Judge Michael Zink announces plans to run in 20th Subcircuit, launches campaign website

Michael Zink, who was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to a 20th Subcircuit vacancy late last year, has announced plans to seek election to the vacancy to which he was appointed.

A campaign website has been launched in furtherance of this effort. That's a link to the campaign website in the preceding sentence. Eventually, as we get further into the 2026 election cycle, this link will be added to a list of campaign websites in the Sidebar here on the web version of FWIW.

In a press release announcing his election bid, Zink's campaign quotes him as saying, "I am running for judge because public service is my calling. I want to ensure our judicial system is fair and accessible, and that judges reject implicit bias and promote equal justice under the law."

Zink's campaign announcement touts both his "extensive litigation experience in Cook County’s civil courts" and a number of endorsements, including those of Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Congressman Mike Quigley, Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, State Senator Sara Feigenholtz, State Representative Margaret Croke, State Representative Ann Williams, Alderperson Bennett Lawson (44th Ward), Alderperson Angela Clay (46th Ward), Alderperson Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48th Ward), Democratic Committeeperson Maggie O’Keefe (40th Ward), Democratic Committeeperson Lucy Moog (43rd Ward), and Democratic Committeeperson Sean Tenner (46th Ward).

Before his appointment to the bench, Zink was a candidate for a 20th Subcircuit vacancy in the 2024 election cycle.