Overall, IFT-endorsed candidates did well in the June 28 primary election! IFT endorsed candidates in five contested races for the U.S. House of Representatives. Of those, four came out on top. Notably, State Rep. Delia Ramirez overwhelmingly won her primary for the newly drawn 3rd Congressional District. Ramirez’s victory in this solidly Democratic district means she will soon be the first Latino Congresswoman elected from the Midwest. Other big congressional wins include Congressman Danny Davis in the 7th, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi in the 8th, and Nikki Budzinski in the 13th.
On the state level, Alexi Giannoulias won his primary for Secretary of State. IFT endorsed Giannoulias after a series of meetings between IFT members and candidates for the office. Giannoulias will face Republican State Representative Dan Brady in the General Election.
In the State Senate, IFT focused on six contested primaries. Of those, IFT-endorsed candidates won in four districts. Incumbent Senators Omar Aquino (Dist. 2), Robert Martwick (Dist. 10), and Celina Villanueva (Dist. 12) all won with comfortable margins. In the open contest to replace outgoing Sen. Melinda Bush, IFT endorsed our own member and teacher Mary Edly-Allen. With the support of the IFT and Lake County Federation of Teachers (Local 504), Mary won her election with 55 percent of the vote.
In the State House of Representatives, IFT-backed incumbents prevailed in many districts, including Representatives Sonya Marie Harper (District 6), Michael Kelly (Dist. 15), Lindsey LaPointe (Dist. 19), Justin Slaughter (Dist. 29), Natalie Manley (Dist. 98), and Patrick Windhorst (Dist. 117). In the open seat to replace Rep. Delia Ramirez, IFT-endorsed Lilian Jiminez easily won a three-way primary with 78 percent of the vote. In Dist. 51, the union backed Nabeela Syed, who won her race with 72 percent of the vote. Syed will face incumbent Republican Chris Bos in the General Election. In Dist. 62, Laura Faver Dias won the primary with 70 percent of the vote. This district is an open contest to replace Rep. Sam Yingling, who ran for Senate. IFT supported Republican incumbents who suffered disappointing losses in Dist. 75, where Rep. David Welter lost to Jed Davis, and Dist. 93, where Rep. Mark Luft lost to Travis Weaver.
There are two Supreme Court districts up for election in 2022. Their outcome will determine the balance of power on the state’s highest court for decades. In the 2nd Judicial, IFT-endorsed Democrat Liz Rochford won a three-way primary. Rochford will face the winner of the Republican primary, a race that is still too close to call. In the 3rd Judicial, IFT endorsed Democrat Mary K. O’Brien, who was uncontested. O’Brien will face Republican Michael Burke in November.
With the Primary Election over, the IFT will now focus on the November General Election, where there is so much at stake! Congressional races will determine the balance of power of the U.S. House, and several Illinois races will be in the national spotlight, including districts 6, 13, 14, and 17. IFT will also be working to support our endorsed candidates statewide so Illinois can continue its path to fiscal recovery and stability. In addition, we will be asking members and all voters to support the Workers’ Rights Amendment, which will enshrine the right to organize and bargain in the Illinois Constitution.
Watch your inbox and ift-aft.org for more information about the November election in the weeks and months ahead.