Gov. JB Pritzker defeated Republican Darren Bailey on Tuesday, Nov. 3, to win a third term, becoming the first Democrat elected to three consecutive terms as Illinois governor.

The Associated Press declared Pritzker the winner at 7 p.m. Central time, minutes after polls closed, according to KWQC, which carried the AP alert. The call is a projection, not a certified result. Vote tallies will not become official until county clerks certify them, a process Shaw Local reported takes about two weeks after the election.

No final statewide vote totals were available at the time of the AP call. Pritzker won 55% of the vote in both 2018 and 2022, according to WAND.

On Hinsdale ballots

The governor's race topped a ballot that included several contests directly affecting Hinsdale residents.

In the 6th Congressional District, which includes Hinsdale, Oak Brook and Darien, incumbent Democrat Sean Casten of Downers Grove faced a rematch against Glen Ellyn Republican Niki Conforti, according to Patch. Results in that race were not available as of polls closing.

Closer to home, Democratic state Rep. Marti Deuter faced Republican Gina Parrilli in the 45th House District, while Democratic Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton ran against Republican Linda Polacek in the 23rd Senate District, according to Patch's Hinsdale voter guide. The GOP has largely ceded those local seats to Democrats in recent cycles, Patch reported. Results were not yet available.

Democrats held a 78-40 advantage in the Illinois House and a 40-19 edge in the Senate heading into the election, Capitol News Illinois reported. Republicans have seen their suburban representation shrink in recent cycles, while Democrats targeted open and competitive seats across DuPage County.

Policy impact in DuPage County

Pritzker's administration has signed legislation affecting DuPage County residents directly. The state eliminated its 1% sales tax on groceries effective Jan. 1, 2026, according to the Illinois Department of Revenue. Municipalities could opt to impose their own 1% local grocery tax in its place.

Pritzker also signed two bills proposed by DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin's office, according to a DuPage County government announcement. One strengthens animal-cruelty prosecution. The other expands protections for elderly residents and people with disabilities and changes the definition of "caregiver." Both laws take effect Jan. 1, 2027.

The governor's race

Bailey, a farmer from Xenia in southern Illinois and former state legislator, lost to Pritzker by nearly 13 percentage points in 2022, WBEZ reported. Pritzker's campaign spent nearly $24 million from July through September, compared with less than $1 million spent by Bailey, according to CBS News Chicago.

Pritzker, 61, is the first three-term Illinois governor since Republican Jim Thompson won the third of his four terms in 1982, according to WBEZ. Illinois has no term limits on the governor's office.

Christian Mitchell, a former state representative who served as Pritzker's deputy governor, will become lieutenant governor. He replaces Juliana Stratton, who left the ticket to run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Dick Durbin, according to Fox 32 Chicago.

Multiple outlets noted Pritzker is considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, though WBEZ reported he has deflected questions about his political future.