All told, March 15 was a rough night for Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner and a moment to savor for House Speaker Michael Madigan, before the parties return to Springfield. But the impact may not be felt immediately, because 5th District state House primary winner Juliana Stratton, if she wins in November, won't be seated until early in 2017.
In a campaign with a level of vitriol matched in the extraordinary by more than $6 million in spending, coupled with a Stratton endorsement from President Obama, Stratton sent incumbent Ken Dunkin packing in a runaway winswift punishment for a man who sided with Rauner one too many times and was AWOL during a vital House vote.
Stratton was sure to thank Obama during her victory speech.
As well as keeping his own seat in the 22nd House District, Madigan also returns to Springfield to a House full of familiar faces, assuming their wins in November.
The 2nd Districta race between incumbent Theresa Mah and community organizer Alex Acevedoturned out to be too close to call before Windy City Times went to press.
In the 4th District, incumbents Cynthia Soto gave challenger Robert Zwolinski a pasting. Sonya Harper was able to keep the 6th District appointment which she secured in 2015. In the 7th District, incumbent Emanuel "Chris" Welch scored a similarly easy win over Chris Harris.
John D'Amico took the 15th District for a seventh term, pending the general election. It was a little tighter for 26th District incumbent Christian Mitchell, who eventually prevailed in his rematch with challenger Jay Travis.
Thaddeus Jones, the incumbent in the 29th District, also won his primary race, with Kenneth "Kenny" Williams offering another token opposition.