Relatively few openly LGBTQ+ candidates were running in the March 19 Illinois Primary Election. But there were some significant contests in play at the local, state and federal levels.
Openly gay Ald. Ray Lopez (15th Ward) was defeated by incumbent and political veteran Jesus "Chuy" Garcia for the Democratic nomination to represent Illinois's 4th congressional District. During his concession speech, Lopez said, "We have been the engine that could keep going," adding thanks for all the people "who thumbed their nose at incumbency, to help this little firecracker move forward."
Meanwhile, it's official: Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis is another step toward completing the term which she was appointed by Gov. JB Pritzker last summer to fill. Voters in the March 19 Primary approved Brady-Davis's continuing in the post. She is the first Black transgender woman appointed to office in Cook County. On Facebook, Brady-Davis said, "I'm overwhelmingly grateful for this victory. Onward to the general election!"
Another incumbent member of the LGBTQ+ community, MWRD Commissioner Marcelino Garcia III, won March 19th as well.
Among incumbents in the state legislature, LGBTQ+ community members state Sen. Mike Simmons and state Rep. Kelly Cassidy each ran unopposed (and will likely be unopposed in November as well). Openly gay 17th Congressional District U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen ran unopposed in the primary and next faces Republican Joe McGraw, a retired judge, in November.
Openly gay Judge Ed Underhill defeated Lori Ann Roper in the contest for Judge Timothy Murphy's seat, which Underhill had previously been appointed to fill. Bisexual attorney Deidre Baumann meanwhile lost her bid to unseat current appointed 7th Sub-Circuit Judge Owens J. Shelby.