November 11, 2022
SPECIAL 2022 ELECTION EDITION
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Democrats Win! Red Wave? Really??
Tuesday was a great night for Lake County Democrats! Blue Waves in 2018 and 2020 swept in Democrats, and pundits predicted a “Red Wave” year in 2022. In Lake County, that wave swept some Republicans incumbents right out of office. We won races all over Lake County.
Even our candidates who fell short in the election results were winners. They made a difference by softening the ground and engaging volunteers in formerly dark red areas, turning out voters who then helped our countywide and statewide candidates win. Thank you to our candidates, elected or not, who put themselves forward to represent us. We’re grateful.
Among other wins, every one of our incumbent State Representatives and State Senators were re-elected, while Mary Edly-Allen, Laura Faver Dias and Nabeela Syed were newly elected to the legislature. We also held our significant majority on the County Board (14 Democrats to 5 for Republicans). Our countywide candidates were all elected or re-elected: Sheriff John Idleburg, Treasurer Holly Kim, Regional Superintendent of Schools Michael Karner, and newly-elected County Clerk, Anthony Vega, who became both our first Hispanic and first openly gay countywide elected official.
And the race between Maria Peterson and Senator Dan McConchie is still undecided! This is doubly significant because McConchie is the Illinois Senate Minority Leader (!) and he may be on the verge of losing. Many pundits wrote off this race as unwinnable, and thought it wouldn’t even be close. Maria proved them all wrong.
Our candidates were successful for many reasons, including:
- Our recruiting was strong and our candidates were incredible.
- Democrats who’ve been elected have done a great job – and that’s gotten across to voters.
- Democrats are good on the issues that matter, and Republicans, quite frankly, are not.
- Lake Dems’ extensive voter turnout program successfully brought many more voters to the polls.
Our Democratic turnout program included:
- A mailing to sporadic voters (costing close to $20,000) who are predicted to be Democrats but don’t reliably vote in midterm elections and need motivation and information
- A large text banking program
- Phone banking for Judge Elizabeth Rochford for the IL Supreme Court
- Targeted GOTV phone banking
- Ads on Social Media firing up the pro-choice vote
- A targeted countywide mailing (costing almost $20,000) showcasing the diversity of our Lake County candidates
- A 24/7 Lake Dems Voter Assistance Hotline, staffed by attorneys trained in election law, plus a dedicated Hotline reserved for candidates, staff, attorneys and pollwatchers
- Door knocking in areas where midterm election turnout is historically low
- A large Election Protection Team of election attorneys and other pollwatchers trained in election law, who can be moved from polling place to polling place to solve issues that arise in real time (and prioritizing polling places we know from experience have the most problems)
- Full-color, glossy Democratic Voter Guides for township canvassing in the Fall, and for passing at polling places during Early Voting and on Election Day
- Volunteer engagement out of three Lake Dems offices in Waukegan, Highland Park and Mundelein, sending campaigners into all areas of the county including traditionally red areas
- And so much more … but we’re too tired to remember today.
And, of course, thank you to all of our candidates, volunteers, contributors and supporters for everything you do to help elect Democrats! Stay tuned for what we’ll be doing next.
Lauren Beth Gash, Chair
Lake County Democrats
Democrats crowd Rosati’s in Mundelein at the Lake Dems Watch Party on Election Night.
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Watch Parties Cap Big Day for Democrats
Lake County Democrats Vice Chair Nancy Shepherdson kicked things off at the Lake County Democrats’ watch party in Mundelein by introducing candidates and officeholders.
Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim fired up the crowd at the watch party.
The crowd liked what they heard from Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg.
Lake County Clerk Candidate Anthony Vega watched as the election results came in in his favor.
Fremont Township Democrats Chair Matt Lowry welcomed everyone.
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart and Sheriff John Idleburg shared their observations as Democrats enjoyed Lake Dems’ free event.
Lake County Board candidate Sara Knizhnik talked to the watch party crowd about her campaign.
Lake County Board Candidate Sharon Smith-Terry discussed her time as a candidate.
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Watch Party Featured on Front Page of New York Times Online Version on Election Night
New York Times photographer Todd Heisler took this photo of the Lake Dems watch party. The photo ran with an article about the election.
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Illinois Supreme Court Justice Candidate Elizabeth Rochford was joined by her husband, Mike Striedl, and a large crowd at her watch party in Lake Bluff on Election Night.
Congressman Brad Schneider greeted voters outside polling places on Election Night.
State Senate Candidate Mary Edly-Allen and State Representative Candidate Laura Faver Dias joined a supporter as they talked to voters outside a polling place.
Lauren Beth Gash distributed canvassing literature to volunteer Joy Anes at the Lake Dems Waukegan Headquarters. The headquarters was bustling on Election Day. More than a dozen lawyers trained in election law answered our voter assistance hotline, responding to pollwatcher concerns, resolving problems at polling places, and moving pollwatchers from place to place as problems arose. Lake Dems worked to make sure that everyone eligible to vote was able to vote.
How Do I Join Lake County Democrats?
Lake County Democrats is made up of people like you, people who are passionate about building better communities and a better world. We’re a grassroots political organization, working with Democrats in all parts of Lake County – from Antioch to Highland Park, Libertyville to Waukegan, Barrington to Zion. Become a member online now or send a check payable to Lake County Democrats to P.O. Box 671, Lake Zurich, IL 60047. Questions? Contact info@lakedems.org.
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