Castro takes 22nd Senate seat

Democrat Cristina Castro won the race for 22nd District state Senate seat Tuesday with the vast majority of precincts reporting.

Castro had 34,484 votes, or 64.9 percent of the total, while Republican Tracy Smodilla had 18,630 votes, or 35 percent, with all 54 precincts reporting in Kane County and 53 of 65 precincts reporting in Cook County, according to unofficial results.

"Today was a good day," said Castro, 38, a Kane County Board member. "We worked very hard, we kept the positive message, and our message resonated with voters. I'm honored the voters selected me."

Castro said her first priority will be to get acquainted with the state's budget. "I'm hoping the next General Assembly will pass a balanced budget. That is my goal, and I will fight for that."

During the campaign, Castro said legislators need to look at cutting corporate tax loopholes before considering raising taxes. She wouldn't tax pensions and advocated revisiting a 2013 bill that tied cost-of-living pension increases to benefits and salary bumps.

Smodilla, 54, is a small-business owner and Bartlett economic development commission member.

The seat was vacated by State Sen. Michael Noland, a Democrat elected in 2006 who lost his congressional bid in the primary.