Issues such as property taxes were seen as key by candidates in Illinois House and Senate races in the south and southwest suburbs, where incumbents appeared to win big.

19th Senate

In the 19th Senate, unofficial results show, incumbent Michael Hastings, a Frankfort Democrat, had 56% of the vote to 44% for Republican Samantha Jean Gasca, of New Lenox.

Hastings thanked his supporters in a statement.

“This win is a testament to our shared values and our collective commitment to a better Illinois for generations to come,” Hastings said. “As we move forward, I pledge to listen and to work tirelessly on behalf of every member of our community.”

He said he hopes to initiate legislative efforts to address efforts to alleviate the property tax burden, invest in education and improve infrastructure for safer neighborhoods.

In a statement posted to her campaign’s Facebook page Wednesday, Gasca said she was not yet conceding the race, despite a gap of about 12,000 votes.

She also suggested there were improprieties in vote tabulation in Cook County, using the word “cheating” in her statement.

In Will County, Gasca outpolled Hastings, with 35,579 votes to 25,329 for the incumbent, according to unofficial totals.

In Cook County, Hastings received 34,571 votes to Gasca’s 12,134, unofficial totals show.

“I am not shy from backing down when I lose, but I want to make sure we actually have lost!” she said.

40th Senate

In the 40th Senate race, Democratic incumbent Patrick Joyce faced Republican challenger Philip Nagel, whom Joyce defeated two years ago.

Unofficial results showed Joyce with 82% of the vote compared with 18% for Nagel.

Joyce, of Essex, took office Nov. 8, 2019, appointed to the seat to replace Sen. Toi Hutchinson.

Nagel conceded in a Facebook post Wednesday.

“To all my friends and supporters, you have all been so amazing during this journey, but unfortunately, we were not successful on the night,” Nagel’s statement read.

30th District

In the 30th House District, incumbent William “Will” Davis, 56, D-Homewood led with 78% of the vote compared with 22% for Republican Patricia Bonk, 67, of Midlothian.

Davis said Wednesday he is excited to continue working to bring state funding to the south suburbs and increase investments in schools.

“The challenges that the south suburbs recently has had with property taxes shows that there’s a need for more school funding,” Davis said. Other priorities include taking action on building an airport near Peotone.

“The development of the third airport will undoubtedly bring businesses and other business opportunities to our communities, to our residents, that also could have a positive impact on lowering property tax for individuals in the Southland as well,” Davis said.

Bonk unsuccessfully challenged Davis in 2022, and said Wednesday she does not plan to run for the seat again but is seeking reelection on the Midlothian Library Board.

“Illinois is gonna be, and especially Cook County, is just gonna be a Democratic stronghold,” Bonk said. “I don’t know if there’s anything else we can do differently.”

34th House

In the 34th House District, incumbent Nick Smith, 50, D-Chicago, was leading with 83% of the vote compared with 17% for Republican Frederick Walls, 53, of Crete.

35th House

In the Illinois House 35th District, incumbent Democrat Mary Gill had about 52% of the vote over Republican challenger Herb Hebein with 48%, unofficial results show.

Gill, from Mount Greenwood posted to Facebook Wednesday, thank her supporters.

“I couldn’t have done it without a lot of helpers along the way, so I couldn’t be more grateful to every helping hand I received,” the post read.

Also from Mount Greenwood, Hebein has sought the district seat four times, first running against Hurley in 2018, and again in 2020 and 2022.

36th House

Unofficial results show Democrat Rick Ryan ahead with 57% of the vote, compared with 43% for Republican challenger Christine Shanahan McGovern. Both candidates were battling to replace former state Rep. Kelly Burke.

Ryan, 58, of Evergreen Park, had Burke’s endorsement over Shanahan McGovern, 54, of Oak Lawn.

Ryan said he plans to get to work on capping property taxes for people in his district.

“Whether that cap can be based on a cost of living adjustment or rate inflation — I think it needs to be tied to something so that we can’t get these 40%, 50%, 60% increases ever again,” Ryan said.

79th District

In the 79th District, unofficial results show incumbent Jackie Haas of Bourbonnais gained about 83% of the vote, compared with 17% for Monee Township Trustee William “Billy” Morgan, with all precincts reporting.

Haas said in a Facebook post to supporters she is “excited to keep working on the issues that are so important to all of you.”

Morgan said he called Haas to congratulate her after watching results pour in with a group of supporters. He said he is proud of having run a “robust campaign” focused on fighting rising costs and reforming ethics laws.

80th District

In the 80th District, unofficial results show incumbent Democrat Anthony DeLuca of Chicago Heights received 85.5% of the vote, compared with 14.5% for Republican challenger Adam Beaty.

DeLuca has held the seat since 2009. Beaty is a Braidwood police officer.

Republicans gather

Less than an hour after the polls shut down for the 2024 presidential election, Orland Park’s Coach’s Corner Bar and Grill was packed with Cook County Republicans excited to watch the results.

Tony Migacg passed out Make America Great Again hats to others at the bar.

“I had about 20 of them in my car,” Migacg said. “I can’t fathom why people vote for Kamala.”

Migacg came to strip mall sports bar, five blocks from his Orland Park home, unaware the Cook County Republican Party was hosting an watch party, their only scheduled in the Southland. But party Chair Sean Morrison, of Palos Park, said the enthusiasm confirmed south suburban residents are looking for change.

Morrison said he was confident that local systems are secure.

“I checked in with our folks with the state party stuff not even an hour ago, asked if there was any major issues that were reported to them,” Morrison said at about 8 p.m. Tuesday. “As of right now, there’s been nothing that’s been distressing reported to me.”

While signs and decorations centered on Trump, elected officials, including two based in Orland Park, said almost equally important for the region was the race for Cook County state’s attorney, where Republican Bob Fioretti faced Democrat Eileen O’Neill Burke.

O’Neill Burke later declared victory, but Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau said he had hoped for a Fioretti victory.

“Pretty much the other races are going to stay in the same hands, but if that flips, it has a huge difference for us, because the state’s attorney does not support our police,” Pekau said. “We have a very safe town, and the problems we have are mostly driven by the state’s attorney.”