With candidate filing deadlines — for Democrats, Republicans and independents — for the Nov. 5 general election passing Monday, Lake County voters now have the opportunity to learn about their choices, and make informed decisions about who will get their votes.
Choices for the U.S. House of Representatives, the Illinois General Assembly, three countywide contests, seven County Board seats and three for the North Shore Water Reclamation District Board of Trustees are set.
Lake County voters have a little over four months to meet the candidates and study their choices before the Nov. 5 general election.
Between them, voters will make choices in 21 contested races for a variety of offices throughout the county. Though there are eight uncontested contests, everyone will have a variety of choices.
County Clerk Anthony Vega said in a presidential election year turnout is higher than other elections, and he expects this year to be no different. New systems were in place in the March primary, and they have been finetuned for November, he said.
“Presidential general election turnout is traditionally a little over 70%, and I expect it to be high this year,” Vega said. “There are a lot of issues foremost on people’s minds, and you’ll see a high turnout even though Illinois is a Democratic state.”
Though neither major party has nominated its presidential candidate yet, the Republicans are expected to nominate former President Donald Trump at their convention next month and the Democrats anticipate doing the same for President Joe Biden.
U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Highland Park, will defend his seat for the 10th Congressional District against Republican Jim Carris of Lake Forest. U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Chicago, is running against Chicagoan Tommy Hanson in a rematch of their 2022 5th District contest.
In the 9th Congressional District, U.S. Rep Janice D. Schakowsky, D-Evanston, will defend her seat against Michael Robert Walters of the GOP. U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville, is running against Warrenville Republican Jerry Evans in the 11th District.
Three countywide offices are on the ballot this fall, with Democratic incumbents facing Republican challengers in all three.
Democratic Lake County Circuit Court Clerk Erin Cartwright Weinstein is running against former GOP Lake County Clerk Carla Wykoff of Lake Forest.
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart of Highland Park, a Democrat, is running against Lake Bluff Republican Mary Cole. Republican Mark A. Symonds of Highland Park is challenging Democratic incumbent Jennifer Banek of Green Oaks for Lake County coroner.
Only one Illinois state Senate seat affecting Lake County is on the ballot this fall, as incumbent Mary Edly-Allen, D-Libertyville, is running against Republican Ashley Jensen of Winthrop Harbor.
All seats are being chosen in the Illinois House of Representatives, but state Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl, D-Northbrook, state Rep. Rita Mayfield, D-Gurnee, state Rep. Laura Faver Dias, D-Grayslake and state Rep Tom Weber, R-Lake Villa, have no opponent.
In the 51st State House District, Nabeela Syed, D-Palatine, is defending her job against Republican Tosi Ufodike of Hawthorn Woods. State Rep. Martin McLaughlin, R-Barrington Hills, is facing a challenge from Democrat Maria Peterson of North Barrington.
State Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield, will face Republican Carl Lambrecht of Highland Park in the 58th District, while Chris Henning of Mundelein is the GOP challenger for state Rep. Daniel Didech, D-Buffalo Grove, in the 59th.
State Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, will defend her 61st District seat against Republican James Creighton Mitchell, Jr., of Lindenhurst.
Challenging 2nd District Lake County Board member Adam Schlick, R-Wauconda, is Democrat Hilary Winiarrz of Hawthorn Woods. Lake County Board member J Kevin Hunter, R-Ingleside, is facing Democrat Michael J. Conway of Lake Villa.
In the 12th County Board district, Paras Parekh, D-Highland Park, is facing Republican
Andrew Dalkin of Lake Forest; and County Board Chair Sandy Hart, D-Lake Bluff, is defending her 13th District position against Ben Grum also of Lake Bluff.
County Board member Sara Frederick Kniznik, D-Vernon Hills, will face GOP challenger Alex Sofronas of Kildeer.
Running unopposed for the County Board are Mary Ross Cunningham, D-Waukegan, in the 9th District, and Diane Hewitt, D-Waukegan, in the 8th District.
Democrats have dominated elections in Lake County in the last three contests, and Lake County Democratic Chair Lauren Beth Gash sees that trend continuing in November.
“Donald Trump and the Lake County Republican candidates sharing the ballot with him reveal themselves, every time voters see or hear them, to be completely out of touch,” Gash said.
Keith Brin, the Lake County Republican chair, said he hopes the trend will change this fall with solid candidates on the ballot. In 2020, all four Republican countywide candidates received more votes than Trump.
“I’m excited,” Brin said. “Now we’re getting to the point where candidates will get out into their districts and talk to voters giving them a real choice.”