Morrison leads Trevor in rematch of close 54th House race
In the Northwest suburbs' hotly contested 54th House District, Republican incumbent Tom Morrison led the unofficial vote tally late Tuesday over Democratic challenger Maggie Trevor.
Morrison had 20,465 votes while Trevor had 15,170.
The race was a rematch from 2018, when Morrison, a Palatine resident who's held the seat since 2011, prevailed by a mere 37 votes over Trevor, a market research consultant from Rolling Meadows.
The candidates disagreed on major issues, including Gov. J.B. Pritzker's handling of the COVID-19 crisis and the graduated income tax proposal. The district includes all or portions of Arlington Heights, Barrington, Hoffman Estates, Inverness, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and South Barrington.
Tuesday's unofficial vote tallies do not include mail-in ballots that have yet to arrive. About 338,000 mail-in ballots that had been requested by voters were still unaccounted for in suburban Cook and the collar counties on Tuesday morning.
Ballots postmarked by Tuesday will be counted if they arrive by Nov. 17.
20th House District
Incumbent Republican Brad Stephens, who also serves as Rosemont mayor, was victorious in the 20th House District race against first-time candidate Democrat Michelle Darbro, a Chicago firefighter and paramedic. Stephens had 22,984 votes while Darbro had 16,221 votes, according to unofficial results late Tuesday.
Stephens was appointed to the state seat two years ago. Darbro was backed by House Speaker Mike Madigan. The district is centered on Chicago's Northwest Side and stretches into Rosemont, Des Plaines and Park Ridge.
56th House District
In the 56th House District, Democratic state Rep. Michelle Mussman was in the lead with 14,134 votes over Republican challenger Scott Kegarise, the Schaumburg Township highway commissioner, who had 12,800.
The two Schaumburg residents disagreed on the graduated income tax referendum, among other issues. Kegarise said the current flat tax "does the job" while Mussman said it's a regressive taxing model.
The district includes Schaumburg and parts of Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Bartlett, Hanover Park, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Roselle.
51st House District
Incumbent Democrat Mary Edly-Allen appeared to be losing to Republican Chris Bos the race for the 51st House District, a historically GOP-held post which had flipped as part of the "Blue Wave" in 2016.
Edly Allen had 3,687 votes while Bos had 8,132, according to unofficial results late Tuesday.
The district serves much of central Lake County and a small portion of Cook County.
Bos is a Lake Zurich resident, a minister and an Ela Township trustee.
52nd House District
In the 52nd District, Republican Barrington Hills Village President Martin McLaughlin was in the lead against Democrat Marci Suelzer of Island Lake.
The seat was long held by GOP Rep. David McSweeney, who isn't seeking reelection.
McLaughlin had 5,642 votes while Suelzer had 3,068 votes. Also in the race was Green Party candidate Alia Sarfraz.
Suelzer said state lawmakers must evaluate what services are essential for the welfare of families, small businesses and individuals and find additional sources of revenue.
McLaughlin criticized the state for passing a 2020-21 fiscal year spending plan that included a $6 billion deficit and didn't address the economic impact of business closures due to the pandemic.
45th House District
Incumbent Democrat Diane Pappas of Itasca appeared to be losing to Republican challenger Seth Lewis, a Bartlett insurance agent, in the 45th House District. Pappas had 19,186 votes while Lewis had 23,972 votes, according to the unofficial tally late Tuesday.
77th House District
In the 77th House District, incumbent Democrat Kathleen Willis led late Tuesday with 14,769 votes over Republican Anthony Airdo with 8,365. Willis has served in the office since 2013.