The contested races for the 17-member Cook County Board ended with two established incumbents toppled, three recent appointees surviving outside challenges, and several familiar political names edging out competitors.
The board is overwhelmingly Democratic — only one seat is currently represented by a Republican — so Tuesday’s winners are likely to succeed again in November. It’s a similar story for Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who has no current Republican challenger and trounced Democratic opponent Brendan Reilly in Tuesday’s primary. The Republican Party can still nominate candidates for vacant ballot spots before June.
Several seats were open, thanks to two voluntary exits and two board commissioners running for higher office.
Sixth District Commissioner Donna Miller was in the latter group, successfully snatching the Democratic nomination for Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District. Her County Board seat representing much of the Southland saw a crowded Democratic primary, with a familiar name winning out.
Patricia Joan “Trish” Murphy, the daughter of former Commissioner Joan Patricia Murphy, won in a five-candidate matchup with just under 37% of the vote, according to unofficial tallies. Wesam Shahed, legislative counsel for Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, came in just shy at roughly 33%.
Murphy, who is also Worth Township’s elected supervisor and Democratic committeeperson, declared victory Tuesday night, pledging to lead “with integrity and proudly serving the good people of Cook County,” according to a campaign release.
In the 12th District’s open race to replace outgoing Commissioner Bridget Degnen, Elizabeth “Liz” Granato came out on top, leading with 67% of the vote in the district on Chicago’s North Side, according to unofficial results.
Granato, a Preckwinkle appointee running the county’s Bureau of Asset Management, campaigned on competence and her ability to hit the ground running. Granato had the support of her husband, state Sen. Ram Villivalam, and is the daughter of former Chicago Ald. Jesse Granato. She defeated Isaiah White and José “Che-Che” Turrubiartez and will face Republican Xiaoli “Alice” Hu in November.
“As a working mom, raised by a single mom who worked hard to make ends meet, this fight has been deeply personal,” Granato said in an emailed statement. “I know what it means to face out-of-control cost increases, to fear that the water my children are drinking isn’t safe, and to want government to step up to help working families face such challenges.”
In the southwest suburban 16th District, incumbent one-term Commissioner Frank Aguilar came in third place, according to unofficial returns. He conceded Tuesday night to Miranda Hernandez, an attorney and the daughter of state Rep. Lisa Hernandez, also the chair of the state’s Democratic Party. As of early Wednesday, there were roughly 800 votes separating the three candidates. Nurse and current Berwyn City Clerk Leticia “Letty” Garcia came in second.
Hernandez, who recently served as a deputy for legislative affairs in Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke’s office, said in an emailed statement that it was an honor to be the first Latina elected to the district. “I’m ready to protect working families and make District 16 a better, safer place to live. The voices of voters were heard loud and clear: it’s time for new, young leadership to make a difference. I’m looking forward to working on a smooth transition to best serve the District 16 community.”
Recently appointed Commissioners Jessica Vásquez and Michael Scott easily held on Tuesday in the county’s 8th and 2nd districts, respectively, while Commissioner Kisha McCaskill had a closer race. Challenger Kiana Belcher trailed with 47% of the vote to McCaskill’s 54% in the two-way 5th District contest for the Democratic nomination, according to unofficial returns as of Wednesday morning. She will face Republican Richard Nolan in November.
In an upset, longtime 10th District Commissioner Bridget Gainer lost to challenger Drake Warren, who criticized Gainer for missing more County Board meetings than most of her colleagues and holding an outside job with insurance giant Aon.
Warren, an industrial engineer who was campaigning full time, self-funded most of his bid but ended up edging out Gainer — a potential mayoral contender in 2019 who has been on the County Board since 2009 — by more than 10 points.
“This campaign was shaped by the hands of hundreds of people who made our victory possible,” Warren said in an emailed statement. “I will strive to honor their work and to be a public servant worthy of those I have the privilege to serve.”
Gainer was “lucky to have had the opportunity to make real change. It’s now an expectation that local developers can build in their own neighborhood. That the tax sale system is unacceptable. That a pregnant woman awaiting trial should not do so in jail,” she said in a written statement. “It’s time to pass the torch and I wish all the new Commissioners the best of luck in doing the serious and fulfilling work at the County.”
In the Republican primary in the far northwest suburban 15th District, small business owner Daniel Lee defeated Gabriella Hoxie, a young communications staffer for Illinois House Republican Leader Tony McCombie. He will face Democrat Ted Mason in November.
Mason ran unopposed in the Democratic primary for the seat being vacated by his current boss, Commissioner Kevin Morrison. Morrison ended up fifth in the crowded contest to succeed U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi. Former U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean won the nomination for the 8th Congressional District with just shy of 32% of the vote.
Former Commissioner Elizabeth “Liz” Doody Gorman ran unopposed in the 17th District, where incumbent Republican Sean Morrison is stepping aside. She will face Democrat Elyse Hoffenberg, Lyons Township’s clerk, in November.
