State Rep. Matt Hanson is the Democratic incumbent representing this Fox River Valley district that includes all or parts of Batavia, Geneva, Aurora and Oswego. We appreciate his support for a school cell phone ban bill, which Gov. JB Pritzker signed in July.
The GOP challenger, Jesse Rodriguez, 63, is a lifelong Aurora resident with a compelling personal story. A Navy veteran with experience in the insurance business, Rodriguez takes a thoughtful approach to ethics reform, opposes tax hikes and supports tax-credit education scholarships. He goes too far by supporting a return to cash bail, which we consider a settled issue, and we differ with his views on gun rights.
We endorsed Hanson in the 2024 primary and continue our support.
Matt Hanson is endorsed.
Read all of the Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsements for the 2026 Illinois general election here.
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