In less than a month, Lake County voters can begin casting ballots or mailing them for the presidential election, either sending a woman to the White House for the first time or returning a former chief executive to the Oval Office for the second time in history.
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, hopes to be the first woman president and only the second of color after former President Barack Obama.
Former President Donald Trump, the GOP contender, hopes to be the first to return to the presidency since former President Grover Cleveland took office in 1885, lost four years later and then reclaimed the job in 1893.
Early voting for the Nov. 5 election starts on Sept. 26 at the Lake County Courthouse and Administration Building in Waukegan, and people voting by mail can send their ballots the same day to start the electoral process in Lake County.
Along with choosing the next president, Lake County voters will have the opportunity to vote for their representatives in both the U.S. Congress and the Illinois General Assembly, as well as three countywide offices plus other judicial and local races.
Lake County Clerk Anthony Vega said turnout is traditionally higher in a presidential year, and he is anticipating approximately 70% of the county’s registered voters will participate.
“These are people who will be serving you the next two or four years,” Vega said. “It’s the next 10 years in the judicial races. Voters should learn how they see the future.”
Early voting expands to 17 additional sites spread out around the county on Oct. 21. For those not registered, Vega said they can do so at any early voting site, or their assigned polling place on Election Day.
Both Lauren Beth Gash, the county Democratic chair, and Keith Brin, the chair of the Lake County Republican Central Committee, said they are already busy reaching out to voters with reasons to vote for their party’s candidates.
“This election cycle is critically important for the rights of individuals, and the direction the country and the county will take,” Brin said. “The last four years have taken us in the direction of a government which dictates every aspect of people’s lives.”
Gash said in an email Democrats from Lake County are contacting voters both locally and in Wisconsin, a state that may determine the next president. While Brin believes the Democrats are too involved in individuals’ lives, Gash thinks the GOP is dangerous.
“National issues matter locally,” Gash said. “It’s clear that Democrats reflect (people’s) values more than the extreme MAGA Republicans. Our watch parties are energizing folks from all over Lake County. We will work to reach every voter.”
U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Highland Park, will defend his seat in 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 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. 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.
Judges seeking retention for another 10 years on the bench include Appellate Court Judge Susan Fayette Hutchinson. District court judges Daniel B Shanes, Patricia Sowinski Fix, Christopher R. Stride, Christen L. Bishop, Charles “Chuck” Smith and Joseph V. Salvi are also seeking retention.
