SPRINGFIELD — In a race that took practically two full days to resolve, North Side lawmaker Margaret Croke secured the Democratic nomination for Illinois comptroller on Thursday, edging out west suburban state Sen. Karina Villa.
With 92% of the estimated vote totals counted, Croke of Chicago received with 34.6%, adopted by Villa of West Chicago, who had 32.3%, in line with The Associated Press. Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim of Mundelein completed in third place with 24.4%, and state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit of Oswego completed final with 8.7%, the AP outcomes confirmed.
Although Croke had mentioned late on Tuesday that she was confident she would prevail, the race had been too close to call, with Villa refusing to concede whilst Croke held a gentle however slim lead. The AP known as the race for Croke on Thursday afternoon.
In a short interview Thursday after the AP known as the race, Croke mentioned she was “incredibly honored” to have the belief and help of “so many different people across the state.”
“I take this really seriously and I’m excited to go into a general (election) running on the issues that I ran on in the primary, which is affordability, making sure that people know how their taxpayer dollars are spent and that I’m going to leave the state better than I found it for future generations,” she mentioned. “I think that a lot of people resonated with the fact that I’m a young mom and I want to make sure my kids have the opportunities in the state of Illinois.”
In a press release, Villa mentioned she’s pleased with the work she and her marketing campaign did “to change the conversation about the impact the IL Comptroller has in shaping public policy.”
“I firmly believe that our Comptroller should not just manage the books but also be a vocal leader against austerity and an advocate for progressive revenue so that federal cuts do not hurt the investments Illinois must continue to make to protect working people,” she mentioned. “I sincerely hope Rep. Croke will carry on this mantle.”
The comptroller’s race was the one aggressive Democratic major for a state workplace, following Democratic incumbent Susana Mendoza’s decision final yr to not run for a fourth time period. Mendoza had endorsed Kim within the marketing campaign.
Croke’s victory was aided by a robust exhibiting in suburban Cook County, the place she defeated Villa by greater than 13 proportion factors. Croke, who has represented Chicago’s North Side since 2021, truly misplaced to Villa within the metropolis of Chicago by about 4 proportion factors, in line with unofficial outcomes. In the collar counties, Croke received McHenry and Will counties, whereas Villa received DuPage and Kane counties. Kim received her residence county of Lake. In St. Clair County, a key Democratic battleground within the Metro East space exterior of St. Louis, Croke received by greater than 4 proportion factors over Villa.
With her major win, Croke is ready to face Republican Bryan Drew of downstate Benton within the November election. Croke is already thought-about a front-runner within the race, with all statewide places of work held by Democrats.
Croke’s nomination marks one other victory for Gov. JB Pritzker, who backed her and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton’s successful bid for the Democratic nomination to fill the U.S. Senate seat held by retiring Sen. Dick Durbin. Croke secured Pritzker’s endorsement final month, having labored for him in his marketing campaign and governmental capacities.
“Congratulations to Margaret Croke for securing the Democratic nomination for Illinois Comptroller,” Pritzker mentioned in a press release. “As Deputy Chief of Staff for the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and as a member of the legislature, Margaret has always been committed to responsible fiscal management and improving the lives of hardworking Illinoisans. She knows how to get things done, and I know she will hit the ground running on day one fighting for Illinois families.”
Unlike the Illinois treasurer, who handles the state’s investments and oversees a school financial savings program, the comptroller pays the state’s payments, displays fiscal compliance, data transactions and contracts, and points stories that information the governor and legislature on funds choices. In one among its extra obscure features, the workplace additionally licenses sure non-public cemeteries.
Croke has mentioned she would wish to enhance the comptroller’s predictive monetary modeling instruments, revamp its vendor cost program to assist companies and nonprofits climate potential federal funding cuts from the administration of Republican President Donald Trump and make it simpler for small municipalities — usually brief on workers and experience — to submit the audits required by legislation.
The comptroller can also be checked out traditionally as an unbiased fiscal watchdog for the state, prompting Croke to need to face questions throughout her marketing campaign over whether or not she could be unbiased from Pritzker, a billionaire governor who additionally contributed $72,800 to her marketing campaign on Feb. 10, in line with Illinois State Board of Elections data.
Croke has beforehand informed the Tribune she has “no issue as it pertains to being independent,” however that doesn’t imply she will be able to’t be collaborative.
“As someone who has worked for Governor Pritzker, he does not surround himself with people who are just ‘yes’ people. He appreciates being challenged,” she mentioned in an interview final month. “So, you know, I’m very proud of the fact that I earned the governor’s support. I had to work incredibly hard for that support, and I think that he has endorsed me because he thinks I’m the best person for this job, regardless of our back history.”
Croke entered 2026 with a commanding monetary benefit over her major opponents, ending final yr with greater than $833,000 in her marketing campaign fund — greater than her three Democratic rivals mixed.
