GOP candidate endorsed by retiring state Sen. Don DeWitte projected to lose in 33rd District

A candidate who was endorsed by outgoing Republican state Sen. Don DeWitte in the 33rd District is projected to lose the GOP primary.

The Associated Press projected Danielle Penman of St. Charles will win the primary over Jessica Breugelmans of Geneva, who also filed to run for the seat. However, election results are not yet official.

Late Tuesday night, Penman led with 6,987 votes, or 59%, to Breugelmans’ 4,852, or 41%.

Despite Penman’s likely win, Breugelmans was endorsed by DeWitte, who chose not to run again.

“We must choose a real conservative fighter who knows what to support, what to stop, and what to fix,” DeWitte said in part in a news release announcing his endorsement.

“Protecting taxpayers from higher costs, standing with parents who demand accountability in our schools, and supporting people and businesses so our state can grow again must be our top priorities. That’s why I am proud to offer my full and unequivocal endorsement of Jessica Breugelmans to succeed me in Illinois Senate District 33,” DeWitte wrote.

The candidates held similar views on some issues, including support for lowering taxes and taxpayers not being responsible for keeping the Bears in Illinois, among other topics, during a Daily Herald candidate interview.

Both candidates supported lower taxes. They said in the Daily Herald interview that the state has a spending problem.

The Republican nominee will face Democrat Michele Clark of Algonquin in November. Clark was unopposed in the primary after Democrat Satnaam Singh Mago of Wayne withdrew his candidacy.

The 33rd Senate District stretches from Lakewood and Lake in the Hills south through Hampshire, Gilberts, Pingree Grove and West Dundee down around Elgin through the west side of St. Charles to the northern end of Batavia.