than a decade of Bill Foster in Washington, voters are ready for someone who will step up, take responsibility, and deliver results.”
Walter sees middle-class tax cuts as a way to ease the cost of living. He is in his third term as mayor of Elburn. Pierce is a retired U.S. Army officer active in veterans’ affairs who said he thinks deregulation is the answer to making things more affordable. Brown, a real estate developer, said lower taxes will make life easier for people.
The 11th District includes a portion of northwest Lake County, including Volo and Wauconda, and parts of McHenry, DuPage, Boone, Cook, Will, DeKalb and Kane counties.
In the 5th Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Chicago, was declared the winner by the AP against three opponents and will face Tommy Hanson, who claimed a win over two Republican opponents in the GOP primary. They apparently will face off in the Nov. 3 general election.
On the Democratic side, Quigley had 65.4% of 106,196 votes cast, according to the unofficial results. Matthew Conroy had 24.2%, Ellen Corley 7.5% and Anthony Tamez 2.9%, according to the Tribune.
In the GOP primary in the 5th District, Hanson had 71.9% of 15,293 votes cast. Barry Wicker had 16.8%, and Kimball Ladien tallied 11.3%, according to unofficial results on the Tribune’s website.
In his ninth term in the House of Representatives, Quigley also faced a challenge from the left from Anthony Michael Tamez and Matthew Conroy. Quigley is also raising money for a potential run for mayor of Chicago.
“It’s time for the common person’s voice to be heard,” Hanson said. “We are tired of the wealthy and the elite controlling the city of Chicago and Illinois.”
The 5th District includes all or part of the Barrington communities, Long Grove, Lake Zurich, Deer Park and Kildeer, as well as parts of Chicago and Cook County suburbs.
Chicago Tribune reporters Olivia Olander and Andrew Carter, as well as Pioneer Press reporter Claire Murphy contributed to this story.
