Morrison retains state senate seat

Incumbent Democratic state Sen. Julie Morrison won a third term in office after defeating Republican challenger Benjamin Salzberg Tuesday.

Morrison won nearly 60 percent of the vote in state Senate District 29, according to unofficial results.

Morrison, of Deerfield, was one of four suburban Democrats to vote against the out-of-balance budget proposed by her party's leadership in the House in the spring. She sponsored legislation calling for a constitutional amendment setting term limits for legislative leaders and opposes a tax increase until the state shows better control of its spending.

She has focused on measures to help special needs children and successfully pushed boating safety measures after her nephew was struck by a boat and killed as he was tubing on the Chain O' Lakes.

Salzberg, a Highland Park Republican, is a board member at Oakton Community College in Des Plaines.

The district contains all or parts of Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Des Plaines, Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights, Rosemont and Wheeling, as well as North Shore suburbs in Cook and Lake counties.