Democrats sweep in DuPage County Board races

Democrats solidified their rule Tuesday in DuPage County, sweeping every county race.

At the county board level, the biggest upset came in District 6, where the board’s longest serving member, Republican James “Jim” Zay, was ousted by Democratic newcomer Jesse Gutierrez.

Affordable housing, mental health and public transit were among the top priorities for DuPage County Board candidates.

Below is a summary of the results:

District 1

Incumbent Michael Childress and newcomer Melissa Villanueva, Democrats, both won District 1 seats.

As of 10 p.m., unofficial vote totals show Childress with 26,882 votes and his challenger, Republican Eric Poplonski, with 19,130 votes in the race for the four-year term. Meanwhile, Villanueva had 27,120 votes and Republican Paula Pezza had 19,008 votes in the race for a two-year term.

Childress, who was first elected in 2022 and describes himself as a community activist, chairs the board’s public works committee. Villanueva, who serves as CEO of Brewpoint Coffee, said helping families make living in DuPage affordable is among her priorities.

District 2

Democrats Christopher Espinoza and Mary Rada Walters will be among the newest members of the county board.

Unofficial vote totals showed Espinoza, of Downers Grove, with 38,418 votes and Republican Robert “Rusty” Stevens with 23,107 votes for a four-year seat on the board. Walters, of Lombard, had 38,228 votes and Republican Theresa McClear had 23,151 votes for the two-year term.

Espinoza currently serves as a school board member in Downers Grove High School District 99 but during the campaign said he would step down from that seat if elected to the county board. Walters, who works as an attorney, said she would advocate for construction of more affordable housing.

District 3

Republican incumbents Kari Galassi and Brian Krajewski both lost their reelection bids.

Unofficial vote totals showed Democrat Marcus King with 32,075 votes to Galassi’s 24,512 votes in the race for a four-year term. Meanwhile, Ericka Polanco-Webb had 33,167votes compared to Krajewski’s 23,395 votes in the bid for a two-year term.

King, of Willowbrook, said the issue that drove him most to seek office was ensuring that residents, particularly those facing issues such as food insecurity or mental health challenges, can access county services. Polanco-Webb, of Burr Ridge, said improving mental health services, providing resources for youth and families and improving infrastructure in unincorporated areas were among her top priorities.

District 4

Democrat Paula McGowen defeated incumbent Republican Grant Eckhoff in the race for a four-year term.

Unofficial vote totals show McGowen with 33,821 votes and Eckhoff with 21,987 votes.

McGowen is a Glen Ellyn resident who serves as a Milton Township trustee and has been a long-term observer of the DuPage County Board.

Incumbent Democrat Mary FitzGerald Ozog was elected to a two-year term. Unofficial vote totals showed Ozog, of Glen Ellyn, with 35,781 votes and Republican Isobel Michaud with 20,133 votes.

Ozog, first elected to the board in 2018, has championed various causes including efforts to address homelessness and food insecurity. She said she would work to improve public transportation if re-elected.

District 5

Democrats won both seats, with incumbent Dawn DeSart, of Aurora, elected to a two-year term and Ian Holzhauer, a Naperville City Council member, elected to a four-year term.

Unofficial vote totals show Holzhauer with 36,049 votes and his challenger, Republican Chris Jacks, with 16,441 votes in the race for the four-year term. DeSart had 35,727 votes and her challenger, Republican Daniel Alejandro Lomeli, had 16,511 votes in the bid for the two-year term.

During the campaign, Holzhauer said he would focus on expanding mental health services, improving public transit and advocating for sustainable growth. DeSart, who was first elected in 2018, said she has a proposal to reduce the size of the county board.

District 6

Newcomer Jesse Gutierrez, a West Chicago Democrat, ousted Zay, the county board’s longest-serving member and a Republican from Carol Stream.

Unofficial vote totals showed Gutierrez with 29,561 votes and Zay with 21,416 votes in a race for a four-year term. Martinez, a West Chicago Democrat appointed to the board in 2025, had 30,662 votes and her Republican opponent, Kathleen Zander, had 20,082 votes in the bid for a two-year term.

Gutierrez said he decided to get involved in local politics after the 2024 presidential election. He identified affordable housing as one of his top priorities. As the only Latina on the board, Martinez has been a vocal critic of federal immigration enforcement efforts and an advocate for ensuring residents can access county services.

Alicia Fabbre is a freelance reporter for the Daily Herald.