Evanston voter guide for the 2022 primaries

Illinois’ primary elections take place this Tuesday, June 28, and polling places across Evanston will be open for voters to cast their ballots from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Anyone in line before 7 p.m. has the right to stay in line and cast their ballot. 

Early voting also took place over the last two weeks at the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center on Ridge Avenue and officially closed Monday, June 27. According to numbers collected by the Evanston City Clerk’s office, the Civic Center had received 2,222 ballots through early voting as of Sunday evening, June 26. The busiest day of early voting was Friday, June 24, with 355 Evanstonians casting their ballots that day. 

In the 2018 primaries, the most recent midterm and gubernatorial primaries in Illinois, Evanston registered one of the highest voter turnouts in suburban Cook County, with 42.5% of registered voters actually casting ballots, according to Cook County’s Post-Election Report from that year. That rate led to a total of 21,251 ballots cast among Evanston residents, with north Evanston participating the most in early voting. 

Nearly 95% of those ballots in 2018 were for the Democratic primaries that year, although Illinois is an open primary state in which voters can ask for the ballot of any single political party, regardless of their party registration. Evanston saw a large jump in Democratic primary participation from 2014, when voters cast just 6,780 Democratic primary ballots, to 2018, when they cast more than 20,000 ballots for Democratic primaries.

This spring, the headline races for both parties are the gubernatorial primaries, which will determine the Republican and Democratic candidates for governor this coming November. Though several uncontested races need no primaries, Evanstonians will still help pick candidates to advance to the general for executive, legislative, judicial and county government seats.

Where can I vote?

Evanston has a total of 25 polling places operating from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. this election day, all of which are listed below. The County Clerk’s “Your Voter Information” site provides voters their specific polling place on Election Day, based on their address. 

• Alice Millar Chapel, 1870 Sheridan Road
• Jane R. Perlman Apartments, 1900 Sherman Ave.
• Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes Street
• Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington Ave.

• McGaw YMCA, 1000 Grove Street
• Beth Emet Synagogue, 1224 Dempster Street
• Joseph E. Hill Early Childhood Center, 1500 McDaniel Ave.
• Washington Elementary School, 914 Ashland Ave.
• Robert Crown Community Center, 1801 Main Street

• Nichols Middle School, 800 Greenleaf Street
• Lake Street Church, 607 Lake Street
• Reba Place Church, 620 Madison Street
• Lincoln Elementary School, 910 Forest Ave.
• Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, 1655 Foster Street
• Northminster Presbyterian Church, 2515 Central Park Ave.
• Willard Elementary School, 2700 Hurd Ave.
• Hillside Free Methodist Church, 2727 Crawford Ave.
• Lincolnwood Elementary School, 2600 Colfax Street
• Haven Middle School, 2417 Prairie Ave.
• Evanston Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Blvd.
• Baha’i National Center, 1233 Central Street
• Dawes Elementary School, 440 Dodge Ave.
• Oakton Elementary School, 436 Ridge Ave.
• Grace Lutheran Church, 1430 South Blvd.
• Chute Middle School, 1400 Oakton Street

How can I check my voter registration?
Visit the Illinois State Board of Elections site. 

Can I still register to vote?
Yes, but only in person. The registration deadline was May 31 for mail-in and June 11 for online, but Illinois has a “grace period” up to and including Election Day to register in-person at an approved location. To register, you must provide two forms of identification, one of which shows that you’ve lived at your current address for at least 30 days before Election Day. Evanston’s voting webpage lists acceptable forms of identification. The League of Women Voters site can also help.

How do I vote by mail?
If you requested a mail-in ballot, it’s not too late to vote by mail. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked before or on Election Day and must be received within 14 days after Election Day to be considered valid. A drop box designated for mail-in ballots is available in room G300 at the Morton Civic Center, or you can use any postal drop box near you. 

Where can I get more information on the candidates?

• WBEZ Chicago and the Chicago Sun-Times have released this cheat sheet breaking down 13 key races on this spring’s primary ballot.
• WTTW News and the League of Women Voters of Cook County publishes profiles, Q&As and short videos of candidates in all statewide and Cook County elections, including those without competitive primaries.
• Injustice Watch publishes a “Check Your Judges” voter guide for Cook County’s judicial primaries. This guide includes information such as experience, notable stories, community involvement and bar association ratings for each candidate.
• Injustice Watch Senior Reporter Maya Dukmasova has also put together answers to frequently asked questions about judicial elections and an explainer on why these particular candidates are running for judge.
• Both the Cook County Democratic Party and the Democratic Party of Evanston have published endorsements for most races on the ballot. As of press time, the Cook County Republican Party has not published endorsements.

How can I report election fraud?
Complaints of violations of the Illinois Election Code must be mailed in writing to the Executive Director of the Board of Elections. The complaint must include a variety of information listed on the board’s website.

Do I need an ID with me to vote?
If you are already registered, you do not need to present an ID to vote. If you are not registered, you will need to provide the two forms of identification mentioned above to register on-site; if you cannot provide the required identification, you will only be able to vote with a provisional ballot.

What will be on the ballot?
Here are the races and candidates that will be on the Democratic and Republican ballots for Evanstonians.
Candidates’ names are linked to their campaign websites, and are bolded if they are incumbents running for reelection. Judicial candidates’ ratings from 13 local bar associations are listed beneath their names.

Statewide elections

These races are for executive positions in the state government and for one of Illinois’ two senate seats.

Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Democratic Primary

• JB Pritzker and Juliana Stratton: The incumbent governor and lieutenant governor, first elected in 2018.
• Beverly Miles and Karla Shaw: Miles is a U.S. Army veteran, registered nurse and activist from West Garfield Park.

Republican Primary

• Darren Bailey and Stephanie Trussell: Bailey is a state senator for the 55th District in southeast Illinois and Trussell is a former talk show host on WLS-AM 890 in Chicago.
• Richard C. Irvin and Avery Bourne: Irvin is the mayor of Aurora and Bourne is a state representative for the 95th district in southwest Illinois.
• Gary Rabine and Aaron Del Mar: Rabine is a businessman from Bull Valley and Del Mar is the Republican Committeeman for Palatine Township.
• Paul Schimpf and Carolyn Schofield: Schimpf is a former state senator for the 58th district in southwest Illinois and Schofield is a member of the McHenry County Board.
• Jesse Sullivan and Kathleen Murphy: Sullivan is the founder of venture capital firm Alter Global and Murphy is the former Director of Communications for State Rep. Jeanne Ives.
• Max Solomon and Latasha H. Fields: Solomon is an attorney from Hazel Crest and Fields is an entrepreneur from Chicago.

Attorney General
Democratic primary

Incumbent Kwame Raoul is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Republican Primary

• Steve Kim: International business attorney and 2010 Republican nominee for attorney general.
• David Shestokas: Private attorney and former Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney from Orland Park.
• Tom DeVore: Private attorney from Bond County who litigated to lift the statewide mask mandate in public schools.

Secretary of State
Democratic Primary

• Alexi Giannoulias: Former State Treasurer and 2010 Democratic candidate for U.S. senator.
• David Moore: Chicago Alderperson for the 17th Ward in Auburn Gresham.
• Sidney Moore: Founder and Executive Director of Big Box Charities from Joliet.
• Anna Valencia: Incumbent City Clerk of Chicago.

Republican Primary

• Dan Brady: State Representative for the 105th District in central Illinois.
• John C. Milhiser: Former United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois.

U.S. Senator

Democratic Primary

Incumbent Tammy Duckworth is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Republican Primary

• Casey Chlebek: Real estate agent and former Illinois division president of the Polish American Congress from Lake Forest.
• Peggy Hubbard: Former police officer and 2020 candidate for U.S. Senator from Belleville.
• Robert “Bobby” Piton: Investor and activist from Geneva.
• Jimmy Lee Tillman II: Publisher and author, son of former Chicago Ald. Dorothy Tillman from Chicago.
• Anthony W. Williams: Pastor and activist from Dolton.
• Kathy Salvi: Personal injury lawyer and former public defender from Mundelein.
• Matthew “Matt” Dubiel: Owner of WCKG radio station from Naperville.

Judicial Elections

These races are for justices and judges in the Illinois Appellate Court and the Cook County Circuit Court. The first 12 races are countywide, the last two are limited to voters in the 9th Cook County Judicial Subcircuit. Also, Injustice Watch publishes a “Check Your Judges” voter guide for Cook County’s judicial primaries. This guide includes information such as experience, notable stories, community involvement and bar association ratings for each candidate.

No Republican candidates are filed to run in any of the judicial elections Evanstonians will vote in.

Appellate Court – Hall vacancy

Democratic Primary

• Russell “Russ” Hartigan: Former circuit judge from 2010 to 2017, civil litigator and mediator in private practice.
• Dominique C. Ross: Incumbent circuit judge in the domestic relations division since 2008.
• Debra B. Walker: Incumbent Circuit Judge in the domestic relations division since 2008.

Appellate Court – Harris vacancy

Democratic Primary

• Raymond W. Mitchell: Incumbent circuit judge in the chancery division since 2008.
• Devlin Joseph Schoop: Former appointed circuit judge from 2015 to 2016 and former assistant corporation counsel for the City of Chicago from 2017 to 2019.
• John H. Ehrlich: Incumbent circuit judge since 2012, currently hearing cases in the law division.

Cook County Circuit Court – Brennan Vacancy

Democratic Primary

• Howard B. Brookins, Jr.: Incumbent Alderman for Chicago’s 21st Ward in several South Side neighborhoods since 2003.
• Ubi O. O’Neal: Private attorney in general practice and previous candidate for judge in 2018 and 2020.
• Lisa Michelle Taylor: Private attorney practicing personal injury and insurance law.

Cook County Circuit Court – Callahan, Jr., Vacancy

Democratic Primary

• Mary Bernadette McMahon: Assistant state’s attorney since 2005, supervising all prosecutors and criminal cases in the 2nd Municipal District of the Cook County Circuit Court covering the northern suburbs.
• Suzanne Therese McEneely: Assistant Public Defender since 2002 and previous candidate for judge in 2020.
• Tracie Porter: Incumbent appointed circuit judge in the traffic division since 2021.

Cook County Circuit Court – Cannon Vacancy

Democratic Primary

• Diana López: Associate circuit judge in the traffic division since 2021.
• Monica G. Somerville: Former Deputy Director in the City of Chicago Department of Finance from 2018 to 2021 overseeing citation administration and accounts receivable.
• Mable Taylor: Private attorney in general practice and previous candidate for judge in four cycles since 2012.

Cook County Circuit Court – Hyman Vacancy

Democratic primary

• Thomas E. Nowinski: Chief of staff for the Cook County Circuit Court Clerk since 2020.
• Carmen Migdalia Quinones: Private attorney practicing family law.

Cook County Circuit Court – Ingram Vacancy

Democratic Primary

• Elizabeth “Beth” Ryan: Private attorney practicing personal injury law and previous candidate for judge in 2020.
• Yolanda Harris Sayre: Legal counsel for the Illinois State Police since 2021 and contract attorney for the Illinois Secretary of State since 2019.

Cook County Circuit Court – Leeming Vacancy

Democratic Primary

• Rena Marie Van Tine: Incumbent appointed circuit judge in the law division since 2021.
• Wende Williams: Private attorney practicing criminal defense and personal injury law and previous candidate for judge in 2020.

Cook County Circuit Court – Lynch Vacancy

Democratic Primary

• Deidre Baumann: Private attorney practicing civil rights and police misconduct law and previous candidate for judge in four cycles since 2010.
• Paul Joyce: Assistant State’s Attorney in felony prosecutions, bond court and felony review since 1999.
• Michael Weaver: Private attorney practicing corporate law.

Cook County Circuit Court – McGury Vacancy

Democratic Primary

• Ruth Isabel Gudino: Incumbent appointed circuit judge in the traffic division since 2021 and previous Assistant State’s Attorney from 2003 to 2021.
• Chelsey Renece Robinson: Private attorney in general practice and previous candidate for judge in 2016 and 2020.

Cook County Circuit Court – O’Brien Vacancy

Democratic Primary

• Araceli R. De La Cruz: Incumbent appointed circuit judge in the traffic division since January 2022 and former General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer for the Acero Charter School Network from 2016 to 2021.
• Jacqueline Marie Griffin: Assistant State’s Attorney since 2005 prosecuting family law cases, juvenile offenses and felony criminal cases.
• Dan Balanoff: Private attorney practicing estate planning and real estate law and son of sitting Circuit Judge Robert Balanoff.

Cook County Circuit Court – Sullivan Vacancy

Democratic Primary

• Thomas More Donnelly: Incumbent appointed circuit judge since 2021 and former associate judge hearing a variety of cases from 2003 to 2021.
• Claudia Silva-Hernandez: Former labor counsel for the Cook County Circuit Court Clerk from 2021 to 2022 and former administrative law judge for the Illinois Department of Human Services from 2019 to 2021.
• Meridth Vanae Hammer: Private attorney practicing real estate and zoning law and former Deputy General Counsel for the Cook County Circuit Court Clerk from 2019 to 2021.

Cook County 9th Subcircuit – Cleveland Vacancy

Democratic Primary

• Sanjay Tailor: Incumbent appointed circuit judge serving as presiding judge of the county division since 2021 and former associate judge in several divisions from 2003 to 2021.
• Ann Buran-Vongher: Former Assistant Public Defender representing defendants in misdemeanor, felony and juvenile cases from 1989 to 2020.

Cook County 9th Subcircuit – Jacobius Vacancy

Democratic primary

• Basileios “Bill” John Foutris: Private attorney in police misconduct litigation and previous candidate for judge in 2020.
• Torrick Alan Ward: Deputy Director of Labor Relations for the Cook County Department of Human Resources since 2019.
• Barry Goldberg: Chief of the Charitable Trust Bureau for the Illinois Attorney General since 2019.
• Don R. Sampen: Private attorney practicing commercial and insurance law.

Cook County Elections

These races are for executive and legislative offices in the county government and for commissioners in the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.

No Republican primaries will be held in any of the Cook County elections Evanstonians will vote in.

Board of Commissioners President

Democratic Primary

• Toni Preckwinkle: Incumbent Board President since 2010 and runner-up in the 2019 Chicago mayoral election.
• Richard R. Boykin: Former Cook County Commissioner for District 1 from 2014 to 2018 and previous candidate for circuit judge in 2020.

Board of Review – District 2

Democratic Primary

• Michael Cabonargi: Incumbent review commissioner for District 2 since 2011 and vice-chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois since 2019.
• Samantha Steele: Appointed member of the Property Tax Board of Appeals in Lake County, Indiana, since 2019 and former member of Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi’s transition team in 2018.

Cook County Sheriff

Democratic Primary

• Thomas Dart: Incumbent sheriff since 2006 and former state legislator from 1991 to 2003.
• Noland Rivera: Police sergeant who has served in the Chicago Police Department since 1994.

Cook County Assessor

Democratic Primary

• Fritz Kaegi: Incumbent assessor since 2018 and previous career private asset manager.
• Kari K. Steele: Incumbent Metropolitan Water Reclamation Commissioner since 2013, currently serving as Board President.

Metropolitan Water Reclamation Commissioner
(Full 6-year term)

Democratic Primary (pick three)

• Mariyana T. Spyropoulos: Incumbent MWRD commissioner since 2010.

• Yumeka Brown: Incumbent Matteson Village Clerk since 2017 and President of the Rich Township Democratic Organization.
• Patricia Theresa Flynn: Incumbent Trustee in the Village of Crestwood, serving her third term.
• Frank Avila: Former MWRD commissioner from 2002 to 2020.
• Rick Garcia: Chicago political strategist and former Policy and Outreach Coordinator for the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.
• Cristina P. Nonato: Worked for the Circuit Court of Cook County for 12 years.
• Precious W. Brady-Davis: Associate Regional Communications Director at Sierra Club in Chicago.
• Sharon Waller: Licensed environmental engineer and principal at Sustainable Systems, a Chicago-based environmental consulting firm.

No Republican primary – R. Cary Capparelli is running unopposed.

Metropolitan Water Reclamation Commissioner
(Unexpired 2-year term)

Democratic Primary

• Chakena D. Perry: Incumbent appointed MWRD commissioner since January 2022 and a former aide to MWRD Commissioner Josina Morita.

• Daniel “Pogo” Pogorzelski: Communications specialist for State Treasurer Michael Frerichs and former Executive Director of the Avondale Chamber of Commerce in Chicago.
• Elizabeth Joyce: Ran for election to the MWRD in 2018.