Illinois election: Andrew Chesney wins over Gerald Podraza in state Senate District 45
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Republican candidate Andrew Chesney, 40, of Freeport will represent most of northwest Illinois in the Illinois Senate.
The former Freeport City Council member who has served in the Illinois House since 2018 beat political newcomer Gerald Podraza, 78, a Democrat who recently moved to Galena in Illinois Senate District 45.
Chesney won the election with 66% of 77,777 votes cast, according to unofficial election results.
The re-drawn district includes parts of Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago counties.
2022 Illinois election results:All the midterm election results in one spot
"We won!" Chesney wrote on his Facebook page Tuesday night. "From the bottom of my heart thank you for electing me to be your next State Senator!"
State Sen. Brian Stewart, R-Freeport, has chosen not to run for re-election after a 50-year career in public service.
Chesney, who is originally from Shannon, didn't face a challenger in the Republican primary in June. Podraza, who is originally from Norridge, advanced to the general election as a Democratic write-in candidate.
Chesney, 40, is married and a small business owner. Chesney waged a campaign promising to back policies that fight crime, high taxes and corruption.
A Rockford Register Star reporter since 2005, Jeff Kolkey writes about city government, politics, trends in the Rockford region and more. He is a Rockford resident, a married father of two and a White Sox fan. He can be reached at (815) 987-1374, via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on Twitter @jeffkolkey.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Andrew Chesney wins IL state Senate District 45 over Gerald Podraza
