The
Cook County, Illinois
Cook County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Illinois and the second-most-populous county in the United States, after Los Angeles County, California. More than 40% of all residents of Illinois live within Cook County. As of 20 ...
, general election was held on November 8, 2016.
Primaries were held March 15, 2016.
Elections were held for
Clerk of the Circuit Court,
Recorder of Deeds
Recorder of deeds or deeds registry is a government office tasked with maintaining public records and documents, especially records relating to real estate ownership that provide persons other than the owner of a property with real rights over ...
,
State's Attorney
In the United States, a district attorney (DA), county attorney, state's attorney, prosecuting attorney, commonwealth's attorney, or state attorney is the chief prosecutor and/or chief law enforcement officer representing a U.S. state in a loc ...
,
Cook County Board of Review The Cook County Board of Review is an independent office created by statute by the Illinois General Assembly and is governed by three commissioners who are elected by district for two- or four-year terms. Cook County, Illinois, Cook County, which in ...
districts 1 and 2, four seats on the
Water Reclamation District Board, and judgeships on the
Circuit Court of Cook County
The Circuit Court of Cook County is the largest of the 24 judicial circuits in Illinois as well as one of the largest unified court systems in the United States — second only in size to the Superior Court of Los Angeles County since that court ...
.
Election information
2016 was a
presidential election year in the United States. The primaries and general elections for Cook County races coincided with those for federal races (
President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
*President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...
,
House
A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...
, and
Senate
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
) and those for
state elections.
Voter turnout
Voter turnout in Cook County during the primaries was 51.12%, with 1,512,348 ballots cast. Among these, 1,197,073
Democratic, 314,517
Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
, 404
Green
Green is the color between cyan and yellow on the visible spectrum. It is evoked by light which has a dominant wavelength of roughly 495570 Nanometre, nm. In subtractive color systems, used in painting and color printing, it is created by ...
, and 354 nonpartisan primary ballots were cast. The city of
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name ...
saw 53.52% turnout. Suburban Cook County saw 48.61% turnout, its highest turnout for
presidential primaries
The presidential primary elections and caucuses held in the various states, the District of Columbia, and territories of the United States form part of the nominating process of candidates for United States presidential elections. The United S ...
since at least 1992. In Chicago, more than 118,000 votes cast were
early votes, setting a record for the time for Chicago primaries (since surpassed by the
2020 elections). In suburban Cook County, 31,409
mail-in ballots were returned by voters, setting a record (also surpassed in 2020).
The general election saw 71.54% turnout, with 2,205,504 ballots cast. Chicago saw 71.04% turnout and suburban Cook County saw 72.07% turnout.
Clerk of the Circuit Court
In the 2016
Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County
The Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County is the clerk of Circuit Court of Cook County, located in Cook County, Illinois.
Office description
On January 1, 1964, the circuit courts of Cook County were unified. Before this, there were more t ...
election, incumbent fourth-term Clerk
Dorothy A. Brown, a Democrat, was reelected.
Primaries
Democratic
Republican
General election
Recorder of Deeds
In the 2016
Cook County Recorder of Deeds
The Cook County Recorder of Deeds was the recorder of deeds of county government in Cook County, Illinois until the position's abolishment in 2020.
History of office
The office was established in December 1872. Before this, the Clerk of the Cir ...
election, incumbent first-term Recorder of Deeds
Karen Yarbrough
Karen Yarbrough is an American politician currently serving as Cook County Clerk. Elected on November 6, 2018, she is the first female and African American to hold the position. Yarbrough previously served as Cook County Recorder of Deeds from 2 ...
, a Democrat, was reelected, running unopposed in both the Democratic primary and general election.
This was ultimately the last election held for this office, as, on the same day as the general election, Cook County voters approved
a ballot measure to merge the office with that of Cook County Clerk by December 7, 2020.
Primaries
Democratic
=Republican
=
No candidates, ballot-certified or formal write-in, ran in the Republican primary.
General election
State's Attorney
In the 2016
Cook County State's Attorney
The Cook County State's Attorney functions as the state of Illinois's district attorney for Cook County, Illinois, and heads the second-largest prosecutor's office in the United States. The office has over 700 attorneys and 1,100 employees. In ad ...
election, incumbent second-term State's Attorney
Anita Alvarez
Anita M. Alvarez (born January 16, 1960) is the former State's Attorney for Cook County, Illinois, United States. Alvarez was the first Hispanic woman elected to this position, after being the first Latina to win the Democratic nomination for ...
, a Democrat, lost her bid for reelection, being unseated in the Democratic primary by
Kim Foxx
Kimberly M. Foxx (née Anderson; born April 4, 1972) is an American politician, who is currently the Cook County State's Attorney, State's Attorney (district attorney) for Cook County, Illinois. She manages the second largest prosecutor's office ...
, who went on to win the general election.
Only Democrats had this office ever since
Richard A. Devine
Richard A. Devine (born July 5, 1943) is an American attorney who served as the Cook County State's Attorney from 1996 to 2008.
Early life and education
The second of five children, he was the son of a Chicago Water Department employee. Devine g ...
unseated Republican
Jack O'Malley in
1996
File:1996 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: A Centennial Olympic Park bombing, bomb explodes at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, set off by a radical Anti-abortion violence, anti-abortionist; The center fuel tank explodes on TWA Flight 8 ...
.
Primaries
Democratic
Republican
General election
Cook County Board of Review
In the 2016
Cook County Board of Review The Cook County Board of Review is an independent office created by statute by the Illinois General Assembly and is governed by three commissioners who are elected by district for two- or four-year terms. Cook County, Illinois, Cook County, which in ...
election, two seats, one Democratic-held and one Republican-held, out of its three seats were up for election. Both incumbents won reelection.
The Cook County Board of Review has its three seats rotate the length of terms. In a staggered fashion (in which no two seats have coinciding two-year terms), the seats rotate between two consecutive four-year terms and a two-year term.
1st district
Incumbent second-term member Dan Patlak, a Republican, was reelected. Patlak was last reelected in
2012
File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gather ...
. This election was to a four-year term.
Primaries
=Democratic
=
No candidates, ballot-certified or formal write-in, ran in the Democratic primary.
The Democrats ultimately nominated Marty Stack.
=Republican
=
General election
2nd district
Incumbent member
Michael Cabonargi
Michael M. Cabonargi (born January 29, 1971) is an American politician and lawyer who formerly served as a commissioner of the Cook County Board of Review from the Cook County Board of Review 2nd district, 2nd district from 2011 until 2022. Since ...
, a Democrat first appointed in 2011 and elected to a full term in
2012
File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gather ...
, was reelected, running unopposed in both the Democratic primary and general election. This election was to a two-year term.
Primaries
=Democratic
=
=Republican
=
No candidates, ballot-certified or formal write-in, ran in the Republican primary.
General election
Water Reclamation District Board
In the 2016
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD), originally known as the Sanitary District of Chicago, is a special-purpose district chartered to operate in Cook County, Illinois since 1889. Although its name may imply other ...
election, four of the nine seats on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago board were up for election. Three were regularly scheduled elections, and one was a special election due to a vacancy.
Democrats won all four seats up for reelection. The two incumbents seeking reelection won, and two new members were also elected.
Regularly-scheduled election
Three six-year term seats were up for the regularly-scheduled election. Since three six-year seats were up for election, voters could vote for up to three candidates, and the top-three finishers would win.
Two of the incumbents for the three seats were seeking reelection, Barbara McGowan and Mariyana Spyropoulos, both Democrats. Each won reelection. The third, newly elected, winner of the general election was fellow Democrat Josina Morita.
Primaries
=Democratic
=
=Republican
=
No candidates, ballot-certified or formal write-in, ran in the Republican primary.
General election
Unexpired term ''(2 years)''
A special election was held to fill the seat vacated when
Patrick Daley Thompson
Patrick Daley Thompson (born July 8, 1969) is an American politician who most recently served as an alderman from Chicago's 11th ward and was previously a commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. A member o ...
resigned to assume office as a Chicago alderman. This seat had been filled with an interim appointment by Governor
Bruce Rauner
Bruce Vincent Rauner (; born February 18, 1956) is an American businessman, philanthropist, and politician who served as the 42nd governor of Illinois from 2015 to 2019. Prior to his election, he was the chairman of R8 Capital Partners and chai ...
of David J. Walsh. Walsh was a Republican.
Primaries
=Democratic
=
=Republican
=
General election
Judicial elections
13 judgeships on the Circuit Court of Cook County were up for partisan elections due to vacancies.
57 judgeships on the Circuit Court of Cook County were up for
retention election
A judicial retention election (or retention referendum) is a periodic process in some jurisdictions whereby a judge is subject to a referendum held at the same time as a general election. The judge is removed from office if a majority of votes are ...
s.
22 subcircuit courts judgeships were up for partisan elections due to vacancies.
Other judgeships had retention elections.
Ballot questions
Two
ballot questions were included on ballots county-wide during the November general election.
Clerk-Recorder Office
A ballot question was referred by the
Cook County Board of Commissioners
The Cook County Board of Commissioners is a legislative body made up of 17 commissioners who are elected by district, and a president who is elected county-wide, all for four-year terms. Cook County, which includes the City of Chicago, is the Uni ...
to the voters of Cook County as to whether the position of
Cook County Recorder of Deeds
The Cook County Recorder of Deeds was the recorder of deeds of county government in Cook County, Illinois until the position's abolishment in 2020.
History of office
The office was established in December 1872. Before this, the Clerk of the Cir ...
should be eliminated, and its duties merged into the position Cook County Clerk. Voters ultimately approved the ballot question.
The sponsor of the legislation passed by the Cook County Board of Commissioners which created the ballot question was
John Fritchey
John Alden Fritchey IV (born March 2, 1964) is a former Democratic Cook County Commissioner of the Cook County Board of Commissioners who represented the 12th district in Chicago from 2010 until 2018 and was a Democratic State Representative ...
.
The legislation to create this ballot question passed unanimously in a vote of all seventeen members of the Board of Commissioners.
[
The last time the county had voted by referendum on whether to eliminate an elected office was in 1972, when voters strongly voted in favor of eliminating the elected position of ]Cook County Coroner
The Cook County Medical Examiner is the coroner of Cook County, Illinois. Occupants are credential medical examiners, appointed by president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, subject to confirmation by the Cook County Board of Commission ...
, replacing it with an appointed medical examiner.
The ballot measure asked the question,
Earned Sick Time
A ballot question was created by a successful citizen initiative
In political science, an initiative (also known as a popular initiative or citizens' initiative) is a means by which a petition signed by a certain number of registered voters can force a government to choose either to enact a law or hold a pu ...
petition which asked Cook County voters whether they believed that Illinois should enact the Earned Sick Time for Employees Act, thus allowing Illinois workers to earn up to 40 hours of paid sick leave.
The ballot measure asked the question,
Other elections
Coinciding with the primaries, elections were held to elect both the Democratic and Republican committeepeople for the wards of Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name ...
.
See also
* 2016 Illinois elections
References
{{2016 United States elections
Cook County
Cook County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Illinois and the second-most-populous county in the United States, after Los Angeles County, California. More than 40% of all residents of Illinois live within Cook County. As of 20 ...
Cook County, Illinois elections
Cook County 2016
Cook County
Cook County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Illinois and the second-most-populous county in the United States, after Los Angeles County, California. More than 40% of all residents of Illinois live within Cook County. As of 20 ...