Election 2022 results: Durkin will not seek reelection as Illinois House Republican leader

SPRINGFIELD, Unwell. — With redistricting on their facet, robust fundraising from celebration leaders and a lift of thousands and thousands from Gov. JB Pritzker, statehouse Democrats seem like retaining their supermajority statuses in each chambers – and sure even rising that benefit within the Home.

There was no “pink wave” – or perhaps a ripple – within the Illinois Common Meeting.

And Illinois Home Republican Chief Jim Durkin’s post-Election Day announcement that he won’t search reelection as minority chief displays the dissatisfaction amongst most of the state’s institution Republicans.

“I started this journey as a voice of moderation and conclude this journey the identical approach I began, a voice of moderation,” the Western Springs Republican stated in a press release. “To the individuals of Illinois disillusioned with these outcomes, do not surrender hope. Tomorrow is a brand new day.”

The writing was already on the wall for Durkin after Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin misplaced the Republican major race for governor.

Statehouse Republicans had been hopeful that Irvin, with thousands and thousands in assist from billionaire hedge fund supervisor Ken Griffin, might assist to reshape the state celebration. However Irvin’s loss was coupled with the state GOP’s embrace of state Sen. Darren Bailey, a far-right Donald Trump backer whom some Republicans discovered robust to assist.

Durkin was hopeful messages about crime and the economic system might assist choose up three seats to interrupt the Democratic supermajority.

A “supermajority” is the three-fifths majority that any invoice handed after Might 31 requires for the legislation to enter impact throughout the subsequent 12 months. A supermajority can be required to override a governor’s veto.

Each state Senate President Don Harmon and Home Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch on Tuesday declared that they had stored their supermajorities of their respective chambers. After Tuesday’s decisive victories, Democrats basically tightened their grip on state authorities, holding each statewide elected workplace and gaining one other seat on the Illinois Supreme Court docket.

Newest election outcomes

The Illinois Home presently has 73 Democrats and 45 Republicans – however Republicans on Wednesday estimated they had been right down to 41 seats, and doubtlessly 40, as they awaited the ultimate outcomes of 1 incumbent race. Which means Democrats had been on their strategy to choosing up 4 or 5 seats. Forty Home seats had been uncontested.

The Illinois Democratic Celebration anticipated 4 legislative pickups, however was nonetheless awaiting the ultimate outcomes on three races, together with within the northwest suburban 51st District, the place 23-year-old Nabeela Syed declared victory over Republican incumbent Chris Bos, making her the youngest member of the brand new Illinois Common Meeting. Syed led Bos 52% to 48% with 95% of precincts reporting.

“My identify is Nabeela Syed. I am a 23-year outdated Muslim, Indian-American girl. We simply flipped a Republican-held suburban district,” Syed tweeted.

Democrats will even retain their supermajority standing within the Illinois Senate, which presently has 41 Democrats and simply 18 Republicans. Republicans wanted to choose up six seats to interrupt the supermajority. Thirty-four seats had been uncontested.

A worst case state of affairs can be the lack of two Democratic seats, with Senate Democrats nonetheless holding a supermajority of 39 or 40 seats. Within the 56th District in southern Illinois, Republican Erica Conway Harriss defeated the incumbent, State Sen. Kris Tharp 51% to 49%.

Democrats are nonetheless awaiting outcomes of state Sen. Michael Hasting’s race in his southwest suburban nineteenth District. Hastings, who confronted Republican challenger Patrick Sheehan, has confronted calls to resign amid allegations of home abuse from his ex-wife after they had been married, which he has denied. He has not been charged with any crime and has denied any wrongdoing.

With 95% p.c of precincts reporting, Hastings and Sheehan had been tied at 50%. The race is prone to be determined by mail-in ballots. The Senate Democratic marketing campaign fund didn’t present {dollars} or assets for Hastings’ marketing campaign.

(Source: Solar-Occasions Media Wire – Copyright Chicago Solar-Occasions 2022.)