The Associated Press has declared Illinois Rep. Kathleen Willis as the winner of a fifth term to represent the 77th District in the state’s house of representatives, according to unofficial election results updated Nov. 10.
As of 12:40 p.m. Tuesday, Willis was carrying more than 65% of all votes counted, with Republican challenger Anthony Airdo having slightly more than 34% of the vote, according to unofficial results from the Cook County Clerk’s Office and the Chicago Board of Elections.
“I’m happy the residents in the 77th District have confidence in me and are willing to reelect me so I can continue to serve them in Springfield,” Willis said. “I’m proud I ran a clean campaign and ran on things I have done positively in the district.”
When she returns to Springfield, Willis said there are several things she hopes to accomplish, some of which were put on the back burner during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I have a couple initiatives I’m working on with physician assistants, on helping them streamline their licensing, and I’ve also been working with a group from the cannabis licensing on doing some cleanup on that legislation,” Willis said. “I think those will be top priorities, as well as some ethics reform issues we’ll be addressing.”
With more than 20,000 votes counted as of 11:30 p.m. Tuesday night, Willis believes the COVID-19 pandemic likely pushed more voters to cast ballots in any way they could.
“I think the pandemic definitely affected the vote,” Willis said. “There was a record number of early voters and vote-by-mail ballots. I think on a national level, people wanted to make sure their votes counted and got them out there.”
Willis also praised the state of Illinois for providing multiple options for people to safely vote during the pandemic, with some delays in counting votes not withstanding.
“I think Illinois has been very good in making sure everyone who wants to vote has the opportunity to vote,” Willis said.
The 77th District includes O’Hare Airport and portions of Addison, Bellwood, Bensenville, Franklin Park, Maywood, Melrose Park, Northlake, Stone Park and Wood Dale.
sschering@pioneerlocal.com
Twitter: @steveschering
