Politics

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Foundation manager and political fundraiser Heather Steans has won a heated race to represent a section of the north lakefront in the Illinois state senate, outpolling challenger Suzanne Elder by more than 8,600 votes.

Steans won 63 percent of the vote for the 7th state senate district with 20,454 votes, compared with Elder's 11,812 votes, or 37 percent.

After announcing her resignation from the seat last fall, former State Sen. Carol Ronen endorsed Steans, along with U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) But Elder, an Uptown activist, claimed in her campaign that Steans had been "anointed" by Ronen, the Chicago Reader reported last fall.

The district includes the Edgewater and Uptown neighborhoods.

Meanwhile, incumbent Elga Jeffries has lost her post in the state House's 26th District, which includes a stretch of lakefront from the Gold Coast to the Woodlawn neighborhood. Will Burns, who formerly served as an aide to U.S. Sen. Barack Obama and chief adviser state Senate President Emil Jones, won the five-way race with 8,607 votes, or 33 percent.

Entrepreneur Kenny Johnson came next, with 7,344 votes, or 8 percent, followed by former Chicago Housing Authority chief executive Phillip Jackon with 4,734 votes, or 18 percent. Jeffries came in fourth, with 3,060 votes, or 12 percent. Finally, attorney Paul Chadha came in fifth with 2,304 votes, or 9 percent.

Burns will face Republican Sylvester "Junebug" Hendricks in the general election. Hendricks, a frequent candidate, says in his nominating petitions that he is homeless.

In other state races: 
• Willie Delgado beat back a primary challenge by community activist Proco "Joe" Moreno for his seat in the state Senate's 2nd District, which includes parts of the Near Northwest Side.
• Rickey Hendon easily held onto state Senate seat in the West Side's 5th District, winning 62 percent of the vote against challengers Amy Sue Mertens and Jonathan Bedi.
• Iris Martinez kept her seat in the 20th Senate District on the Near Northwest Side, defeating Richard Bradley and Carols Guevara.
• Round Lake Mayor Bill Gentes defeated psychologist and management consultant Richard Hammes for the Democratic race in the northwest suburbs' 26th Senate District. Gentes will now face computer consultant Dan Duffy, who ran unopposed on the Republican side. The seat is being vacated by Republican Sen. Bill Peterson.
• Senate Republican Deputy Leader Christine Radogno, who represents parts of suburban Cook, DuPage and Will counties, warded off a primary challenge by Brian Bartoz and Greg Abbott. Radogno will face Democrat Audrey Manley in the general election.
• Incumbent Edward Acevedo defeated community activist Frankie Rodriguez to keep his seat in the Southwest Side's 2nd House District.
• On the West Side, Rep. Luis Arroyo fended off a challenge by community activist Wayne Strnad for the 3rd House District.
• Incumbent Esther Golar maintains her seat on the Near South Side's 6th District, edging out community activist Darryl Smith and former lobbyist Jerry Washington.
• Rep. Annazette Collins will keep her seat on the West Side's 10th District, defeating Eddie Winters, a Chicago Police officer.
• In the South Side's 25th District, veteran Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie vanquished opponent Sharon Latiker.
• Rep. Monique Davis keeps her seat in the South Side's 27th District, after a challenge by Illinois Department of Transportation Deputy Director Stanley Moore.
• In the 28th District, which includes part of the city's South Side and the southern suburbs, incumbent Robert Rita captured 56 percent of the vote, despite challenges by four opponents – Earick Rayburn, James Taylor, Pamela Caston and Michael Mayden.
• Rep. Al Riley defeated Village of Matteson staffer Toni Ashmore to maintain a seat in the south suburbs' 38th District.
• Republican Tim Schmitz, who represents the west suburbs in the 49th District, defeated Carpentersville business owner Jim Krenz to maintain his seat.
• In the 50th District, which includes far west suburban areas in Kane and Kendall counties, Kendall County Forest Preserve District President Kay Hatcher captured 49 percent of the Republican vote, over three challengers – David Richmond, Terry Hunt and Anton Graff. Hatcher will now face Democrat Mary Schneider in the race to replace retiring Republican Rep. Pat Lindner.
• In the northwest suburbs' 50th District, Democrat Paul Froehlich defeated challenger John Moynihan. Froehlich, who switched from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party last year, will face Republican Anita Forte-Scott in the general election.
• Rep. Eddie Washington narrowly defeated Lake County Board Member Angelo Kyle for the far north suburbs' 60th District. Community activist Tony Elam came in at a distant third.
• Elk Grove Village Trustee Christine Prochno defeated businesswoman Laura Bartell in the near northwest suburbs' 66th District, where current Rep. Carolyn Krause is retiring. Prochno will face Democrat Mark Walker.
• In the West Side's 78th District, incumbent Deborah Graham easily defeated challenger Phyllis Logan.
• Naperville financial adviser Darlene Senger beat Lisle insurance broker Michael Bowler for the Republican nomination in the west suburbs' 96th District. Senger will now face Dianne McGuire in the race to succeed retiring Republican Rep. Joe Dunn.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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