DeVore leading in Republican attorney general primary

Election returns show Thomas DeVore - the downstate attorney who sued Gov. J.B. Pritzker and more than 145 school districts to end mask mandates - with a solid lead over Deerfield attorney Steve Kim in the Republican primary for attorney general.

With 71.3% of votes counted, DeVore, of Sorrento, has 297,034 votes or 44.2% to Kim's 231,948 votes or 34.5%. Orland Park attorney David Shestokas has 142,389 votes or 21.2%.

All results are unofficial. The winner will face Democratic incumbent Kwame Raoul in November's general election.

According to his website, DeVore's primary issues are ending government mandates and holding elected officials accountable "for the wrongs they have committed against ... the citizens of Illinois." His website does not elaborate further.

He also states he will "restore law and order and give our law enforcement officers the necessary support they need to keep our communities safe." Describing the Second Amendment as "the most important amendment in the Bill of Rights," he says "they will have to pry the guns away from my cold, dead hands."

DeVore did not complete a candidate questionnaire and did not participate in the Daily Herald editorial board interview.