Former Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Deerfield) talks to supporters after declaring victory as (from left) his son, Daniel Schneider, his mother, Dena Schneider and wife, Julie Dann Schneider, watch.
1:35 a.m., March 16
Former Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Deerfield) issued a challenge to Rep. Robert Dold (R-Kenilworth) to show the rest of the nation the 10th Congressional district is one where people will show each other respect for their differences when they meet in the Nov. 8 general election.
Schneider defeated Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering in the March 15 Democratic primary with 53.8 percent of the 93,165 votes cast to Rotering’s 42.6 percent to earn the right to face Dold for third time in the last three Congressional elections, according to the Lake an Cook County clerks’ websites.
“Our district should be a light to the rest of the country,” Schneider said. “I am going to challenge Congressman Dold’s votes and he will be carefully watching my ideas.”
Criticizing the discord displayed in other campaigns around the country, Schneider said that was not the way to legislate for the betterment of the American people.
“Whether you’re a Democrat, a Republican or an independent, we need to step up. There has been too much ugly in what I’ve been seeing lately.”
Dold first won the seat in 2010 in a narrow contest with Dan Seals. Schneider ousted him in another close race in 2012 before Dold took the job back in 2014 in still one more tight election.
Schneider collected a total of 50,103 votes to Rotering’s 43,062.
A crowd of more than 100 people await results at the campaign headquarters of former Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Deerfield).
9:20 p.m.
Former Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Deerfield) has increased his lead over Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering in the March 15 Democratic primary to earn the right to challenge Rep. Bob Dold (R-Kenilworth) in the Nov. 8 general election.
Schneider has 54.4 percent of the 65,795 votes cast to Rotering’s 45.6 percent, according to results posted on the Lake and Cook County Clerks’ websites. The websites do not indicate what percentage of the vote is counted.
Elliott Hartstein, the former mayor of Buffalo Grove is one of the more than 100 people awaiting results at Schneider headquarters. He hopes Schneider will have the opportunity to return to Washington.
“I like Brad (Schneider) because he is thoughtful and committed to representing the district,” Hartstein said. “He has demonstrated he knows how to build relationships with his colleagues and can hit the ground running.”
Leah Axelrod of Highland Park, who was one of more than 75 Rotering supporters waiting for results early in the evening, said she was drawn to Rotering because of the job she has done as mayor.
“I’ve seen her rise through politics in Highland Park through my association with her on the Historic Preservation Commission,” Axelrod said. “She is very, very competent.”
8:45 p.m.
Crowds await results at Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering’s election night party.
Former Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Deerfield) has taken an early lead over Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering in the March 15 Democratic primary to earn the right to challenge Rep. Bob Dold (R-Kenilworth) in the Nov. 8 general election.
Schneider has 53.8 percent of the 55,085 votes cast to Rotering’s 46.2 percent, according to results posted on the Lake and Cook County Clerks’ websites. The websites do not indicate what percentage of the vote is counted.
8:25 p.m.
In the 10th Congressional District Democratic primary, Brad Schneider has a lead over Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering. Schneider has so far garnered 25,391 votes to 21.172. However, more than half of the Cook County has yet to be counted.
Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Highland Park) votes in Highwood.
2:22 p.m.
Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Highland Park) voted in an Illinois primary election with national implications shortly after 11 a.m. March 15 at the Don Skrinar Recreation Center in Highwood.
Kirk would not disclose any of his votes other than the one he cast for himself.
With the nation focused on Illinois and four other states holding presidential primaries March 15, Kirk said he was not publicly backing any of the contenders for the Republican presidential nomination — Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) or Donald Trump.
“I’m not endorsing in this race,” Kirk said. “I’m going to let the Republican Party sort it out and determine the nominee.”
Kirk was equally noncommittal when asked how he voted on the $198 million referendum for North Shore School District 112. The referendum would fund construction of a new middle school and renovations to six other schools. Five schools would be closed.
“No comment yet,” Kirk said.
Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering (Center) greets voters with Alyssa Knobel (right) and Beth Olderman.
Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering, who is running against former Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Deerfield) for the Democratic nomination to oppose Rep. Robert Dold (R-Kenilworth) in the Nov. 8 general election, did not say how she would vote on the referendum as she greeted voters shortly before 7:30 a.m. on the Ravinia Festival grounds.
“I haven’t voted yet,” Rotering said. “I’m waiting for my family,” she added referring to her husband and four sons, three of whom are voting age.
Schneider, who took advantage of early voting, said he visited five polling places before taking a break midmorning to have breakfast with his family.
Schneider was one of more than 33,000 people in Lake County who voted before election day either in person or by mail, according to Lake County Clerk Carla Wyckoff. She said as of 2 p.m. March 14, 17,847 people in the county pulled a Democratic ballot, 15,034 voted Republican and 299 took a non partisan ballot.
Daily North Shore will update this story and other campaign related coverage as election results become known after 7 p.m.
Former Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Deerfield) (fourth from left) has breakfast with family members and volunteers (from left) Tracy Mayfield, Julie Dann Schneider, Kim Schneider Malek, Schneider, Frank Schneider an Dena Schneider.