(The Center Square) – Monday was the deadline for candidates that didn’t run in Illinois’ March primary to file for ballot access. It was also the first hearing in a case challenging the prohibition of such candidates from being slated.
The law Gov. J.B. Pritzker hastily enacted last month after the legislature gutted and replaced a completely separate bill with the mid-election year change was temporarily blocked after a Sangamon County judge issued a preliminary injunction.
Monday, candidates filed petitions with the Illinois State Board of Elections to get on the November ballot. Across town in Springfield, Liberty Justice Center attorney Jeffrey Schwab represented some of the filers in the first hearing challenging the law.
“Government shouldn’t be allowed to change the rules in an election in the middle of the process,” Schwab told The Center Square. “It’s fine if they want to change future rules if they want to make things a little more fair or better, or they think that this process is unfair. That’s fine, but once the process starts, you can’t change it and take it away from people and that’s exactly what they did here.”
Schwab said the preliminary injunction remains in place until the judge makes a ruling, something expected in the coming days.
In the March primary election, the winning party was already determined in more than half of Illinois’ House and Senate seats up for grabs as no opposing party ran candidates in those districts. Monday was the deadline for candidates that didn’t run in the primary to seek ballot access.
State Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado, D-Chicago, could face Republican Juvandy Rivera, who filed petitions to be slated Monday.
“I as a good candidate would make sure that those signatures are valid,” Delgado said late last month. “And if they are, then fantastic, and if they aren’t, then we’d proceed to the next step.”
State Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago, could be challenged by Republican Leslie Collazo, who also filed petitions to be slated Monday. Late last month after a judge temporarily blocked the slating prohibition, Ford said he didn’t have plans to file any objections at that time.
“We have a system of checks and balances and if the courts say that they see it different than the legislature, then we have to accept that,” Ford told The Center Square.
Others that filed Monday with the Illinois State Board of Elections for seats to the Illinois Statehouse include Teresa Alexander of North Aurora, who filed as a Republican for the 50th House District. Alexander could face incumbent state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora.
Carlos Gonzalez of Lyons filed as a Republican for the 1st Senate District. Gonzalez could face incumbent state Sen. Javier Loera Cervantes, D-Chicago.
Nancy Rodriguez of Chicago, filed as a Republican for the 4th House District. Rodriguez could face incumbent state Rep. Lilian Jimenez, D-Chicago.
Camaxtle “Max” Olivo of Chicago filed as a Republican for the 1st House District. Olivo could face incumbent state Rep. Aaron Ortiz, D-Chicago.
Terry Nguyen Le of Chicago filed as a Republican for the 13th House District. Le could face incumbent state Rep. Hoan Huynh.
James Kirchner of Chicago filed as a Republican for the 13th Senate District. Kirchner could face incumbent state Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago.
John “JZ” Zimmers of Chicago filed as a Republican for the 19th House District. Zimmers could face incumbent state Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, D-Chicago.
Carl Kunz of Hickory Hills filed as a Republican for the 31st House District. Kunz could face Michael Crawford, who beat state Rep. Mary Flowers, D-Chicago, in the March primary election.
Ronald Andermann of Arlington Heights filed as a Republican for the 53rd House District. Andermann could face incumbent state Sen. Mark Walker, D-Arlington Heights, who also filed to be slated to the ballot. Walker was recently appointed to the Senate after the retirement of Ann Gillespie, who went to work for the Pritzker administration.
Timothy Szymankowski of Plainfield filed as a Republican for the 98th House District. Szymankowski could face incumbent state Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet.
Ashley Jensen of Winthrop filed as a Republican for the 31st Senate District. Jensen could face incumbent state Sen. Mary Edly-Allen, D-Libertyville.
Donald Puckett of Elgin filed as a Republican for the 43rd House District. Puckett could face incumbent state Rep. Anna Moeller, D-Elgin.
The deadline to file objections to candidates seeking ballot access is June 10.
The General Election is Nov. 5.
Catrina Petersen contributed to this report.
