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  "path": "/elections/2026/03/17/cook-county-president-democratic-illinois-primary-results",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-17T10:30:00.000Z",
  "site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
  "tags": [
    "_take out loans_",
    "_recent debate on Fox 32_",
    "_never raised_",
    "_muscled through a city budget_",
    "_backed for mayor_",
    "_no matter if they can pay._",
    "_$10 billion annual budget_",
    "_Forest Preserves_",
    "_guaranteed income_",
    "_erased more than $800 million of medical debt_",
    "_eliminate cash bail_",
    "_convicted_",
    "_Burt Natarus_",
    "_broke with the Democratic Party_",
    "_Paul Vallas’ 2002 campaign_",
    "_endorsed Vallas_",
    "_no Republican candidate_",
    "Voter Guide >",
    "Ballot look-up tool >",
    "Candidate profiles >",
    "Polling place look-up >",
    "U.S. Senate >",
    "U.S. House >",
    "2nd District",
    "7th District >](https://chicago.suntimes.com /elections/2026/03/17/us-house-illinois-7th-congressional-district-primary-results) | [8th District >",
    "8th District > | [9th District >",
    "Governor (GOP) >",
    "Illinois Comptroller >",
    "Illinois General Assembly >",
    "Cook County President >",
    "Cook County Board of Review >",
    "Cook County Assessor >"
  ],
  "textContent": "Longtime Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle faces off Tuesday in the Democratic primary against veteran Chicago Ald. Brendan Reilly.\n\nShe’s running for a fifth, four-year term.\n\nThe campaign trail has been intense, with both candidates trying to woo voters through attack ads and heated debates.\n\nReilly has repeatedly criticized Preckwinkle about a long-delayed upgrade to the county’s property tax system. Property tax bills went out late. School districts that rely on that tax revenue had to _take out loans_ with interest.\n\nDuring a _recent debate on Fox 32_, Preckwinkle said the modernization is done. Reilly didn’t buy it.\n\n“There are still mistakes as we speak,” Reilly said. “This idea that the problem’s been solved, no one’s believing that.”\n\nPreckwinkle quickly pivoted. She touted how she’s _never raised_ Cook County’s share of property taxes during her 16 years in office, and how the county’s budget is balanced, unlike Chicago’s rocky finances. Reilly has been on the City Council representing downtown for about 19 years.\n\n“He championed a budget that raised taxes,” Preckwinkle said before Reilly interjected.\n\n“I didn’t champion the budget,” Reilly said. “I voted for it because your protege, Brandon Johnson, who you foisted upon the city of Chicago …”\n\nThey shouted over each other.\n\n“If you’re so concerned about the city of Chicago, why don’t you run for mayor?” Preckwinkle said. “This is a county race.”\n\nReilly recently joined a group of conservative and moderate City Council members who defied Mayor Brandon Johnson. They _muscled through a city budget_ with a host of tax hikes. Johnson is a former county commissioner whom Preckwinkle _backed for mayor_, and Reilly is a fierce critic of Johnson.\n\nPreckwinkle, who turns 79 on Election Day, doubles as the powerful head of the Cook County Democratic Party and has helped mentor many into higher office. As Cook County Board president, she oversees one of the biggest counties in the U.S., including the county’s jail, vast court system and large public health system that has a mission to treat patients _no matter if they can pay._\n\nThe county employs more than 20,000 people and has a roughly _$10 billion annual budget_ that must be approved by a 17-member board of separately elected commissioners. Preckwinkle also oversees the _Forest Preserves_ of Cook County.\n\nShe’s a former history teacher and Chicago alderperson who represented the South Side’s 4th Ward for 19 years before she was elected Cook County Board president in 2010.\n\nPreckwinkle is known for running a tight financial ship. Her political power and progressive values shape how the county spends money. She has championed _guaranteed income_for low- to moderate-income residents, _erased more than $800 million of medical debt_ and helped _eliminate cash bail_ in Illinois.\n\nReilly, 54, is one of the more conservative Democrats on the council and bills himself as an independent voice. He got his start in public service in the 1990s and worked as an aide to _convicted_former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. He left for the private sector and worked as an AT&T executive before defeating long-serving City Council incumbent, _Burt Natarus_, in 2007.\n\nReilly hasn’t faced an opponent since. In 2020, he _broke with the Democratic Party_ to endorse Republican Patrick O’Brien over Kim Foxx, Preckwinkle’s former chief of staff, for Cook County state’s attorney. Reilly worked on _Paul Vallas’ 2002 campaign_ for governor and _endorsed Vallas_ for Chicago mayor over incumbent Lori Lightfoot in 2023.\n\nWhoever wins the Democratic primary would likely win in the November general election. There is _no Republican candidate_ for Cook County Board president. Michael Murphy is running as a Libertarian. Preckwinkle last won with about 69% of the vote in 2022 against Bob Fioretti.\n\nShould she win, Preckwinkle said it would be her last term as County Board president. She said she also plans to run for just one more two-year term this spring to lead the Democratic Party.\n\n_Kristen Schorsch and Mariah Woelfel cover government for WBEZ._\n\n**Voter resources**\nVoter Guide > \nBallot look-up tool >\nCandidate profiles > \nPolling place look-up > \n\n**Races we’re watching**\nU.S. Senate >\nU.S. House > | 2nd District > | 7th District >](https://chicago.suntimes.com /elections/2026/03/17/us-house-illinois-7th-congressional-district-primary-results) | 8th District > | [9th District > \nGovernor (GOP) > | Illinois Comptroller > | Illinois General Assembly >\nCook County President > | Cook County Board of Review > | Cook County Assessor >\n",
  "title": "Veteran incumbent Toni Preckwinkle looks to fend off rival in Democratic primary",
  "updatedAt": "2026-03-17T10:30:26.205Z"
}