ILLINOIS GOVERNOR
RAUNER CLAIMS WIN Quinn refuses to concede, says there are votes still to be counted By SARA BURNETT and SOPHIA TAREEN The Associated Press CHICAGO – Republican businessman Bruce Rauner unseated Gov. Pat Quinn on Tuesday, ending Democrats’ 12-year grip on the executive office in President Barack Obama’s home state and handing the GOP one of the Midwest’s last remaining Democratic strongholds. Quinn refused to concede the race, saying he would await outstanding ballots in Chicago and Cook County.
Taking the stage with his family before a room of cheering supporters, Rauner called his win “a victory for every family in Illinois.” “This election is about bringing back our great state,” the first-time candidate from Winnetka said. “We are going in a new direction.” Rauner was credited with re-energizing the state GOP with resources and a statewide push for term limits that ultimately was kept off the ballot. The matchup was one of the most competitive
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AP photo
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner celebrates his reported win Tuesday over Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn in Chicago. Quinn has refused to concede his re-election bid.
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E L E C T I O N
R E S U L T S
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McHENRY COUNTY SHERIFF
AT-A-GLANCE ELECTION RESULTS COUNTY RACES McHENRY COUNTY SHERIFF
Bill Prim (R) 3 Jim Harrison (I)
McHENRY COUNTY BOARD DISTRICT 1
Andrew Gasser (R) 3 Nick Chirikos (D) Robert Nowak (R) 3
McHENRY COUNTY BOARD DISTRICT 3
Donald Kopsell (R) 3 Joe Gottemoller (R) 3 Kathleen Bergan Schmidt (D) McHENRY COUNTY BOARD DISTRICT 4
Arne Waltmire (D) Chuck Wheeler (R) 3 John Hammerand (R) 3 McHENRY COUNTY BOARD DISTRICT 5
John Jung Jr. (R) 3 Michael Rein (R) 3 Paula Yensen (D)
STATE RACES H. Rick Bamman – hbamman@shawmedia.com
Hank Prim (right), son of McHenry County sheriff’s candidate Bill Prim, tells his father he is leading by a wide margin as vote totals come in Tuesday night at Pinecrest Golf Club in Huntley. Prim, 55, of Cary retired as a Des Plaines police commander after a 27-year career.
Prim takes county sheriff’s race Defeats Harrison, will be sworn in Dec. 1 By CHELSEA McDOUGALL cmcdougall@shawmedia.com Republican Bill Prim will be sworn in as the first new McHenry County sheriff in nearly two decades. With three precincts and early and absentee ballots still to be counted late Tuesday, Prim led challenger Jim Harrison, an independent, by more than 14,000 votes. A political newcomer, Prim credited his victory in one of the most closely watched local campaigns to a large volunteer base and grassroots supporters. “It was the epitome of a boots-onthe-ground, grassroots campaign,” Prim said after addressing his supporters. “People believed in our message, carried our message forward … every step of the way. Because of that groundswell of support, we won tonight.” Prim will be sworn in Dec. 1. He’ll replace retiring Sheriff Keith Nygren, who held the post for 17 years. Nygren decided not to seek re-election. Prim maintained a 60 to 40 percent
lead over Harrison throughout the night. As of press time, he received 41,865 of the 69,178 ballots counted. Harrison, a Woodstock-based attorney, received 27,313 votes. Absentee votes and early votes had not yet been counted. Prim pointed not only to his volunteers, but to public backing from State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi. The state’s attorney’s support and financial backing helped propel Prim to victory. Bianchi and his political committee have donated more than $11,000 to Prim over the election season, according to reports from the Illinois State Board of Elections. Prim said Bianchi’s endorsements would bring an end to years of public and costly legal battles between the two offices. “People were tired of that constant bickering and fighting and wasted county resources between those two offices,” he said. Harrison had an uphill battle from the beginning. Even for his name to appear on the ballot as an independent candidate, he needed at least
GOVERNOR
Pat Quinn (D) Bruce Rauner (R) 3 STATE REPRESENTATIVE 63RD DISTRICT
Jack Franks (D) 3 Steven Reick (R)
STATE REPRESENTATIVE 64TH DISTRICT
Barbara Wheeler (R) 3 Joel Mains (D)
STATE REPRESENTATIVE 52ND DISTRICT
David McSweeney (R) 3 Bill Downs (D)
FEDERAL RACES U.S. SENATOR
James Oberweis (R) Dick Durbin (D) 3 Kyle Grillot – kgrillot@shawmedia.com
Independent sheriff’s candidate Jim Harrison watches updates with his wife, Carolyn, as votes come in Tuesday in Woodstock. Harrison was defeated by Republican Bill Prim in the race to become the first new McHenry County sheriff in nearly two decades. 6,728 signatures to Prim’s 517. Harrison collected more than 9,000 in the 90 days he had to do so. He was unable to be reached for comment Tuesday night.
Prim’s victory was unsurprising in the Republican stronghold of McHenry County.
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PLANIT TASTE
LOCAL NEWS
Sectional setup
Area store to close Thanks for pie
Cary-Grove, CL South sweep for spot in championship / C1
Target Corp. announces decision to close store in McHenry on Feb. 1 / A7
Four recipes will make you want to skip dinner this Thanksgiving / D1
Dennis Anderson (D) Randy Hultgren (R) 3 U.S. REPRESENTATIVE 6TH DISTRICT
Michael Mason (D) Peter Roskam (R) 3
C O M P LE T E E L E C T I O N C O V ER A G E B E GI N S O N P A G E A 3 GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE 14TH DISTRICT
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