Morrison ‘overwhelmed’ by landslide win in 29th state Senate

West Deerfield Township Supervisor Julie Morrison crushed her primary opponent in the Democratic nomination for the 29th state Senate District Tuesday night.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Morrison had 11,113 votes, or 88 percent, while her opponent, Milton Sumption, had 12 percent and 1,530 votes.

All totals are considered unofficial until the votes are canvassed.

“I am overwhelmed and thrilled to have such support from the 29th district,” Morrison said Tuesday night. “I’m really excited and so grateful for all the people who came out and made it a grass-roots effort.”

Backed by the local Democratic establishment, Morrison was asked to run by state Sen. Susan Garrett, who is retiring after a decade in the Senate.

In the November general election, Morrison will face Republican Arie Friedman, a pediatrician from Highland Park. Friedman did not have a primary opponent on Tuesday.

Morrison has served three terms as township supervisor. She was endorsed by U.S. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, state Sens. Terry Link and Jeff Schoenberg, state Reps. Elaine Nekritz and Karen May, the Wheeling Township Democratic Organization and Planned Parenthood.

Morrison became a Democrat in 2007. She was elected to township office as both a Republican and Democrat.

In her endorsement interview with the Daily Herald, Morrison called Friedman a “formidable” opponent, but said she happy with the support she received in the primary and hopes it will carry through to the general election.

“I’m going to continue to run a positive dynamic campaign,” Morrison pledged.

“I think people realized that I would be a leader in Springfield and that I have the experience to hit the ground running from the first day,” she said. “I’m just delighted to be where I am and have such a significant win.”

Sumption called Morrison to concede around 9 p.m. She said he was very gracious and supportive of her candidacy.

Sumption did not return calls Tuesday night. He worked for U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle as a legislative aide early in his career, but has spent most of his life in the private sector as a business and finance consultant.

As she starts to look ahead to November however, Morrison still has to lead the West Deerfield Township office.

“I have to go to work tomorrow, I have a township to run,” she said.