Incumbent Republican Grant holds on to House District 42 seat despite controversy

In House District 42, freshman state Rep. Amy Grant fended off a challenge by Democratic challenger Ken Mejia-Beal of Lisle Tuesday, despite a controversy about comments made by the Wheaton Republican during the campaign.

With all precincts reporting, unofficial tallies show Grant with 30,140 votes, compared to Mejia-Beal's 27,483.

Early in the campaign, Democratic lawmakers released snippets from a recorded phone call in which Grant can be heard referencing the race and sexual orientation of Mejia-Beal, who is gay and Black. Grant apologized for what she said was a "very clumsy and insensitive statement that does not reflect how I feel." The disparaging comments were taken from a conversation between Grant and an unknown caller.

District 42 cuts through Wheaton, Winfield and Warrenville, as well as parts of Lisle and Naperville.