Two of the three state senators who represent parts of Lake County — Darby Hills, R-Barrington Hills, and Craig Wilcox, R-McHenry — appeared late Tuesday night to be in trouble in their bids for another term, while incumbent state Sen. Julie Morrison, D-Lake Forest, seemed to be cruising to victory.
In a tightly contested and highly publicized race in the 26th state Senate District, state Rep. Nabeela Syed, D-Inverness, was leading Hills with about 56% of votes cast to 44%, according to unofficial results.
Appointed to the Senate in February 2025 to replace former state Sen. Dan McConchie, R-Hawthorn Woods, Hills, 50, said she wanted to continue her time in office because of her desire to continue the independent effort she has given constituents.
“The residents of the 26th need an independent voice who will prioritize the needs of working families and work to put their priorities over party or politics,” Hills said during the campaign.
First elected to the state House of Representatives in 2022 and reelected two years later, Syed, 27, said she already represents half the 26th District through the 51st House District. The residents of the other half, the 52nd House District, have many of the same concerns and needs, she said.
“The moment we’re in has a lot of change from the (President Donald) Trump administration,” Syed said during the campaign. “It will be important to help people in the other half of the district if they have cuts in SNAP or Medicaid. People are struggling all over, and they need effective leadership.”
The 26th District includes all or part of Inverness, Palatine, Hoffman Estates, Rolling Meadows, Barrington, North Barrington, Barrington Hills, South Barrington, Lake Barrington, Kildeer, Long Grove, Vernon Hills, Lake Zurich, Hawthorn Woods, Algonquin, Fox River Grove, Tower Lakes, Island Lake, Wauconda, Volo, Libertyville and Mundelein.
In the 29th state Senate District, Morrison was leading Republican Kate McGrath of Deerfield by about a 69% to 32% margin.
First elected to the Senate in 2012, Morrison, 69, spent 15 years as the West Deerfield Township supervisor before going to Springfield. She is the majority whip in the Senate Democratic Caucus.
Making her first run for public office, McGrath, 51, said she was considering a move to another state when representatives of the Republican Senate Victory Fund approached her to seek the 29th District seat. She announced her candidacy in July of last year.
The 29th District consists of 15 municipalities from Naval Station Great Lakes on the north to Wilmette on the south, Lake Michigan on the east, and Buffalo Grove as well as Des Plaines on the west.
In the 32nd state Senate District, Democrat Karen Battaglia of Antioch was leading Wilcox with 58% of votes cast to 42%.
First elected in 2018 and seeking his third term, Wilcox said he understands how state government works and has practical ideas to make life more affordable, like capping sales tax on gasoline and diesel fuel above a specific price point.
“The motor fuel tax is a double tax because we tax the sale of gasoline,” Wilcox said during the campaign. “We can cap the motor fuel tax at a specific price of gasoline,” he added, suggesting once the cost hits a specific price point, taxing stops.
Entering the healthcare field as a nursing assistant when she was a teenager and now an emergency room nurse, Battaglia, 64, said she did well as a science student in school and likes to take care of people.
President of the Illinois Emergency Nurses Association and an emergency room nurse for 27 years, Battaglia said she has lobbied for healthcare legislation at both the state and federal level. This is her first run for elective office. Politics prompted her to run for the Senate.
“I have seen some pretty serious issues that have occurred in our healthcare system,” Battaglia said during the campaign. “I want to make sure our healthcare system is accessible and affordable,” she added, concerned people will be forced off Medicaid by cuts in the program starting next year.
The 32nd District includes all or parts of Lake Villa, Antioch, Fox Lake, Spring Grove, Johnsburg, McHenry, Lakemoor, Ringwood, Richmond, Volo and Ingleside.
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A fourth senator who represents parts of Lake County, state Sen. Adriane Johnson, D-Buffalo Grove, was unopposed for reelection.