Republican Frank Haney won the race for Winnebago County Chairman over Democrat John Nelson. With all precincts reporting, Haney beat Nelson by nearly seven thousand votes.
Nelson led from the start and for much of the evening. He amassed a big numerical margin in Rockford but Haney built a lead in the rest of the county as the night wore on to first narrow the gap and then surpass Nelson.
Incumbent Chairman Scott Christiansen did not seek re-election.
