More contested legislative races emerge for Northwest suburbs
A pair of Republican primaries to decide challengers for incumbent Democratic state legislators serving the Northwest suburbs materialized before Monday's candidate filing deadline, including in the Senate's 27th District currently represented by Ann Gillespie of Arlington Heights.
Republicans Bill Robertson of Palatine and Joshua Alvarado of Rolling Meadows filed nominating petitions for the June 28 primary, with the winner to take on Gillespie in the Nov. 8 general election. The 27th District includes all or parts of Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Rolling Meadows, Palatine and Prospect Heights.
In the House's 56th District, Republicans William Thomas Olson and E. Dale Litney of Schaumburg will face off in the primary to determine who challenges Democratic incumbent Michelle Mussman of Schaumburg in November. The district includes all or parts of Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, Hanover Park and surrounding areas.
Olson previously ran as a Democrat to challenge 8th District U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg in the 2020 primary. He also ran unsuccessfully for the Schaumburg Township District Library board in 2009 and 2021.
A few more contested general election races also materialized in recent days among candidates who won't face primaries first.
Republican Anthony Beckman of Harwood Heights will challenge Democratic state Sen. Laura Murphy of Des Plaines in the 28th Senate District.
In the 44th House District, Democratic incumbent Fred Crespo is being challenged by Republican and fellow Hoffman Estates resident Patrick Thomas Brouillette.
Democratic incumbent Mark Walker of Arlington Heights will face Republican challenger Jack Vrett, also of Arlington Heights, in the general election for the 53rd District state House seat.
Other state legislative races in or near the Northwest suburbs remained unchanged since the first day of the filing period.
In the 26th Senate District, Republican Senate Leader Dan McConchie of Hawthorn Woods will face Democratic challenger Maria Peterson of North Barrington in November.
With Republican incumbent Seth Lewis of Bartlett having been moved into the 47th House District, Democrat Jenn Ladisch Douglass and Republican Deanne Marie Mazzochi, both of Elmhurst, will vie to succeed him in the 45th District.
Democratic incumbent Maura Hirschauer of Batavia is being challenged for the 49th District seat by Republican and Bartlett Village President Kevin Wallace.
A Democratic primary between Nabeela Syed of Inverness and Chelsea Laliberte Barnes of Palatine will precede a challenge of Republican incumbent Chris Bos of Lake Zurich for the 51st District House seat.
In the 52nd District, Republican state Rep. Martin McLaughlin of Barrington Hills will face a challenge from Democrat Mary Morgan of Island Lake in the fall.
With Republican 54th District state Rep. Tom Morrison of Palatine not running again, his successor will be decided by a November race between Democrat Mary Beth Canty and Republican and fellow Arlington Heights resident Michelle Hunter.
In the 55th District, Democratic incumbent Marty Moylan of Des Plaines is being challenged by Republican Michael M. Lupo of Park Ridge.
Incumbents still not facing any challengers at the end of the filing period are Democrat Adriane Johnson of Buffalo Grove in the 30th Senate District, Democratic Senate President Don Harmon of Oak Park in the 39th District, Republican and Rosemont Village President Brad Stephens in the 20th House District, and Democrat Daniel Didech of Buffalo Grove in the 59th House District.