Affordability is key as Lake election races enter stretch run: ‘We may have a higher turnout than usual’

Leaders of the Democratic and Republican parties in Lake County agree on the most important issue — affordability — for voters in the Nov. 3 federal, state and local elections, but they offer different explanations for their reasoning.

Both Dawn Abernathy, the Lake County Republican Central Committee chair, and Keith Brin, the GOP State Central Committee person for the 10th Congressional District, said people are challenged to make ends meet because they are overtaxed.

“The state of Illinois is one of the most heavily taxed states in the country, between income taxes, property taxes, gas taxes and tons of other taxes,” Brin said.

Lake County Democratic Chair Daniel Dedich and Lauren Beth Gash, chair of the 10th Congressional District Democrats, both said President Donald Trump’s policies are to blame for the increased cost of living.

“Voters in Lake County have been paying the price for President Trump’s tariff policy and the war on Iran,” Dedich said.

Voters in Lake County will make their choices for governor and four other statewide offices, a U.S. senator and their representative in Congress, as well as members of the Illinois General Assembly and county officials when they cast ballots on Nov. 3, or earlier in some cases.

Just as the county’s partisan leaders see affordability as the primary issue, Lake County Clerk Anthony Vega said the attitudes he is sensing may bring a record turnout on Election Day, as well as through early and mail voting.

“There are a lot of issues voters care about, from affordability to taxes to data centers,” he said. “We may have a higher turnout than usual for a midyear election.”

Vega said a turnout of 60% will not surprise him. Four years ago, 49.77% of people eligible to vote cast ballots. In the November 2024 presidential election, turnout was 70.06% of registered voters.

This year, Lake County voters will be able to take their mail-in ballots to any of the more than 90 polling places on Election Day and use the drop box inside. Vega said that will eliminate any possibility of not having the appropriate postmark.

Early voting starts Sept. 24 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. in the lobby of the Lake County Courthouse & Administration Center in Waukegan and expands to 17 other locations on Oct. 19. Vega said vote-by-mail ballots will be accepted starting Sept. 24.

Two of the most competitive races are taking place in the southwest portion of the county. State Sen. Darby Hills, a Barrington Hills Republican, is defending her seat against state Rep. Nabeela Syed, a Palatine Democrat. There is also a rematch between state Rep. Martin McLaughlin, a Barrington Hills Republican, and Democratic challenger Maria Peterson of North Barrington. McLaughlin won by 47 votes in 2024.

With the death of Lake County Board Vice Chair Mary Ross Cunningham on June 23, both parties had the opportunity to place a candidate on the ballot, with Democrat Brandon Ewing facing Republican Jorge Sanchez in District 9.

Ewing, a former president of the Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 Board of Education and a current member of the Waukegan Planning & Zoning Commission, hopes to return to elective office. Gash said he is a strong candidate.

“I have watched Brandon for quite some time, and I’ve seen his work firsthand,” Gash said. “He’s been making a significant difference in and around the 9th District for years, and I know he’ll make a great County Board member.”

Abernathy said Sanchez is a business owner who has lived in Lake County for more than 40 years. She believes it is a winnable race for the GOP because of the demographics of the district.

“It’s a Hispanic-predominant district, and the people there want a Hispanic to represent them,” Abernathy said.

All Lake County voters will be picking their Congressional representative, with U.S. Rep, Brad Schneider, a Highland Park Democrat, defending his 10th Congressional District seat against Republican Carl Lambrecht of Highland Park, and write-in candidates James J. Mote and Alexandria Keating-Sofiakis.

In the 5th Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, a Chicago Democrat, will face Tommy Hanson, also of Chicago. Running to replace retiring U.S. Rep, Jan Schakowsky, an Evanston Democrat, in the 9th District are Democrat Daniel Biss of Evanston and GOP contender Jon Elleson of Arlington Heights. U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, a Naperville Democrat, is being challenged by Elburn Mayor Jeff Walter.

Beside Hills, state Sen. Julie Morrison, a Lake Forest Democrat, is trying to keep her 29th District job against GOP candidate Kate McGrath of Deerfield. State Sen. Craig Wilcox, a McHenry Republican, is squaring off against Democrat Karen Battaglia of Antioch.

In contests for the Illinois House of Representatives, Republican Lori Smith of Long Grove and Democrat Jenny Levin of Palatine are competing to succeed Syed in the 51st District. In the 57th District, state Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl, a Northbrook Democrat, is competing against Daniel T. Behr, also of Northbrook, on the GOP side.

In the 61st State House District, Republican Tina Marie Durrahnt of Beach Park is challenging state Rep. Joyce Mason, a Gurnee Democrat. Democrat AJ Johnson is trying to unseat state Rep. Tom Weber, a Lake Villa Republican, in the 64th District.

In countywide contests, Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart, a Lake Bluff Democrat, is competing against Republican David Panaherrera of Barrington to replace Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim. Kim is not seeking reelection.

Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg, a Democrat from Zion, is defending his job against GOP candidate Roman Buchburger, also from Zion.

Along with the race to succeed Cunningham, there are four other contested Lake County Board races. In District 1, Republican John Muellner is facing Democrat Jose S. Martinez to replace outgoing GOP member Linda Pederson. In the 10th District, Democrat Nikki Sullivan is competing against Republican Jeffrey C. Issel. The winner replaces Democrat Jessica Vealitzek.

In the 16th District, incumbent Esiah A. Campos, a Round Lake Beach Democrat, will defend his job against Republican Katherine Rodriguez of Round Lake, while Democrat Mary Mesa faces Republican Joe Salvi of Barrington to replace outgoing GOP member Michael Danforth.

In the 19th District, incumbent Democrat Marah Altenberg, a Buffalo Grove Democrat, is defending her seat against GOP challenger Nicole Ziomek of Long Grove.

Running unopposed are state Sen Adriane Johnson, a Buffalo Grove Democrat, state Rep. Bob Morgan, a Deerfield Democrat, Dedich, state Rep. Rita Mayfield, a Gurnee Democrat, state Rep. Laura Faver Dias, a Grayslake Democrat, Lake County Clerk Anthony Vega and Regional Superintendent of Schools Michael L. Karner.

Also seeking office unopposed are Democratic Lake County Board candidate Wendy S. Meister of Riverwoods, replacing Republican Ann Maine; District 4 County Board Member Gina Roberts, a Beach Park Democrat; District 6 County Board Member John Wasik, a Buffalo Grove Democrat; and District 7 Democratic County Board Member Carissa Casbon of Gurnee.

Other candidates without opponents are Democratic County Board Member Paul Frank of Highland Park, Democrat Vance Wyatt of North Chicago replacing retiring Angelo Kyle, a Waukegan Democrat in District 14, and board member Jennifer Clark, a Libertyville Democrat.

Along with choosing federal, state, and local officials, voters will be voting yes or no on nine referendums. The only countywide one is a proposed 1% sales tax to help public schools in Lake County fund infrastructure projects, school resource officers, and mental health professionals.