CONTACT:
Gwen Pepin
[email protected]
Chicago, IL – After Tuesday night’s sweep for local Democrats, the Democratic Party of Illinois (DPI) continues to celebrate the incredible success of its 2025 municipal program. Out of 280 candidates supported by the Party, 222 were successfully elected Tuesday night–earning the Party’s comprehensive electoral program a 79% success rate—a 6% increase from the Party’s 2023 efforts. Tuesday’s triumphs were a testament to the importance of engaging locally, working directly with county chairs and regional advocates, dedication to fighting for Democratic values, and staying focused on party-building at the most local levels–despite the noise in Washington.
“Nights like Tuesday happen when you do the work,” DPI Chair Lisa Hernandez said. “I couldn’t be more proud of the groundwork DPI and the Illinois Democratic County Chairs Association laid to deliver monumental wins across our state. Our nearly 80% success rate is a clear indication that despite national politics and the toxicity of the local GOP, our investments matter, party building matters and voters want communities where unity and inclusion are protected.”
Notable victories of DPI municipal program participants include:
- Huntley CCSD 158: Blocked MAGA extremists and flipped the board to regain a Democratic majority
- Cary CCSD 26: Successfully defended the board from a MAGA resurgence
- Northfield Township: Won every contested seat across the township
- Milton Township: Secured full control of the township board
- Schaumburg Township: Flipped the board to Democratic control
- Elk Grove Township Trustees: Defeated four long-time Republican incumbents; only the third time non-GOP candidates have run for township office since the mid-1800s
- Normal Township: Achieved a full Democratic win across township offices
- RPS 205 Districts D & F: Won both seats in contested races
- South Moline Township: Democrats elected to every seat on the board
- Village of Milan: Democrats now hold every elected position
- Illinois Valley Community College Board: Full Democratic victory
- Makanda Township Trustees (Jackson County): Flipped every seat to Democratic control
- Capital Township Trustees (Sangamon County): Secured all available trustee positions
- Springfield SD #186, Kristin Barnett: A key win for local Democrats and public education in Sangamon County
- Preston Hall, Village of Worden President (Madison County): Held the seat despite ballot challenges from a far-right opponent; a win backed by local labor
- Jeff Parker, Village of Swansea Mayor (St. Clair County): Successfully elected with strong support from local Democrats and Rep. Jay Hoffman
- Nathan Pastor, City of Pana Mayor (Christian County): A major win in a traditionally deep-red county
- Will County elections: Strong Democratic performance across township contests
- Plainfield Township: Won every seat on the board
- Lockport Township: Took control of all offices except one (Tax Collector)
- Wheatland Township: Democrats elected to every township office
- DuPage Township: Swept township offices even after the unexpected loss of Supervisor Gary Marschke
- Addison Township: Democrats swept township wide offices in a historic Republican stronghold, unseating the Republican Clerk, Supervisor and 3 of 4 incumbent Trustees.
In 2023, under Chair Lisa Hernandez’s leadership, the Party made clear its commitment to preventing extremist conservatives from implementing regressive platforms on school and library boards. This cycle, as national politics dominate the political ecosystem and impact the daily lives of working Illinoisans, DPI built upon 2023’s program to continue defending its values and meet voters where they are–including the most local offices.
The Party’s mail and digital advertising investment reached hundreds of thousands of Democratic voters in target regions across Illinois, and highlighted the Trump–aligned conservatives on the ballot, as well as supported the credible, commonsense community advocates that DPI recommends. As part of the program, DPI launched https://votelocalillinois.com/, a candidate lookup tool to help voters find and support endorsed Democrats in their communities. In addition to supporting candidates already on the ballot, DPI and Illinois Democratic County Chairs Association (IDCCA)’s candidate recruitment program helped ensure that strong Democrats step up to run for local office in future cycles.
