Natalie Manley Expected To Win 98th District Race Over Russell

JOLIET, IL — Voters in the 9th District in Will County went to the polls to re-elect long time Joliet Democrat Natalie Manley over her challenger, Bolingbrook Republican Donna Russell, according to unofficial vote totals.

Manley has represented the voters across the 98th District. District 98 includes Joliet, Crest Hill, unincorporated Crystal Lawns, plus Bolingbrook, Romeoville and Shorewood. There are several townships within the 98th District of the state house: Joliet, Lockport, Wheatland, Troy, DuPage and Plainfield.

With the polls closed, here's where vote totals stand:

Natalie Manley (D): 18,572 votes

Donna Russell (R): 12,759 votes

100 percent of Will County precincts reporting

Candidates Made Their Case

Back on June 28, Manley crushed her Democratic primary opponent, challenger Barry Haywood, winning by more than 4,800 votes. There were no Republican candidates on the ballot in the primary, but Russell announced her candidacy later in the summer.

According to the Illinois House Democrats website, Manley has had a leading role in the passage of several bills and other legislation in recent months. In March, Manley passed a bill to require supermarkets to show the discounted price of an item at the time of sale.

“This bill requires the sale price of the item to be displayed at the point of sale,” Manley said in a news release. “There should be no more wondering if the computer system gave you a discount or having to hope the discount will be taken off at the end.”

According to Manley's office, House Bill 2910 requires supermarkets to display the regular price of an item and the discounted price of an item at the point of sale, instead of delaying the display of the discounted price until the total price is displayed.

“The cost of groceries has drastically increased and many of us are making purchases based on sale information,” Manley stated. “This legislation will protect shoppers and their money.”

On April 7, Manley announced that she supported a package of legislative measures to defend women’s bodily autonomy and reproductive health care rights.

“Any decision regarding reproductive health care is incredibly personal, and should be made without government interference,” Manley announced in April. “Women deserve the right to make their own health care decisions, which is why I will always support a woman’s right to choose.”

According to her political biography, Manley has been an active community volunteer with Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties; HUGS of Shorewood; as a former board member with CASA of Will County. She has also been a local radio show co-host. She is married and has one daughter.

In the Illinois General Assembly, Manley has been on the business and innovation subcommittee; the Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies Committee; the Ethics & Elections Committee; the Labor & Commerce Committee; Police & Fire Committee and the Workforce Development Subcommittee.

As for Russell, her campaign website indicates that "Being a resident of Bolingbrook for the last 20 years, I have watched Bolingbrook and other cities and towns in the 98th district, and Illinois, grow to be a great place to raise your family."

Russell said it was an honor to run for Illinois State Representative for District 98.

"I am a passionate and tireless advocate for my future constituents and campaign hard on major issues affecting our district," Russell explains on her website. "I would like an opportunity to speak with any individual or group interested in learning more about how I will bring positive change to our families and communities."

Russell also wanted the voters to know that she is a mother, wife and grandmother who has lived in Illinois her entire life.

As far as her career background, Russell states that she has an MBA and a master’s in management and organizational behavior from Benedictine University. She is a project management professional, a senior professional in human resources and "a trained Six Sigma Black Belt in process improvement methodology. I also have a certification in Change Management. All of which, will be used by me when I get to Springfield on your behalf.

"Also, for the past 13 years, I have instructed over 3,000 residents of Illinois, many in Will County, on certifications related to their job readiness and success."

As far as her key campaign issues in her race against Manley, Russell has posted the following information on her political website:

• Lowering Taxes, concentrating on the inflationary impact on everyday things like gasoline, food, every-day purchases, etc.
• Support of Small Businesses with reduced taxes (not more IRS agents complicating the lives of Small Business Owners) the So-called Inflation Reduction Act”
• Voter Integrity Initiatives through verification ID checking. No person should be allowed to vote, that is not a Legal Citizen of the United States.
• Parental Rights to secure their children’s education with their tax dollars and notification dealing with their children’s health, safety and education.
• Supporting Our Law Enforcement Professionals through funding, legislation and community program initiatives.
• Supporting Our Veterans, especially those suffering from PTSD and their continued job support, and health concerns.
• Veterans Funding Programs, oversight for the allocation for veteran program funding.
• Protection of Senior Benefits Programs, like Social Security and Medicare.
• Protection of 2nd Amendment Rights, the rights to bear arms and protect ourselves and our families.
• Protection of Fundamental & Constitutional Rights, present in our State of Illinois and Federal Constitutions, Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights.
• Restricting Illegal Immigrants, from using state and federal government payments and services.

Related Patch coverage:

Natalie Manley Faces Primary Foe In 98th District: IL Primary 2022