Federal
For the 13th Congressional District of Illinois, which includes Champaign, Springfield and East St. Louis, incumbent Democrat Rep. Nikki Budzinksi will face Republican Joshua Lloyd and write-in Independent Bradley Horges Jr. on Election Day.
More information on the candidates’ campaigns can be found here:
- Rep. Budzinski reflects on first term, talks reelection.
- West Point graduate Joshua Lloyd discusses congressional campaign.
Illinois General Assembly Senate
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Illinois State Sen. Paul Faraci, the Democratic member representing the 52nd district, which includes Champaign-Urbana, Danville, Rantoul and St. Joseph will face Republican Jeff Brownfield on Nov. 5.
Faraci has been a Champaign County resident for 45 years and graduated from the University. He has served on the Champaign City Council, served a term as deputy mayor of Champaign and was Champaign Township Assessor. During his first term, he voted to fund more teacher training to help fill school vacancies and invest in trade schools for workforce development. In an interview with WPGU, he said he believes politics is about public service.
Champaign native Brownfield is also a graduate of the University and an active member of the community as a local baseball and basketball coach. According to his policy platform, he hopes to help small businesses and support disabled residents and veterans.
Illinois General Assembly House of Representatives
State Rep. Carol Ammons, D-103, is running unopposed for her current Illinois General Assembly House seat. She has held the seat since January 2015 and the district includes Champaign, Urbana and Staley. Her husband Aaron Ammons is the current Champaign County Clerk.
Local (Champaign County)
Auditor
Current Democrat Auditor George Danos is running against Republican Alan Anderson. Voters will also be asked if the position should be eliminated altogether in the referendum effective on Dec. 1.
According to Danos’ campaign Facebook page, Danos was the first certified public accountant elected to the role and “brought rigor to the auditing of expenditures and the creation of annual reports.” Danos faced censure from the Champaign County Board earlier this year.
Anderson is a C-U native and graduated from the University with a degree in finance. He is a computer programmer and said he would foster a positive relationship with the Champaign County Board and bring respect to the Auditor’s office.
Circuit Clerk
Democrat Susan W. McGrath is running unopposed for Circuit Clerk in Champaign County. The role provides services to the public such as providing resources, assisting with the examination of court records and aiding courthouse officials.
Coroner
This election’s coroner race will be between Republican Steve Thuney, Champaign County’s chief deputy coroner and Democrat Laurie Brauer, the county’s deputy coroner. The coroner is responsible for investigating deaths, with a forensic pathologist conducting the autopsies, and the office has the same powers as the Sheriff’s office.
Thuney has served as the chief deputy coroner since 2010, and he’s also been the interim coroner since Republican Duane Northrup, who was the coroner since 2004, resigned last November. Thuney’s campaign website says he has years of service as a volunteer firefighter and that he’s conducted 5,000 death investigations throughout his career.
Laurie Brauer, who has been Champaign County’s deputy coroner since 2021, says on her campaign website she is qualified for the position, citing her years of service in emergency medicine, corrections and health-related customer service, as well as her medico-legal death investigator certificate.
State’s Attorney
Julia Rietz, a Democrat, is running unopposed in the race for Champaign County state’s attorney. Rietz has held the position for 20 years and is currently serving her third term. An alum of the University’s College of Law, she served as a prosecutor for the office for several years, then practiced family law for several more before being elected as the state’s attorney in 2004.
