Five incumbent Democrats keep their seats in the Illinois House election
Five incumbent Democrats from the metro-east kept their seats in statehouse races, according to unofficial election results.
Dwight Kay, R-Glen Carbon, lost his bid for his old seat in a rematch with state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville.
Stuart defeated Kay two years ago, when he was the incumbent, and at the same time that Republicans gained five other seats. The Illinois House Republican Organization didn’t support Kay’s run during the primary, which he ultimately won.
Wood River Township Supervisor Mike Babcock was narrowly defeated by state Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Godfrey, for a seat he tried to take once before.
Babcock lost to former state Rep. Daniel Beiser in 2016. Beiser resigned a year later, and Bristow was appointed to the seat.
The new state lawmaker received criticism when she presented her first bill on the House floor. At the time, Bristow told legislators she hoped “we’ll all get raises” in what may have been an attempted joke.
Unofficial vote totals had Bristow ahead of Babcock by 284 votes.
Doug Jameson stepped down from his role as chairman of the St. Clair County Republican Central Committee to go up against state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea.
State Rep. LaToya Greenwood, D-East St. Louis, was also defending her seat in a run against Centreville Republican Jason Madlock.
David Friess, a local attorney and former Red Bud alderman, lost the race to incumbent state Rep. Jerry Costello II, D-Smithton.
In a statement Wednesday, Costello said he believed voters cared about his record of voting against tax increases.
“I am thankful and humbled to again have the opportunity to serve the residents of Southern Illinois,” Costello wrote. “... I wish David Friess and his family well, and as a conservative I look forward to working together with Republicans and Democrats to do what is best for Southern Illinois.”
In another statehouse race, Republican Blaine Wilhour was running against Democrat David Seiler for the state Rep. John Cavaletto’s seat.
Cavaletto, R-Salem, decided not to run for re-election.
Here are the unofficial vote totals:
Illinois State Rep. District 112: Katie Stuart vs. Dwight Kay
Dwight Kay, of Glen Carbon (Republican): 20,139 votes
Incumbent Katie Stuart, of Edwardsville (Democrat): 24,559 votes
With 90 of 90 precincts reporting
Illinois State Rep. District 113: Jay Hoffman vs. Doug Jameson
Doug Jameson, of Belleville (Republican): 14,030 votes
Incumbent Jay Hoffman, of Swansea (Democrat): 23,647 votes
With 108 of 108 precincts reporting
Illinois State Rep. District 114: LaToya Greenwood vs. Jason Madlock
Jason Madlock, of Centreville (Republican): 15,252 votes
Incumbent LaToya Greenwood, of East St. Louis (Democrat): 21,098 votes
With 102 of 102 precincts reporting
Illinois State Rep. District 116: Jerry Costello II vs. David Friess
David Friess, of Red Bud (Republican): 19,382 votes
Incumbent Jerry Costello II, of Smithton (Democrat): 22,289 votes
With 117 of 117 precincts reporting
Illinois State Rep. District 111: Monica Bristow vs. Mike Babcock
Mike Babcock, of Bethalto (Republican): 18,683 votes
Incumbent Monica Bristow, of Godfrey (Democrat): 18,967 votes
With 99 of 99 precincts reporting
Illinois State Rep. District 107: David Seiler vs. Blaine Wilhour
Blaine Wilhour, of Beecher City (Republican): 26,485 votes
David Seiler, of Effingham (Democrat): 11,516 votes
With 139 of 139 precincts reporting
This story was originally published November 6, 2018 at 8:39 PM.