In addition to several races where candidates received direct RPAC contributions, there were extraordinary outreach efforts through our Independent Expenditures (IE) program and Opportunity Races (OR) in key legislative races. IE and OR support from Illinois REALTORS® helped five members of the Illinois House of Representatives, a state senatorial candidate and a Will County board member capture primary victories Tuesday.

The winners include five incumbents:

  • House Republican Leader Jim Durkin of Burr Ridge, 82nd District, with 67.6 percent of the votes;
  • Assistant House Republican Leader Rep. Norine Hammond of Macomb, 93rd District, 53.8 percent;
  • Democratic Rep. Bob Rita of Blue Island, 28th District, 70 percent;
  • Democratic Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez of Cicero, 24th District, 57.6 percent; and
  • Republican Will County Board Chairman Jim Moustis, District 2, 39.7 percent.

In the race for state senator of the 54th District, Jason Plummer won the Republican race with 57.2 percent of the votes in a four-person race for an open seat.

Illinois REALTORS® used IEs to help all six winners. IEs are direct mail, advertising and phone calls that can’t be coordinated with the candidates or the candidates’ campaigns. Only one candidate who received an independent expenditure lost.

Through OR support, Illinois REALTOR® members who are registered voters received postcards encouraging them to vote for candidates who understand and support REALTOR® issues and are otherwise known as REALTOR® Champions. The four incumbent state representatives and the winning Will County Board Member received opportunity race support, while two other candidates lost local county board races.

In addition, the Illinois REALTORS® successfully backed four local referenda: three opposing Home Rule establishment in Rockford, Homewood and Merrionette Park as well as one supporting a non-Home Rule sales tax increase in Flossmoor.