Here’s a look at Rockford-area primary election results in key races

June 29, 2022|By Kevin Haas|In Featured, Local, Top Stories

Voters cast their ballots on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, in the primary election at a Rockford polling place on Rural Street. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

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UPDATE: The Winnebago County Clerk’s Office now says it is investigating a “discrepancy” that could affect referendum results.

Republican voters in Illinois have chosen state Sen. Darren Bailey to challenge Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker in the general election on Nov. 8.

Bailey, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, sailed to an easy primary victory with more than 57% of the vote in a field of five candidates, according to a tally from The Associated Press.

Here’s a rundown of other key races in the Rockford area, including several tax-increasing referendums that all sailed to victory.

Eric Sorensen to face Esther Joy King

Eric Sorenson, a former meteorologist with 13 WREX in Rockford, won the Democratic Party primary for 17th Congressional district. (Photo provided)

Eric Sorensen, a former Rockford TV meteorologist, won a six-way race to succeed U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos as 17th House District representative in Congress.

Sorensen will now face Esther Joy King, a Republican who easily won her primary with 69% of the vote, according to an Associated Press tally. Bustos, a Democrat, did not seek re-election.

“For two decades, I kept my community safe by keeping them ahead of severe weather,” Sorenson said in a statement on Facebook. “Now it’s time to make sure that they have a trusted representative in Congress.”

Column: I didn’t get a sticker but I still cast my first vote at age 17

Sorenson focused his campaign on health, education and science.

“Talking with voters across the district, they agree, we need more science and less politics in their next representative,” he said.

King, of East Moline, is an attorney who owns her own marketing firm and serves in the U.S. Army Reserve.

“We have a major fight ahead of us — a fight to ensure people can fill their gas tanks and grocery carts without dipping into their rent money or retirement savings,” King said in a statement on Facebook. “It doesn’t have to be a choice if we elect leaders who will put their constituents first rather than far-left, out-of-touch policies and that’s exactly what I’m running to do.”

Democratic

Eric Sorensen: 14,418 (38%)

Litesa Wallace: 8,899 (23%)

Jonathan Logemann: 5,530 (14%)

Angie Normoyle: 4,724 (12%)

Marsha Williams: 2,672 (7%)

Jacqueline McGowan: 1,985 (5%)

Republican

Esther Joy King: 30,749 (69%)

Charles Helmick: 14,017 (31%)

River Bluff Nursing Home advisory question

Voters overwhelmingly said they were willing to accept a tax increase, estimated at about $25 a year for the owner of a $150,000 home, to help the county-owned nursing home fund its operations.

Yes: 15,352 (76%)

No: 4,730 (24%)

Loves Park roads tax

Yes: 858 (97%)

No: 28 (3%)

North Park Fire District bond

A North Park Fire Protection District truck sits inside the Wood Avenue fire station in Machesney Park on Thursday, June 2, 2022. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Voters nearly unanimously said OK to a tax increase to fund the construction of a new central fire station in Machesney Park.

Yes: 796 (97%)

No: 24 (3%)

Illinois Senate District 35

Republican

Dave Syverson: 15,768 (75%)

Eli Nicolosi: 5,176 (25%)

A bill co-sponsored by state Sen. Dave Syverson that would allow for public officials to be removed from office following serious criminal charges was unanimously approved by the Senate on Feb. 25, 2022. (Photo provided by Lisa J. Sims)

Illinois House District 90

Republican

John Cabello: 8,815 (74%)

Mark Szula: 3,162 (26%)

Winnebago County Clerk

Republican

Lori Gummow: 15,171 (76%)

Michael Delgado: 4,846 (24%)

Winnebago County Treasurer

Republican

Steve Schultz: 10,523 (56%)

Randy Johnson: 8,110 (44%)

Democrat

Sue Goral: 12,144 (100%) uncontested

Boone County Sheriff

Lt. Scott Yunk, who has spent more than 30 years at the Boone County Sheriff’s Department, handily defeated two other candidates to win the Republican primary. No candidates ran on the Democratic Party’s side of the ticket.