Pritzker, Stratton win Illinois elections as Chicago voters turn out in droves
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
Illinois voters turned out Tuesday in an election marked by long lines, sporadic polling-place problems and historic results.
Why it matters: Tuesday's results will shape Illinois' political leadership and representation in Washington, while offering a glimpse of how Chicago voters feel about Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Teachers Union.
The big picture: Gov. JB Pritzker defeated Republican Darren Bailey in a rematch of their 2022 contest.
- Pritzker became the first Democrat elected to three terms as Illinois governor and the first governor to do so since Republican Jim Thompson.
- With more than 60% of the vote in the preliminary count, Pritzker is running about five percentage points ahead of his 2022 performance.
Zoom in: Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton defeated Republican Don Tracy in the race to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, receiving more than 2 million votes.
- Her victory means Illinois will become the first state in U.S. history represented by two women of color in the Senate simultaneously, alongside Tammy Duckworth.
Meanwhile: Chicago voters elected their first fully elected school board, choosing Jessica Biggs as president over CTU-backed Hilario Dominguez and independent Victor Henderson.
- Biggs' victory was a setback for the CTU, although the union's influence on the board remains to be determined as several union-backed district candidates won their races.
By the numbers: INSERT FINAL OR LATEST AVAILABLE CHICAGO TURNOUT TOTAL.
- More than 320,000 Chicagoans voted early in person or returned mail ballots before Election Day, according to the Chicago Board of Elections.
- Voters reported hours-long waits at some polling locations, including downtown voting supersites, where lines stretched for blocks well after polls closed.
State of play: Election Day wasn't without problems. Some Chicago precincts ran out of paper ballots, while equipment problems temporarily disrupted voting at a Logan Square polling place.
What they're saying: "With the state of the world, it's important to vote whenever you can because elected officials can make a difference," Kitty V., a School of the Art Institute student who had waited two hours to vote downtown, tells Axios.
What's next: Chicago voters will get little relief from election fatigue. The city's next municipal election is set for February 2027.