Wayne County voters turned out in solid numbers for Tuesday’s General Election, with nearly 60 percent of registered voters casting ballots, despite the absence of contested countywide races.
According to unofficial election results, 6,634 ballots were cast out of 11,065 registered voters, representing a turnout of approximately 60 percent.
While local Republican candidates faced no opposition, Wayne County voters overwhelmingly supported Republican Darren Bailey of Xenia in the race for Illinois governor.
Bailey and his running mate, Aaron Del Mar, received 5,673 votes (85%) in Wayne County, compared to 790 votes (11%) for incumbent Democratic Governor JB Pritzker.
However, the statewide results told a different story, as Pritzker defeated Bailey to secure a historic third term as Illinois governor.
Pritzker becomes the first Democrat in Illinois history to win three terms as governor and the first governor from either political party to accomplish the feat since Republican Jim Thompson won his third term in 1982.
The victory marks the second consecutive gubernatorial election in which Pritzker has defeated Bailey, who previously challenged him in 2022.
WAYNE COUNTY RESULTS:
At the local level, all countywide candidates were elected without opposition.
Those winning their respective offices include Yvette Anderson as County Treasurer, Amy Sager as Supervisor of Assessments, Kyle Ellis as State’s Attorney, Ryan Best as Coroner, Christopher Otey as Sheriff, Margaret Ellen Sitzes as Circuit Clerk, and Billie-Jo “BJ” Townsend as County Clerk.
There were also no contested races for the Wayne County Board.
Candidates elected include Chad Edmison in District 1, Randy Hedrick in District 2, Eddie Barbre in District 3, Cody Ehrhart in District 4, Liz Ann Woodrow in District 5, and Gene Kollak in District 7.
No candidate filed for the District 6 seat.
DEMOCRATS SWEEP ILLINOIS STATEWIDE RACES:
Democrats maintained control of statewide constitutional offices in Tuesday’s election.
Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton defeated Republican Don Tracy in the race for the United States Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Dick Durbin.
Stratton will join Senator Tammy Duckworth in Washington, making Illinois the first state in the country to be represented by two women of color serving simultaneously in the U.S. Senate.
In other statewide races, incumbent Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias won a second term, defeating Republican Diane Harris.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul secured a third term by defeating Republican challenger and former Chicago Alderman Bob Fioretti.
Democratic State Representative Margaret Croke defeated Republican Bryan Drew to become Illinois’ next comptroller, replacing outgoing Comptroller Susana Mendoza.
DEMOCRATS WIN CONTROL OF U.S. HOUSE AND SENATE:
On the national level, Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday’s midterm elections, according to race calls by the Associated Press.
The results end Republican control of Congress and establish divided government for the final two years of President Donald Trump’s term.
Democrats gained Republican-held U.S. Senate seats in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Kansas, Iowa, and Maine, while also picking up more than two dozen seats in the U.S. House.
The shift will give Democrats control of congressional committees, greater authority over federal spending negotiations, and oversight responsibilities involving the Trump administration.
In the Senate, Democrats will also control the confirmation process for presidential nominees, including federal judges and administration officials.
The new Congress will take office in January 2027.
WAYNE COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS AVAILABLE ONLINE:
Wayne County’s election results remain unofficial until the required canvass and certification process is completed.
Residents wishing to review complete local election totals, including precinct-by-precinct results, can visit www.platinumelectionresults.com.