Instead of looking forward to their own majority, Republicans are now facing a 5-2 deficit on the court after Democrats Elizabeth Rochford and Mary K. O’Brien pulled out hard fought victories for two open suburban seats indirectly created by Kilbride’s ouster.
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Burke, O’Brien speak to court issues in forum for 3rd District contest- Grace Barbicgbarbic@lawbulletinmedia.comWhile the Illinois Supreme Court races this election season have become known for being highly partisan as the outcomes will determine the political makeup of the high court justices running for the 3rd.
It wasn’t really possible for Democrats to draw the new state Supreme Court map in a way that would have assured them of winning one of the seats on the November ballot, as would have been their normal tendency. Instead, both seats are in play.
Democrats hold the advantage in two races for open Illinois Supreme Court seats because last year they redrew the court’s boundaries for the first time in 58 years. The two down-ballot elections hold enormous stakes if the court changes hands potentially impacting abortion, gun control and union rights laws.