Working for Illinois Caucus

Eric Ginnard – eginnard@shawmedia.com

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Joe Hosey – jhosey@shawmedia.com

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Eric Ginnard – eginnard@shawmedia.com

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Eric Ginnard – eginnard@shawmedia.com

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Local Illinois General Assembly incumbents appeared to have a good night in contested races.

Manley vs. Benford

Incumbent Democrat Natalie Manley defeated her Republican challenger Alyssia Benford, taking 64 percent to 36 percent of votes with 87 percent of precincts reporting for the District 98 state representative seat, according to the Associated Press.

Manley was first elected in 2012. She won her first two races by about 23-point margins and ran unopposed in 2016. Bolingbrook accountant and DuPage Township Trustee Benford ran on issues like property tax relief.

Batinick vs. Freeman

State Democrats were really hoping to pick up this 97th District seat, but they were apparently unable to this year.

If you asked Rep. Mark Batinick, one Democrat in particular wanted to knock him off. 

Batinick has been vocal in connecting Mica Freeman, a Plainfield mother and former teacher, to House Speaker Michael Madigan. Batinick narrowly defeated her, by a margin of 692 votes, according to Will and Kendall County records.

McDermed vs. Hunt

Margo McDermed won her first election in 2014 by 37 points and ran unopposed in 2016.

This year, she has touted the support of the mayors of Frankfort, New Lenox, Homer Glen and Mokena and defeated her opponent — Frankfort insurance agent Matthew Hunt.  McDermed won with 59 percent to 40 percent of votes in Will County and 55 percent to 44 percent in Cook County for the District 37 seat.

Walsh Jr. vs. Laib

Larry Walsh Jr. was also first elected in 2012, won by a comfortable margin and ran unopposed in 2016. This election was no different, with Walsh winning 73 percent to 27 percent of Will County votes in District 86. 

Walsh’s name is a known commodity in his district and he’s been a visible presence with issues important to residents, like in his native Elwood, where truck traffic has become a big issue. This year, Army Reserve veteran and Will County Sheriff’s Sgt. Rick Laib, who firmly positioned himself as a conservative alternative, challenged him.