Republicans, start your engines: Vacancy opens in 13th Subcircuit

An alert reader pointed out that the Illinois State Board of Elections has posted a new judicial vacancy, this one in the far northwest suburban 13th Subcircuit.

The 13th Subcircuit, alone among Cook County subcircuits, has consistently produced Republican judges. Democrats -- like Republicans in virtually all other parts of Cook County -- often don't even bother to field contestants.

(Note: A Republican was elected from the north suburban 12th Subcircuit in 2014, and consequently Republican hopefuls are expected to file for one or both of the vacancies there in this primary cycle.)