Harris beats Adamczyk in GOP primary race for secretary of state

Diane Harris has defeated fellow Republican Walter Adamczyk to become the GOP nominee for Illinois secretary of state.

With 89% of votes counted on Tuesday night, Harris, a longtime Joliet Township precinct committeeman, received 265,447 votes or 53%.

Adamczyk, a GOP precinct committeeman from Chicago who works as a Cook County Forest Preserve District laborer, received 235,592 votes or 47%.

All the results are unofficial.

Harris will face Democratic incumbent Alexi Giannoulias in November’s general election.

Both Adamczyk and Harris cited customer service and streamlining operations as their top priorities.

First-time candidate Adamczyk advocated for better, faster service during a Daily Herald endorsement interview. He also wants to introduce express service for veterans and seniors.

Harris claims her knowledge of customer service and her work with legislators make her the candidate best able to beat Giannoulias. If elected, Harris promised to consult with union members and review job descriptions in order to streamline processes and improve productivity.

The candidates disagreed on the use of digital driver’s licenses and state IDs, which are now available for iPhone and Apple Watch users. Harris said individuals should decide for themselves whether to use a digital license. Adamczyk opposes them, citing concerns about identity theft and hacking.

Both Adamczyk and Harris support the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act requiring documentary proof of citizenship for people registering to vote in federal elections.

Proponents of the SAVE Act say it will ensure only U.S. citizens cast votes. Opponents say it could make voting more difficult because not all eligible voters have access to qualifying documents — such as a passport or birth certificate — that would enable them to register.