‘Complete wipeout’: Democrats sweep Lake Co. Board races, hold 17-2 majority

Every Republican Lake County Board seat up for election this year was flipped to Democrat in Tuesday’s election, according to unofficial results, growing the board’s blue supermajority following an election cycle in which the local GOP struggled to organize.

If the results hold, there will be just two Republicans on the Lake County Board come December, when new members are sworn in, along with 17 Democrats. Such a situation would have been unheard of over a decade ago, when the county was firmly Republican.

During the campaign, candidates on both sides repeatedly cited the same concerns for voters, including affordability and the planned Grayslake T5 data center.

District 1, which includes Antioch, Lindenhurst, Old Mill Creek, and Wadsworth, will get a new representative, with longtime Republican Linda Pedersen choosing not to run for reelection.

According to unofficial results Wednesday, Democrat Jose Martinez was leading with about 55.4% to Republican John Muellner’s 44.6%.

Muellner had pledged to check “egregious government overreach,” railing against several projects in the county, while Martinez pointed to his political experience and his local, blue-collar background.

“I don’t campaign here; I live here,” Martinez said.

In District 17, Democrat Mary Mesa remained in the lead with 52.7% to Republican Joe Salvi’s 47.3%.

Salvi — an attorney like the seat’s outgoing Republican Michael Danforth — had talked about focusing the county’s budget on its core services and “eliminating redundancies.” Mesa said she jumped into the race after seeing the disillusionment of the younger generation, hoping to bring positive change at the local level.

District 17 includes Barrington, Barrington Hills, Fox River Grove, Island Lake, Lakemoor, Lake Barrington, North Barrington, Port Barrington, Tower Lakes, Volo, and portions of Lake Zurich and Round Lake.

Two political newcomers pitched themselves for the District 10 seat after Democrat Jessica Vealitzek chose not to run for reelection. The district includes Indian Creek and portions of Hawthorn Woods, Lake Zurich, Long Grove, Mundelein and Vernon Hills.

Democrat Nicki Sullivan had a strong lead according to unofficial results, with about 68.6% to Republican Jeffrey Issel’s 31.4%.

Sullivan had experience on the Diamond Lake School District 76 board and called the county board opening an “incredible opportunity.” Issel had stepped into the race after learning there were no other candidates, promising to look over county costs with a stern eye.

Esiah Campos, the Democratic candidate for District 16, was one of just two county board incumbents to face a Republican challenger this election cycle. His opponent Katherine Rodriguez called for political “balance,” while Campos — who has repeatedly criticized federal immigration efforts in the county — argued he was the right candidate for the day’s “political climate.”

District 16 includes Round Lake Beach, Round Lake Heights and portions of Round Lake and Round Lake Park. Campos had a resounding win, getting 73.9% to Rodriguez’s 26.1%.

District 19 saw Democratic incumbent Marah Altenberg challenged by Republican Nicole Ziomek. The district includes Deer Park, Wheeling and portions of Buffalo Grove, Kildeer, Lake Zurich and Long Grove.

According to unofficial results, Altenberg will keep her seat, receiving about 65.8% of the vote.

Ziomek, a political newcomer, had run on fiscal responsibility, while also arguing another Republican on the board would bring a more balanced perspective to leadership. Altenberg, who has been on the board since 2020, said it wasn’t “the time for on-the-job training” with all the issues coming from the federal level, and pointed to her resume on the board.

There was no Republican candidate for District 3, the seat of the long-serving Republican Ann Maine. The sole candidate, Democrat Wendy Meister, took the district.

Incumbent Democrats Gina Roberts, District 4; John Wasik, District 6; Carissa Casbon, District 7; Paul Frank, District 11; and Jennifer Clark, District 15, all ran unopposed.

Lake County Democratic Chair Daniel Didech called the night a “historic win for Democrats in Lake County,” and a “complete wipeout” for Republicans.

He praised local Democratic organization efforts over the years that helped turn a once solid Republican county into what is now almost entirely Democrat held. The results were also a sign of what was being seen “across the country,” Didech said.

“A resounding rejection of the chaos, corruption, and the costs that we are bearing because of the Trump administration,” he said.

Attempts to reach Lake County Republican Central Committee Chair Dawn Abernathy were unsuccessful.

jstates@chicagotribune.com