Four Illinois State Legislative races to watch on Election Day

Voters cast ballots in dozens of Illinois State Senate and Representative races Tuesday, including several hotly contested races in local districts. These include contests where incumbents in recent years have rarely faced opponents, including on the Northwest Side and in Sen. Emil Jones III’s district on the South Side and the southern suburbs.

Community organizer Miguel Alvelo Rivera was on the verge of upsetting incumbent State Rep. Jaime Andrade Jr. in a closely watched race to represent the 40th District on the Northwest Side, overcoming big money that poured in for his opponent in the weeks before Election Day. Rivera was ahead with 55% of the votes with 85% of ballots counted.

Rivera ran as a progressive outsider while Andrade counted on his track record since being appointed to the Illinois General Assembly in 2013. Andrade’s fundraising surged since January with big support from Illinois Democrats in Springfield and the Illinois Democratic party. His campaign brought in nearly $1 million in donations over $1,000 since January.

Alvelo Rivera raised $232,000 since January, mostly from the Chicago Teachers Union political action committee along with the Illinois Federation of Teachers PAC.

In a key Senate rate, Democratic voters appeared to have stuck with Jones III, capping off what will be a major comeback after Jones reached a deal in December to drop federal bribery charges against him. Jones was leading with 60% of the votes with 77% of the ballots counted. He was edging out two challengers. This is the first time in his 16-year senate career Jones has faced a contested primary.

14th Illinois Senate District

In the 14th Senate District Jones was looking to complete his resurgence after the incumbent’s prospects looked grim last year. In April, Jones faced a trial on federal charges alleging that he took bribes and lied to federal authorities. Gov. JB Pritzker asked for his resignation and it looked like Jones’ political career was over.

But the jury couldn’t reach a verdict, resulting in a mistrial. In December, Jones announced that he had reached an agreement with federal prosecutors that would drop the charges against him. After that, he received endorsements from large labor unions, including the Illinois Federation of Teachers.

Jones has held the seat since his powerful father, former Sen. President Emil Jones Jr, announced his retirement in 2008, leaving it behind for his son to take over.

Jones was challenged by Ahmed Karrar, a lawyer and political newcomer, and Kenny Williams, a small business owner who has previously run for other offices. Karrar’s priorities included championing a graduated income tax “so the wealthiest pay their fair share,” according to his website.

Williams told the Sun-Times his priorities for the district included “public safety, economic opportunity and community investments.”

On the Republican side, Crestwood Village trustee Brian Skala ran unopposed.

6th Illinois Senate District

The only other incumbent senator who faced a challenge is on the North Side, where Sara Feigenholtz is trying to fend off first-time candidate Nick Uniejewski in the 6th District. The area includes the lakefront communities of Lake View, Lincoln Park and the Near Side North. Feigenholtz was selected to represent the district in 2020 after a 25-year career in the Illinois House.

Uniejewski most recently worked as a policy analyst for the city, according to this LinkedIn profile. Both candidates put transit at or near the top of their list of pressing issues. Feigenholtz touted her long record in the state Legislature, while Uniejewski ran on a message of change.

Uniejewski relied on volunteers and social media to try and bridge the gap between fundraising efforts. Feigenholtz had $1.2 million at year’s end and, as of Friday, had reported raising another $307,000 in donations over $1,000 since January. That compares with $41,000 raised for Uniejewski.

40th Illinois House District

In the Illinois House, incumbent Andrade Jr. and Alvelo Rivera faced off in the 40th District, which includes a stretch of the Northwest Side from Bucktown to Albany Park.

Rivera won some endorsement from some local elected officials, including U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez, whose district includes part of Andrade’s district, and Alds. Rossana Rodríguez-Sánchez (33rd) and Anthony Quezada (35th). Rivera ran as a progressive outsider, while Andrade said he has a track record with voters.

The race grew contentious after Andrade’s campaign attempted to paint Alvelo Rivera as a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement supporter in mailers. Alvelo Rivera said that claim was false, and Ramirez called for Andrade to apologize.

12th House District

In the 12th House District, which covers the Near North Side to Belmont Harbor, four candidates want to replace the seat left by Margaret Croke, who is running for state comptroller: Paul Kendrick, Litcy Kurisinkal, Karim Lakhani and Mac LeBuhn.

Kendrick received Croke’s endorsement and has raised $180,000 since January after ending the year with $176,000. But that is second to Karim Lakhani, who reported nearly $426,000 at the end of December. He has raised another $151,000 since January. In third was LeBuhn with about $180,000 raised through Friday and Kurisinkal trailing behind with $75,000.

Justin Kumar, CEO of a holding company that works in real estate, venture capital and consulting, was the lone candidate in the Republican primary and now advances to the November general election.