© 2024 WNIJ and WNIU
Northern Public Radio
801 N 1st St.
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-753-9000
Northern Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Illinois voters went to the polls on Tuesday, March 20, to select the candidates who will face off in the General Election on November 6.These "midterm" elections have drawn a great deal of interest and, in some cases, a surprising number of candidates to statewide and national races.There also were numerous ballot refrenda for voters to decide on, such issues as school construction, fire protection, home rule, and even the sale of liquor.WNIJ News has collated many of the stories presented this election season. You can find them here as a handy reference.

It's Dady Vs. Kinzinger In 16th Congressional District; Underwood Faces Hultgren In 14th District

Susan Stephens
/
WNIJ
Sara Dady after her election night victory, with her husband Allyn and children Meredith and Robert.

An immigration lawyer from Rockford will take on incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger in the race for the 16th Congressional district this fall.

Sara Dady beat three other candidates to win the Democratic nomination. She says her first priority, now that the primary is over, is to get Kinzinger to commit to at least four debates.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Channahon

As for issues, Dady says, “I know, as a businesswoman, we need universal health care in this country. Not only did I lose my mother because she didn’t have access to health care, I know the burden that it is on small businesses.”

Other priority issues for Dady include strengthening the education system and protecting workers’ rights to unionize.

On the Republican side, James Marter says he hopes Kinzinger presents a very different choice for voters. Marter lost to Kinzinger in the GOP primary, portraying the incumbent as “too liberal.”

“Hopefully, this race, I pulled him to the right,” said Marter, “and the support I had shows him he needs to stay with the values he campaigned on.”

Kinzinger is seeking his fifth term representing the district that curves around the Chicago suburbs from the Wisconsin border to the Indiana border.

16th District primary results 100% of precincts reporting

Democrats

  • Sara Dady: 16,928 -- 40.6%
  • Neill Mohammad: 11,302 -- 27.1%
  • Amy "Murri" Briel: 8,101 -- 19.4%
  • Beth Vercolio-Osmund: 5,332 -- 12.8%

Republicans

  • Adam Kinzinger: 44,535 -- 68.0%
  • Jim Marter: 20,985 -- 32.0%
Incumbent Republican Randy Hultgren, left, will face Democratic challenger Lauren Underwood in the 14th Congressional District.

In the 14th District, incumbent Republican Randy Hultgren will face Lauren Underwood, a registered nurse from Naperville, in November's election.

Underwood far outpaced six opponents in the Democratic primary Tuesday.

The district -- where Hultgren has served since 2011 -- includes parts or all of  McHenry, Lake, Kendall, Kane, DuPage, DeKalb and Will counties.

14th District primary results 100% of precincts reporting

Democrats

  • Lauren Underwood: 28,074 -- 57.4%
  • Matthew Brolley: 6,538 -- 13.4%
  • Jim Walz: 4,796 -- 9.8%
  • Victor Swanson: 3,434 -- 7.0%
  • John Hosta: 2,492 -- 5.1%
  • George Weber: 2,465 -- 5.0%
  • Daniel Roldan-Johnson: 1,118 -- 2.3%

Republicans

  • Randy Hultgren (uncontested)

 WNIJ's Jenna Dooley contributed to this report.

Susan is an award-winning reporter/writer at her favorite radio station. She's also WNIJ's Perspectives editor, Under Rocks contributor, and local host of All Things Considered.