Endorsements: Ellman for Senate Dist. 21; Gupta for House Dist. 41; DeLaRosa for House Dist. 42
Voters in Illinois Senate District 21 and House districts 41 and 42 will be choosing from a field of qualified candidates.
In Senate District 21, incumbent Democrat Laura Ellman, of Naperville, is seeking a third term. Republican Julie Berkowicz, a Will County Board member since 2018, is challenging her for the seat.
Ellman believes the best way to lower property taxes is to reform school funding by reexamining the outcomes and refining the model. Berkowicz, also of Naperville, supports a 1% cap on all levies and backs school choice. Ellman has earned our endorsement in the past, and she’s done nothing to change our mind. Ellman is endorsed.
In House District 41, incumbent Democrat Janet Yang Rohr of Naperville is facing a challenge from Republican newcomer Ajay Gupta, also of Naperville, after running unopposed in 2024.
Yang Rohr, who works in investment research at Morningstar, is seeking her third term in Springfield. Before serving in the legislature, she served on the Naperville Unit District 203 school board. She currently chairs the House Personnel & Pensions Committee. Gupta is a tax attorney with an impressive resume. On property taxes, Yang Rohr wants to find new funding to ease the burden on homeowners. Gupta supports having the state assume control of teacher-pension costs to keep local money in the classroom. Both candidates have the kind of backgrounds you want in elected officials. While we don’t agree with Gupta on everything, we think his financial expertise and fresh voice would benefit Springfield. Gupta is endorsed.
In House District 42, Democrat Margaret DeLaRosa, appointed in October 2025 to fill the seat vacated by Terra Costa Howard, faces a challenge from Republican Stephanie Trussell. DeLaRosa, of Glen Ellyn, has served on the District 87 school board since 2015. If elected, she has promised to step down from the board. Trussell, of Lisle, was Darren Bailey’s running mate for governor in 2022. She opposes the SAFE-T Act and Illinois’ sanctuary laws. DeLaRosa would like to amend the SAFE-T Act, including stronger enforcement of electronic monitoring. DeLaRosa earned our endorsement in the primary, and we feel like she deserves a full term in office. DeLaRosa is endorsed.