Endorsement: Villa for Illinois Senate Dist. 25

The race for the Illinois Senate’s 25th District seat features a rematch between Democratic incumbent Karina Villa and Republican Heather Brown, both of West Chicago.

Villa, in an interview with the editorial board, said her district deserves a candidate with experience, heart and grit. We think those three attributes describe the veteran lawmaker well.

A former school social worker, Villa was elected to the state House in 2018 and the state Senate in 2020. She speaks passionately about mental health issues, and chairs the Senate’s Public Health committee. She stresses the importance of being accessible to her constituents and an understanding of their needs.

Brown, who serves on the West Chicago city council, did not attend a scheduled interview with our board, pointing us instead to her website where she shares her conservative views on topics ranging from abortion to cashless bail to gun rights. Some of her position statements, however, are sorely lacking in clarity and context. In fact, in our past endorsement of Villa over Brown, we noted Brown’s sometimes disjointed views, and that concern lingers.

Experienced and professional, we believe Villa is a better fit for the district, which stretches from Aurora to Elgin. She earns our endorsement.