By Bob Bong
The holiday season also marks the beginning of the 2024 election cycle in Illinois as candidates in the March 19 primary have already filed their petitions to run.
The 2022 primary was moved to June, but next year’s primary is moving back to its traditional third Tuesday in March date.
The biggest surprise is in the 82nd Illinois House District, which takes in parts of Willow Springs, Indian Head Park, Countryside, Palos Park and Lyons Township. Longtime Republican state Rep. Jim Durkin resigned early in 2023 and was replaced by Lemont Mayor John Egofske.
Egofske had already announced he would not seek election next year and then announced last week he was resigning from the Illinois House effective December 8.
Local Republican committeemen will soon meet to name a successor.
Only one candidate filed petitions to run as a Republican and Democrat in next year’s election, which, baring some unforeseen development, means Republican Nicole La Ha, of Homer Glen, will face off with Democrat Suzanne Akhras, of Burr Ridge, in the November General Election.
In the 21st Illinois House District, incumbent Democrat Abdelnasser Rashid, of Bridgeview, who defeated longtime Rep. Mike Zalewski in a hard-fought primary battle in 2022, will face two challengers in the Democratic primary in March as he seeks a second term. Matthew Synowiecki and Vidal Vasquez, both of Chicago, filed petitions to run against Rashid.
In the 31st Illinois House District, longtime incumbent Mary Flowers is being challenged in the Democratic primary by Michael Crawford, of Chicago. A third candidate, Mark Hamberlin withdrew his petitions. No Republican filed petitions.
In the 32nd Illinois House District, incumbent Cyril Nichols, of Chicago, will take on Lisa Davis, of Chicago, in the Democratic primary. No Republican filed petitions in the district.
In the 2nd Illinois House District, incumbent Democrat Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez, of Cicero, is running unopposed. She will face off with Republican Laura Hruska, of Brookfield, in November.
Running unopposed are Democratic incumbents Aaron Ortiz in the 1st District and La Shawn Ford in the 8th District.
In the nearby 36th Illinois House District, Evergreen Park Mayor Kelly Burke announced she would not be seeking re-election next year. She said she was supporting Oak Lawn attorney Rick Ryan in the March Democratic primary and had donated $50,000 to his campaign.
CONGRESS
In the 4th Congressional District, incumbent Jesus “Chuy” Garcia will face Chicago Ald. Ray Lopez in the Democratic primary. No Republican filed by the deadline.
In the 6th Congressional District, incumbent U.S. Rep. Sean Casten, who defeated Marie Newman in a tough primary campaign in 2022, is being challenged again. Charles Hughes, of Chicago, and Mahnour Ahmad, of Oakbrook Terrace, have filed petitions to run in the Democratic primary.
On the Republican side, Niki Confortiti is the sole candidate. She ran in the Republican primary in 2022 but came in third in a crowded six-person field that was captured by Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau, who took a pass on a second run at Casten.
In the 1st Congressional District, incumbent Jonathan Jackson is running unopposed. Two Republicans filed for the right to take on Jackson. Montelle Gaji, of Chicago, and Marcus Lewis, of Matteson, will square off in March.
JUDGE RACES
In the 4th Subcircuit, Michael Chvatal, of LaGrange Highlands, is running as a Democrat for the Felice vacancy. Philip Fowler, of La Grange, is running as a Democrat for the King vacancy. Koula Fournier, of Burr Ridge, is running as a Democrat for the Maloney vacancy.
In the 3rd Subcircuit, Pat Heery, of Brookfield, is running as a Democrat for the Harmening vacancy.
In the 19th Subcircuit, former Oak Lawn Mayor Dave Heilmann is running as a Democrat against Renee Risa Lanier, of Chicago, and Colleen Bridget Duignan, of Chicago.