Local Democratic and Republican leaders are framing opposing messages for people to consider as the Labor Day weekend serves as a sort of the unofficial start of the campaign season’s homestretch. The ballot set for the 2022 general election gives voters across Lake County 61 choices to make between races for office and referendums. When they cast their votes on November 8 or earlier to influence community policy, voters in the county will choose six statewide offices in addition to their senator, representative, and county board member in the Illinois General Assembly.
People are “motivated,” according to Lauren Beth Gash, chair of the Lake County Democratic Party, to vote for Democrats in the fall, support politicians who reflect their views, and stop the spread of the influence of some Republican Party factions. There are numerous explanations, according to Gash. The MAGA Republicans have gained control of the party on issues like election freedom, gun violence prevention, and choice. Dangerous MAGA Republicans now control today’s Republican Party.
Making the 2022 midterm elections a referendum on former president Donald Trump, according to Keith Brin, the Lake County Republican Central Committee chairman, is an effort to divert voters’ attention from problems like inflation and rising crime. According to Brin, the cult of personality surrounding a former president who isn’t running for office isn’t the focus of this election. “This is an effort to portray all Republicans as being terrible Orangemen. He will be on the ballot if the Democrats and the media keep using his name.
According to Brin, voters will think about economic issues like inflation when they go to the polls since they are constantly reminded of them in their everyday lives. Despite being global issues, they affect Lake County residents. “It strikes their wallet, and they’re reminded of the failed policies from the federal down to the local level,” he added. “Every time they fill up their car or go to the grocery shop.” “These economic problems are having a severe impact on people.”
Despite including inflation on her list of crucial topics, Gash also emphasized the significance of reproductive rights, efforts to avoid gun violence, the environment, infrastructure, and workers’ rights. She thinks there’s still work to be done. Democrats, instead of a party that only seeks to attack and polarise, “want to listen and do something for people,” she remarked.
According to Lake County Clerk Robin O’Connor, whose office administers the election, every voter should cast a ballot this autumn because she has a good reason. Turn out and use your voice, she commanded. It’s significant. New representative districts were formed for the U.S. House of Representatives, the Illinois General Assembly, and the Lake County Board, which is one of the reasons there are so many elections this year.
All the county board members, as well as the five state senators who have an impact on Lake County, are up for election in November, even though members of Congress and the state House of Representatives are only chosen every two years. Parts of Lake County were represented by three members of Congress between 2012 through this year, but for the following ten years, there will be four. Only the 10th District remains unchanging, where Democratic candidate Brad Schneider of Highland Park takes against Republican Joe Severino of Lake Forest.
The 5th, 9th, and 12th Congressional Districts are new to the county. Mike Quigley, a Democrat from Chicago, will compete against Tommy Hanson, a Republican, and Jerico Matias Cruz, an independent, in the sixth. Democratic candidate for Congress Jan Schakowsky of Evanston will face Republican challenger Max Rice. Catalina Lauf, a Republican from Woodstock, is running against U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, a Democrat from Naperville.
On November 8, voters have three options: mail-in ballots, early voting at 18 locations across the county, or going to their local polling place. People can now request a ballot by mail, according to O’Connor. Late September is when they can anticipate getting them. In Waukegan’s downtown Lake County Building, early voting begins on September 29. From October 25 to November 7, there are now 17 more places where early voting is available.
According to a press release from Waukegan City Clerk Janet Kilkelly, candidates for the 2023 municipal elections are beginning to distribute petitions as the general election campaigns in November intensify. In her office at Waukegan City Hall, you can find petitions for alderpersons in each of the city’s nine wards.
