Cook County Board President Faces Primary Challenge

- Toni Preckwinkle has served as the Cook County Board President since being elected in 2010 and is also the Chair of the Cook County Democratic Party. In 2019, she was the runner-up in the election for Mayor of Chicago, losing to Lori Lightfoot. - Brendan Reilly has been the Alderman for Chicago's 42nd Ward since 2007, when he defeated a 36-year incumbent. He previously served as the Vice Mayor of Chicago and as President pro tempore of the City Council. - As president, Preckwinkle has overseen the passage of a $10.12 billion budget for fiscal year 2026 that did not contain any new tax increases. During her tenure, the county has received four bond rating upgrades. - Public safety is a central issue, with Cook County's overall crime rate having increased by approximately 106% from 2021 to 2022, a rate of increase higher than both state and national trends for the same period. - Preckwinkle has focused on criminal justice reform, working to reduce the county jail population, and expanded healthcare coverage by creating CountyCare, a managed care program for Medicaid-eligible residents. - Reilly has built a reputation for fiscal accountability, consistently voting against tax increases and advocating for a smaller, more efficient city government. His campaign platform includes pledges to deliver property tax relief and implement "data-driven public safety strategies". - In her most recent election in November 2022, Preckwinkle was elected to a fourth term, defeating Republican opponent Bob Fioretti with 67 percent of the vote. Reilly has run unopposed in his re-elections for alderman.