Rosemont Mayor Bradley Stephens has had a difficult 12 months.
COVID-19 has been pummeling his northwest suburb’s entertainment- and restaurant-based financial system.
And he used to be forced to place nephew Donald E. Stephens III on go away from his process overseeing town’s police and fireplace division for causes neither will publicly talk about.
But his possibilities began taking a look up as he ran in Tuesday’s normal election to stay his 2nd public-sector process — as a Republican state legislator representing an Illinois House district that incorporates portions of the northwest suburbs and the Northwest Side.
Facing a well-financed Democratic opponent, Michelle Darbro, Stephens claimed just about 59% of the vote with greater than 97% of precincts reporting, in step with unofficial tallies that would possibly no longer come with all mail-in ballots.
While Darbro’s camp wasn’t able to concede overdue Tuesday, Stephens’ marketing campaign portrayed the lead as insurmountable.
A firefighter-paramedic, Darbro is a political newcomer, however she had tough backing on this race — from Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, who’s additionally head of the Illinois Democratic Party.
Stephens — appointed to his Illinois House seat ultimate 12 months, and Rosemont mayor since his father, Mayor Donald E. Stephens Sr., died in 2007 — attempted to taint Darbro along with her ties to Madigan. He, finally, used to be implicated despite the fact that no longer charged in a corruption case previous this 12 months involving the electrical software ComEd.
And Madigan labored arduous so as to add to his Democratic majority in his legislative chamber through portray Stephens as an overpaid hack who hits up village contractors for marketing campaign donations and assists in keeping a couple of members of the family at the municipal payroll.
Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, who additionally heads the Illinois Democratic Party.AP
Three price range managed through Madigan donated greater than $900,000 to Darbro, with Madigan allies contributing a lot more. Overall, she raised kind of $2.five million, a staggering quantity for a state legislative contest.
Campaign committees benefitting Stephens — whose circle of relatives has managed Rosemont, just about unchallenged, since its founding within the 1950s — raised greater than $2 million since early ultimate 12 months.
Madigan loomed massive over different still-undecided House races.
The 41st House District, which contains portions of Naperville and Warrenville, is represented through Republican state Rep. Grant Wehrli, a Naperville resident who confronted a problem from Democrat Janet Yang Rohr. She additionally lives within the a ways west suburb, and her race used to be financed partly through $1 million from Madigan-controlled marketing campaign price range.
Wehrli used to be amongst 3 Republicans to sign up for a distinct legislative committee this 12 months, digging into allegations through federal prosecutors that ComEd had employed Madigan’s friends with a purpose to curry want with the tough legislative chief.
Rohr, who works for the funding information and analysis company Morningstar, additionally serves at the Naperville Community Unit School District 203 board.
With a few 3rd of the precincts reporting, Rohr had about 53% of the votes, in step with unofficial effects.
The 47th House District comprises portions of Westmont, Hinsdale, Oak Brook and Elmhurst, house of the incumbent, Republican state Rep. Deanne Mazzochi, additionally a member of the panel investigating Madigan. Her Democratic opponent is Jennifer Zordani of Clarendon Hills, who noticed greater than $700,000 pumped into her marketing campaign through the Democratic speaker.
With about 17% of precincts reporting, Mazzochi had about 51% of the vote.