Darbro set to face Stephens in 20th House District

A Chicago firefighter making her first run for public office will be the Democratic nominee in the 20th state House district after she defeated a perennial candidate on Tuesday night.

Michelle Darbro's primary victory over R. Cary Capparelli sets up a general election contest against the current Republican state representative, Brad Stephens, who doubles as Rosemont's mayor.

With 73 of 84 precincts reporting, Darbro tallied 5,436 votes to Capparelli's 2,946, according to unofficial totals.

Darbro ran to the left of Capparelli in what is a union-heavy district centered on Chicago's Northwest Side that also stretches into Rosemont, Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Niles and Schiller Park. It was a seat held by Capparelli's father, Ralph, for more than three decades, until the district was redrawn and he lost to fellow incumbent Michael McAuliffe in 2004.

With the backing of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, other Democratic lawmakers and unions, Darbro outraised and outspent Capparelli, a self-identified moderate-conservative Democrat who has run for offices both as a Democrat and Republican.