Durbin, Foxx retain seats; U.S. presidential race still in play

Several incumbent candidates in major Illinois and Congressional races retained their seats in the Nov. 3 general elections, while the outcome of the U.S. presidential race remains undetermined as election officials continue to tally votes.

Because of the large number of mail-in ballots this year, the Illinois State Board of Elections has indicated that results may change significantly through Nov. 17 as ballots continue to arrive.

As of Friday afternoon, no winner had yet been declared in five key states in the U.S. presidential race — North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada and Pennsylvania — leaving both President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden short of the 270 electoral votes needed to win the election.

According to unofficial election results, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) won the race against Republican challenger Mark Curran, the former Lake County Sheriff, while Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, a Democrat, retained her role in the race against Republican challenger Pat O'Brien

In the race for Illinois' 7th Congressional District, which includes the Streeterville and New Eastside neighborhoods, U.S. Rep. Danny Davis (D-7) was re-elected to office over challenger Craig Cameron, a Republican.

Voters largely appeared to reject a proposed amendment to the Illinois State Constitution that would repeal the flat tax requirement for the State personal income tax and permit the enactment of legislation supporting a graduated income tax. Proponents of the graduated tax conceded defeat Wednesday morning.

Chicago saw a significant voter turnout at the polls Nov. 3, with participation rates on track to exceed 70 percent by late afternoon, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Chicago Board of Election Commissioners spokesman Jim Allen told the Tribune that by 4:30 p.m., more than 1 million city residents had cast a vote through mail-in ballots, early voting or Election Day voting. The Tribune further reported that 25- to 34-year-olds and 35- to 44-year-olds represented the two largest voter demographics by age, casting 191,000 ballots and 168,000 ballots, respectively.