Election results for metro-east state senate races

The mayor who received criticism for wearing blackface as part of a rapper Halloween costume about a decade ago lost his bid to become a state senator.

Edwardsville Mayor Hal Patton, who apologized after the photo of him in blackface surfaced in June, was a candidate for state Sen. Bill Haine’s seat.

Haine, D-Alton, didn’t run again.

State Sens. James Clayborne, D-Belleville, and Kyle McCarter, R-Lebanon, didn’t seek re-election either, so metro-east residents have three new state senators representing them in Springfield after the Nov. 6 election.

The GOP-backed Patton’s opponent was Democrat Rachelle Aud Crowe, a Madison County assistant state’s attorney. Aud Crowe was ahead by almost 13,000 votes, according to the unofficial results.

Former Cahokia District 187 school board member Christopher Belt, a Democrat, defeated Tanya Hildenbrand, an Air Force reservist and Republican, for Clayborne’s seat.

McCarter’s seat stayed with a Republican, Jason Plummer, who won the race against Democrat Brian Stout.

Here are the unofficial vote totals:

Illinois State Senate District 56: Rachelle Aud Crowe vs. Hal Patton

Rachelle Aud Crowe, of Glen Carbon (Democrat): 45,356 votes

Hal Patton, of Edwardsville (Downstate United): 32,397 votes

With 184 of 184 precincts reporting

Illinois State Senate District 57: Tanya Hildenbrand vs. Christopher Belt

Tanya Hildenbrand, of Belleville (Republican): 30,260 votes

Christopher Belt, of Cahokia (Democrat): 43,577 votes

With 192 of 192 precincts reporting

Illinois State Senate District 54: Jason Plummer vs. Brian Stout

Jason Plummer, of Edwardsville (Republican): 58,426 votes

Brian Stout, of Vandalia (Democrat): 24,757 votes

With 240 of 240 precincts reporting

This story was originally published November 6, 2018 at 8:35 PM.