Democrats to meet May 11 to choose Gillespie’s successor

Northwest suburban Democratic leaders will meet in Arlington Heights on May 11 to choose a successor for outgoing state Sen. Ann Gillespie.

Gillespie, an Arlington Heights resident who’s represented the 27th District in the Illinois Senate since 2018, resigned her seat this month to become director of the state’s department of insurance.

Democratic committee leaders from the 27th District will select the person to fill the post until a special election in November. The group includes: state Rep. Mark Walker, who represents Wheeling Township; Elk Grove Township Democratic Committeeperson Ted Mason; Palatine Township Democratic Committeeperson Maria Galo; state Sen. Laura Murphy, who represents Maine Township; and Schaumburg Township Democratic Committeeperson Mike Cudzik.

The group is set to meet at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 11, at 14 W. Miner St. in Arlington Heights. To RSVP to attend the meeting in person or virtually via Zoom, email wheelingdemocrats@gmail.com. The meeting also will be livestreamed on the Wheeling Township Democrats Facebook page.

Those who would like to apply for the senate seat should send a cover letter and resume to ILSenateDistrict27Opening@gmail.com by 10 p.m. Tuesday, April 30. The person selected must be a U.S. citizen, at least 21 years old, and have been a resident of the 27th District for at least two years. The Illinois Constitution also requires the appointment be a Democrat like Gillespie.

Anyone with questions about the process should email their name, address, and question to wheelingdemocrats@gmail.com.

The 27th District includes all or parts of Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates, Des Plaines, Mount Prospect, Rolling Meadows, Barrington, Inverness, Palatine, Prospect Heights and South Barrington.