Illinois Primary Results: 'Shockingly Low' Turnout, Few Surprises

ILLINOIS — Despite "shockingly low" voter turnout, the people of Illinois have spoken, and while there were no primary contests in several key races, some candidates — including Democrat incumbents Sean Casten (D-6th) and Bill Foster (D-11th) — did face challenges from within their own parties.

The Illinois Board of Elections predicts the state will see its lowest voter turnout for a presidential primary in 12 years, ABC reported.

Meanwhile, whoever wins the Cook County State's Attorney Democratic primary is likely to cruise to victory over their Republican opponent in November, but the race was still too close to call.

And although President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have already clinched their nominations, Tuesday also marked Illinois' presidential primary. The results mean November will see the first presidential race rematch since Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower again defeated Illinois Democrat Adlai Stevenson in 1956.

Unsurprisingly, both Trump and Biden candidates easily won their Illinois primary.

Trump wound up back on the ballot in Illinois when the Supreme Court ruled that that individual states do not have the authority to ban candidates from running for federal office based on the Constitution's so-called "insurrection clause," despite his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack.

Results: Biden, Trump Win IL Primaries After Already Clinching Nominations

Congressional Races

In the 5th District, incumbent Rep. Mike Quigley, a Democrat, ran unopposed in the primary. Republican Tom Hanson, who lost to Quigley in 2008, 2018 and 2020, hopes the fourth time will be the charm in November, but first he faced off against an unsuccessful write-in challenge from Frank Rowder.

Results: Hanson To Face Quigley In 5th District In November: Unofficial Results

In Illinois' 6th Congressional District, incumbent Sean Casten faced challenges from fellow Democrats Mahnoor Ahmad and Charles Hughes. The winner of the primary will face Republican Niki Conforti in the Nov. 5 general election.

Results: Casten Declares Victory In 6th Congressional District Primary

In the 11th District, longtime Rep. Bill Foster, a scientist, defeated fellow Democrat Qasim Rashid, a human rights lawyer. In the Republican primary, self-proclaimed "political outsider" Jerry Evans bested surgeon/attorney Kent Mercado and Susan Hathaway-Altman for the nomination.

Results: Foster Projected Winner Of 11th District Democratic Primary

In the 14th Congressional District, Naperville Democrat Lauren Underwood, the incumbent, went unopposed in the primary. Three Republicans hoped for the chance to face off against her in November: Harvard business school grad Charlie Kim, Kendall County Republican Chairman Jim Marter and write-in candidate Krystal Dorey, who was removed from the ballot after a challenge.

Results: Marter Projected Winner Of District 14 Republican Primary

Cook County State's Attorney

After Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx announced she would not seek reelection, two Democrats sought the nod. Attorney Clayton Harris and retired judge Eileen O'Neill Burke faced off for the nomination, and the winner will likely have an edge in November, when they will face Republican Bob Fioretti and Libertarian Andrew Charles Kopinski. A Democrat has won every Cook County State's Attorney race since 1996.

With 83 percent of votes counted as of early Wednesday morning, it was still too close to call, with Burke hanging on to a slim lead of 241,933 votes to Harris' 232,481.

Bring Chicago Home

In Chicago, the "Bring Chicago Home"referendum sought to raise the real estate transfer tax on the sale of million-dollar properties to address homelessness and fund affordable housing. Under the measure, the transfer tax for properties under $1 million would decrease from .75 percent to .60 percent. Properties sold for between $1 million and $1.5 million would incur a 2 percent transfer tax, almost three times the current rate, and properties sold for over $1.5 million would pay a 4 percent transfer tax rate.

With 79 percent of votes counted, the "no" votes had the edge, with 166,285 voting no to 143,624 voting yes.

All vote totals are unofficial. Some absentee votes could still be counted before results are official.