Knox County voters set party nominees for several local offices in Tuesday’s primary election.
With all precincts reporting, 2,816 ballots were cast in the March 17 primary out of 15,066 registered voters, representing about 18.7 percent turnout. Results will be certified in the coming days.
Countywide races
Republican incumbent Scott G. Erickson received 1,776 votes in the race for county clerk and recorder and will face Democrat Johan Henrikson, who received 829 votes, in the November general election.
In the race for county treasurer, Democratic incumbent Robin E. Davis received 879 votes and will face Republican Jerrie Ann Walters, who received 1,680 votes.
Incumbent Republican Jack C. Harlan Jr. was unopposed for sheriff and received 1,762 votes. No Democratic candidate filed.
Knox County Board races
Contested primaries were limited to a few county board seats.
In District 4, both Republican candidates will appear on the general election ballot, with incumbent Jared Hawkinson receiving 715 votes and Bradley Hix receiving 505 votes. Democrat Pam Goodsil was unopposed.
In District 5, Republican Brian Friedrich was unopposed and received 863 votes. No Democratic candidate filed.
In Knox County Board District 1, Jaclyn Smith-Esters and Cheryl Nache, both Democrats, and Tammy L. Weiss, Anthony R. Weiss and Dylan Sage, all Republicans, were vying for two seats in the general election. Results were not available as of Wednesday morning.
Robert Bondi, a Republican, was unopposed in District 2.
Pamela Davidson, a Democrat, was unopposed in District 3. District 3 incumbent Samuel Cohen, a Democrat, withdrew from the race.
State and federal races
Statewide, Juliana Stratton won the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. In Knox County, however, Raja Krishnamoorthi led with 471 votes (50.9 percent), compared with Stratton’s 233 (25.2 percent).
On the Republican side, Knox County voters aligned with statewide results, backing Don Tracy for U.S. Senate and Darren Bailey for governor.
In the Republican primary for governor, Knox County voters backed Bailey with 1,264 votes (68.9 percent). Bailey also won statewide and will face Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker, who was unopposed in the primary and received 879 votes locally.
In the 17th Congressional District Republican primary, Dillan Vancil defeated Julie Bickelhaupt in Knox County with 1,258 votes (70.3 percent) to 531 votes (29.7 percent). Vancil also won the nomination districtwide. Democratic incumbent Eric Sorensen was unopposed.
Statewide, Brad Beekman won the Republican nomination in the 36th Senate District, defeating Patrick Harlan. In Knox County, however, Harlan received 76.8 percent of the vote. Democrat Michael Halpin was unopposed.
Statewide, Joshua Higgins defeated longtime incumbent Norine Hammond in the Republican primary for the 94th House District. In Knox County, however, Hammond received more votes.
Other races
Several regional superintendent and judicial races appeared on the ballot but were largely uncontested or had no candidates filed, including a vacancy for judge in the 9th Judicial Circuit.
Republican Kathryn Jennings was unopposed for regional superintendent overseeing Henderson, Knox, Mercer and Warren counties.
Numerous precinct committeeperson positions had no candidates. Among those elected, Democrats included Betty Nelson in Galesburg and Robin E. Davis in Henderson.
Republicans elected to precinct committeeperson positions included Ricardo “Rick” Sandoval in Cedar Second, Bradley Hix in Henderson, Rebecca Friedrich in Indian Point, Scott G. Erickson in Knox First, Jared Hawkinson in Knox Third, Melanie DeSutter in Ontario, Patricia L. Asbury in Persifer, Barbara A. Saline in Rio Township, Ivan Price in Salem and Julie Vandran in Truro.
Tuesday’s results set the ballot for the November general election, where contested county offices and board seats will be decided.