Illinois
Rep. Eric Sorensen faces GOP challenger Joe McGraw in Illinois’ 17th Congressional District
CHICAGO (CBS) – Voters in Illinois’ 17th Congressional District will decide Tuesday whether Democratic Rep. Eric Sorensen will keep his seat, or challenger Joe McGraw will return the seat to Republicans for the first time since 2012.
The 17th District does not include any part of the Chicago area, but does snake around to include Rockford, the Quad Cities, Galesburg, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal. Sorensen is in his first term representing the district, which has been in Democratic hands since 2013.
Sorensen, a meteorologist for more than 20 years before he was elected to the 17th District in 2022, is facing a challenge from McGraw, a retired judge who spent 15 years on the bench in the 17th Judicial Circuit, which includes Winnebago and Boone counties before he retired in 2017.
Sorensen has touted his limited experience as an elected official as an advantage in seeking bipartisan solutions in Congress.
“I’m one of the very few people that doesn’t have a background in politics,” Sorensen said recently. “So I can work with Republicans and Democrats to get the job done.”
McGraw, meantime, has touted his experience as a judge, as well as a trained mediator and arbitrator.
“I’ve used those skills to do reality testing with parties that are very adverse to try to figure out, what are the facts?” McGraw said recently.
This race, which could help tilt the balance of power in Congress, is focused on the same issues as numerous others. They include the issues of abortion, the economy, and immigration.
Where do Sorensen and McGraw stand on abortion?
Sorensen supports codifying Roe v. Wade into federal law, and permanently restoring a woman’s right to choose. Meantime, he also wants to protect women’s right to travel across state lines to seek safe reproductive care in Illinois.
McGraw has said he supported the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, arguing abortion is an issue that states should decide, not the federal government. He has said he would oppose a national abortion ban if it were to come up for a vote in Congress.
Where do Sorensen and McGraw stand on the economy?
Sorensen supports legislation to increase Social Security benefits for seniors, and wants to expand Medicare’s power to negotiate prescription drug prices to lower medication costs for working families and seniors. He also supports creating more “green jobs” to help address climate change, such as through increased electric vehicle production at the Rivian plant in Normal, Illinois.
McGraw has said he wants to cut taxes on American factories to create more jobs, and eliminate the federal estate tax. He also wants to reduce federal spending by restricting immigration, arguing migrants have become a drain on social services, health care, and schools.
Where do Sorensen and McGraw stand on immigration?
Sorensen has proposed legislation to add 500 new U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at entry points on the southern border, as well as a bill to provide increased funding, technology and staffing for U.S. Customs and Border Protection to stop the spread of fentanyl.
Likewise, McGraw also wants to expand the border patrol and crack down on fentanyl, but also supports expanding the border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. He also backs a return to the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which would require asylum seekers arriving at the southern border to stay in Mexico until an immigration court rules on their asylum claims.
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A man in Illinois punched an election judge at a polling location and was arrested on Sunday, two days before the climax of the US presidential race, according to authorities.
The man, identified as 24-year-old Daniel Schmidt, was charged with two counts of aggravated battery to a victim over 60, two counts of aggravated battery in a public place, and five misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and one count of disorderly conduct.
His case follows numerous attacks on the voting process and threats of violence, the purpose of which often is to create fear and distrust around voting, according to extremist experts.
Election officials across the US say voting is safe, and voters should not be deterred from casting their ballots in Tuesday’s presidential race.
In Schmidt’s case, police say they responded to reports of a man causing a disturbance in the voting line at the township office of Orland Park, Illinois.
Officers arrested Schmidt after learning that he had allegedly entered the building and attempted to cut in front of other voters in line for early voting.
An election judge at the entrance instructed Schmidt to go to the back of the line and wait his turn. But authorities say that Schmidt refused.
At that point, another election judge was called to assist, police said – and Schmidt was again instructed to go to the back of the line.
According to the police, Schmidt then attempted to push past that election judge who stopped him from entering alongside several other staff members.
Schmidt then reportedly began yelling profanities and punched the election judge in the face, knocking the official’s glasses off. At that point, several other patrons jumped in and restrained Schmidt until the officers arrived.
Authorities added that, while being arrested, Schmidt also resisted Orland Park officers.
Schmidt was held overnight on Sunday and transported to Bridgeview courthouse for a detention hearing on Monday morning.
Ahead of this year’s election, election offices around the country have strengthened their security measures in anticipation of potential violence at the polls, in part in response to a rise in threats and harassment directed at election workers after the 2020 election that Donald Trump lost to Joe Biden.
Trump is running in Tuesday’s election against Kamala Harris.
Many offices have also trained their workers on de-escalation techniques and conducted drills for active shooters as well as other kinds of attacks.
In the last week alone, the US has already experienced multiple attacks on the voting process, threats of violence and extremism, including bomb threats, ballots being burned and more.
Illinois
Early voting sites in Chicago: Expect long lines wait for final day of early voting, board of elections says
Monday is officially the last day of early voting in Illinois ahead of the Election Day for 2024 — and in many parts of the region, its the busiest.
“Monday is generally our busiest early voting days,” said Chicago Board of Elections’ Max Bever.
Sunday, long lines wrapped around Chicago’s Voting Supersite at 191 North Clark Street. Similar turnout was expected Monday, Bever said.
According to Bever, approximately 40,000 people typically come out to vote early the day before Election Day, with the CBOE expecting to see “similar numbers this year.”
2024 Illinois Voter Guide: What’s on your ballot, how to research judges and more
Chicago officials noted that two-hour wait times could be expected for early voting sites on the northside and near the lake front Monday, as those locations have easier access to public transit.
Shorter lines were expected on the west side, the CBOE said.
As Election Day — that’s Tuesday, Nov. 5 — approaches, here’s what to know about early voting Monday.
Chicago early voting locations
Early voting will be available on the day before the election at the city’s Voting Supersite at 191 North Clark Street, the Chicago Board of Elections’ Offices at 69 West Washington Street and at early voting locations in all 50 wards.
All early voting sites are open to voters regardless of where they live in the city.
More information can be found on the board’s website.
Cook County early voting locations
Voters can cast ballots at all of the county’s circuit courthouses, and at the Cook County Clerk’s Office at 69 West Washington Street on the day prior to the election.
More information can be found on the county clerk’s website.
DeKalb County
The Sycamore campus’ Legislative Center at the Gathertorium will host early voting for one final day on Monday, Nov. 4.
More information can be found here.
DuPage County early voting locations
Early voting continues to be available at locations around the county, and voters can cast ballots at early voting sites on Nov. 4.
You can find more information on the county clerk’s website.
Grundy County early voting locations
Early voting has concluded in Grundy County. You can find your polling place and other information on the county clerk’s website.
Kane County early voting locations
Early voting remains ongoing at sites throughout Kane County, including St. Charles, Aurora, Elgin, Hampshire, Batavia, West Dundee and more, according to officials.
A full list of hours, can be found on the county clerk’s website.
Kankakee County early voting locations
The Kankakee County Clerk’s Office at 189 East Court Street will offer early voting from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the day before the election.
More information can be found on the county clerk’s website.
Kendall County early voting locations
Officials in Kendall County say early voting will be available at the Kendall County Office Building in Yorkville on Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
More information can be found here.
Lake County early voting locations
Early voting will be available Monday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the following locations:
Avon Township (Round Lake Park)
Jane Addams Center/Bowen Park (Waukegan)
Ela Area Library (Lake Zurich)
Lake County Courthouse Lobby (Waukegan)
Highwood Library
Mundelein High School West District Office
North Chicago City Hall
You can find more information on hours on the county clerk’s website.
LaSalle County early voting locations
Early voting is available at the LaSalle County Emergency Management Building in Ottawa on Monday, with hours from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
You can get more information on the county clerk’s website.
McHenry County early voting locations
Early voting will be available Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the following locations:
McHenry County Election Center (Woodstock)
Algonquin Township Office (Crystal Lake)
Crystal Lake Public Library
McHenry Township Office (Johnsburg)
Lake in the Hills Village Hall
McHenry City Hall
Nunda Township Office (Crystal Lake)
More information can be found on the county clerk’s website.
Will County early voting locations
More than two dozen early voting sites will be open through Monday across the county.
A full list of locations can be found on the county clerk’s website.
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