REALTORS® Make a Difference in 2012 Election

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Illinois REALTOR® Magazine | January 2013

REALTORS® Make a Difference in 2012 Election

Whether it was on Capitol Hill, under the State Capitol dome or in city halls and local county boards across the state, Illinois REALTORS® played an important role in advocating for the political candidates and issues that will shape and benefit the industry. Here is a roundup of the results and REALTOR® wins in the 2012 election.

ILLINOIS STATE SENATE

All 59 seats were up in the 2012 general election due to redistricting, but 30 were uncontested. Prior to the election there were 35 Democrats and 24 Republicans.

  • POST-ELECTION SPLIT:  40 Democrats / 19 Republicans

IAR RPAC Trustees conducted 10 Opportunity Races (extra grassroots efforts). Seven of the 10 won (70% success rate).

Challenger Michael Hastings (D)
19th District     
WON

Incumbent Dan Duffy (R)
22nd District     
WON

Incumbent Dan Kotowski (D)
28th District     
WON

Challenger Arie Friedman (R)
29th District   
LOST

Challenger Joe Neal (R)
31st District     
LOST

Challenger/REALTOR® Frank Gambino (R)
34th District   
LOST

Incumbent Sue Rezin (R)
38th District    
WON

Incumbent Toi Hutchinson (D)
40th District    
WON

Incumbent Linda Holmes (D)
42nd District     
WON

Incumbent Bill Haine (D)
56th District     
WON

ILLINOIS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

All 118 seats were up in the 2012 general election, but 70 were safe districts where the seat was uncontested. Prior to the election there were 64 Democrats and 54 Republicans.

  • POST-ELECTION SPLIT:  71 Democrats / 47 Republicans

IAR RPAC Trustees conducted eight Opportunity Races and six of the eight won (75% success rate).

Incumbent Fred Crespo (D)
44th District     
WON

Incumbent Elaine Nekritz (D)
57th District     
WON

Challenger REALTOR® Sam Yingling (D)
62nd District     
WON

Challenger REALTOR® Carl Wasco (D)
68th District     
LOST

Incumbent Angelo “Skip”Saviano (R)
77th District   
LOST

Incumbent Dan Beiser (D)
111th District     
WON

Challenger Jay Hoffman (D)
113th District     
WON

Incumbent Jerry Costello, II (D)
116th District     
WON

Local Opportunity Races:

7 of 11 Campaigns Successful (64%)

COOK COUNTY BOARD OF REVIEW
REALTOR® Dan Patlak,
District 1     
WON

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY OFFICIALS
REALTOR® Max Mitchell,  Champaign County Board, District 5    
WON
Gordy Hulten,  Champaign
County Clerk    
WON
Katie Blakeman, Champaign
Circuit Court Clerk    
WON

GRUNDY COUNTY BOARD
REALTOR® Vicky Geiger    
WON

WILL COUNTY BOARD (multi-member districts)
District 1
REALTOR® Kent Heisner    
LOST
District 3
REALTOR® Stephen Engel      
LOST
REALTOR® Victor Zack     
LOST
District 10
Joseph Babich     
WON
Stephen Wilhelmi     
WON

WILL COUNTY RECORDER OF DEEDS
REALTOR® Laurie McPhillips    
LOST

Illinois Congressional Delegation

Illinois lost one seat in Congress due to reapportionment.  All 18 seats were up in 2012.

  • Twelve incumbent members of Congress WON their races (7 Democrats and 5 Republicans). 
  • Four incumbents LOST their races:Joe Walsh (R-8th), Robert Dold (R-10th) Judy Biggert (R-11th) and Bobby Schilling (R-17th). 
  • There were two open seats. In the 12th District RPAC supported Jason Plummer (R) who LOST to William Enyart (D) and in the 13th District RPAC supported Rodney Davis (R) who WON his race.
Breakout Text: 

At The Capitol: Key Bills Signed Into Law