Munson concedes 43rd District race

Just as she had done throughout the campaign season, Elgin Republican Ruth Munson took to her Twitter account Wednesday morning to send supporters a message. But the message on the morning after the election wasn't one her supporters wanted to read: their candidate for the 43rd House District had conceded to incumbent Keith Farnham, a Democrat from Elgin.

“Ruth here: Wednesday morning I conceded the election to my opponent Rep. Farnham and told him I would honor my pledge to help him with the U-46 funding issues,” Munson wrote in her message.

With all precincts reporting Wednesday afternoon, Farnham had 8,182 votes to Munson's 7,555.

Farnham, who defeated Munson for the seat two years ago, said he would continue to fight to override the veto of a bill that would provide $22 million in additional state funding for Elgin Area School District U-46, and push for issues affecting the towns in his district. Farnham said his accomplishments in the villages of Carpentersville, East Dundee, Elgin and South Elgin were key to his re-election.

“The big issues, the state issues are what you need to bring people together on,” Farnham said. “But you can't lose sight of and the needs of the district and the needs of the people who are struggling.”

On Wednesday, Munson said she does not plan to run again but said the 43rd House District deserves strong candidates.

“I just think that this district is a district that contains a lot of diversity and diverse positions on issues,” Munson said. “Clearly it is a district where we need competition in political races because the races are always so close. It allows for debate in the issues and I hope that continues in the district.”