Politics
Croke, Villa Leading in Democratic Primary for Illinois Comptroller
From left: The Democratic candidates for the office are state Sen. Karina Villa, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim and state Rep. Margaret Croke. (Provided)
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State Rep. Margaret Croke remained ahead in unofficial returns Tuesday in the Democratic primary for Illinois comptroller, but state Sen. Karina Villa closed the gap as vote totals continued to roll in.
Croke represents the 12th District, which includes Lakeview East, Lincoln Park, Old Town and the Gold Coast in Chicago. First elected in 2020, she previously served as deputy chief of staff at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and worked on Gov. JB Pritzker’s campaign and transition.
According to unofficial results from the Associated Press, Croke received 34.7% of the vote with 87% of the vote counted. Karina Villa trailed with 32.4% of the vote. Holly Kim received 24.1%, and Stephanie Kifowit was at 8.7%
The best showing for Villa was in Kane County, where she led with 42% of the votes with about 90% of precincts reporting, according to unofficial results. She also had the largest percentage of votes in Chicago.
Kim conceded the race. In a statement, she wrote, “Tonight the voters have spoken and while this is not the outcome we worked for, I’m filled with gratitude and pride for the campaign we ran and for each and every vote we earned.”
Kim pledged her full support to the candidate who wins the race in the statement.
Kim’s best performance was in Lake County, where she is treasurer. Unofficial totals show she claimed about 54% of the vote with about 87% of precincts reporting. She claimed a high percentage of votes in many counties downstate.
The comptroller is the Illinois government’s chief fiscal officer, responsible under the state Constitution for maintaining central accounts and ordering payments in and out of state funds. The office publishes data on bill payments, debt and payroll, providing a public view into state finances and ensuring spending complies with the law.
The comptroller sits on the Illinois State Board of Investment and chairs the State Employees’ Retirement System Board, helping oversee pension assets. The comptroller is also fourth in the gubernatorial line of succession.
The Democratic nominee will face Republican Bryan Drew, an attorney and small business owner from southern Illinois who ran unopposed in the GOP primary, in the Nov. 3 general election.
The Democratic candidates said fiscal instability under the Trump administration underscored the need for steadier government finances. They also emphasized modernizing the office, increasing transparency and prioritizing payments that protect working families and vulnerable communities.
Despite shared themes, the candidates bring different geographic, professional and political backgrounds to the race.
Kifowit represents the 84th District, covering parts of Aurora, Oswego, Naperville and Montgomery. A Marine veteran and former Aurora alderman, she has served in the House since 2013, chairs the Personnel & Pensions Committee and Property Tax Subcommittee, and served on Pritzker’s Veterans Affairs transition committee in 2018.
Kim, the first woman and first Korean American woman elected Lake County treasurer, previously served as a trustee in Mundelein. She was endorsed by Mendoza.
Villa represents the 25th District and was first elected to the Senate in 2020 after one term in the Illinois House. Villa is a former school social worker and West Chicago school board member; her career has focused on education, mental health and labor issues.
The candidates from state government highlighted their experience with state financial matters, while Kim wrote in the WTTW News Voter Guide of her background for the comptroller job, “I’m the only one already doing it.”
Spending in the comptroller’s race lagged behind higher-profile contests for the U.S. Senate and U.S. House. Still, candidates received major contributions from labor unions and organizations including the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police, the Chicago Teachers Union, the Teamsters and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Major donations also came from PACs, donors and politicians including GCM Grosvenor CEO Michael Sacks, Pritzker and Senate President Don Harmon.
Since the modern comptroller’s office was established in 1973, the position has been held by figures including Roland Burris, Dan Hynes, Judy Baar Topinka, Jerry Stermer and Leslie Munger.
Mendoza previously served as a state representative and Chicago city clerk. While she has not announced her next move, she has been mentioned as a potential future mayoral candidate in Chicago.
Contact Jared Rutecki: @JaredRutecki | [email protected]
