Ashonta C. Rice wins countywide race - and other results in contested Cook County judicial races

Ashonta C. Rice won a countywide judicial vacancy handily this evening, besting the Democratic Party's officially slated candidate, Judge Michael Cabonargi, by more than 100,000 votes in combined City and suburban returns.

On the other hand, in the other contested countywide Circuit Court race, the Democratic Party's chosen candidate, Luz Maria Toledo, was the clear winner over Judge Linda Sackey, by a margin of over 70,000 votes.

What's the headline? It was a bad night to be an appointed judge?

Maybe... Judge Ginger Odom trailed the field in the race for the 1st Subcircuit Walker vacancy, a race in which Tiffany N. Brooks holds only about a 400 vote margin over Ashley Greer Shambley, with 98.64% of the vote reported. Shambley and Odom had stellar bar ratings; Brooks did not participate in the screening process. The final outcome of this race may not be known for some time.

On the other hand, Judge Lester Finkle is apparent winner in the race for the Mikva vacancy in the City-only 8th Subcircuit.

In other contested judicial races, Monica Somerville's strong showing in the suburbs has propelled her to victory in the race for the Kane vacancy in the 19th Subcircuit (the City votes in this race were much more evenly distributed among Somerville and her two opponents). Jon Stromsta had an almost 7,000 vote margin over his opponent in the race for the Miller vacancy in the 20th Subcircuit.

Bianca B. Brown emerged victorious in her race for the Carroll vacancy in the 17th Subcircuit; Natalia Moore was the clear winner in the race for the Brooks vacancy in the 17th Subcircuit.

Jarrett Knox won his race for the McLean Meyerson vacancy in the 11th Subcircuit. Rachel Marello won her 3rd Subcircuit race (Sherlock vacancy). Radiance Ward was the clear victor in the race for the Balanoff vacancy in the 1st Subcircuit.

One other race appears to be too close to call at this hour: With just over 97% of the precincts reporting, Kathleen Cunniff Ori has a razor-thin 171-vote margin over Elizabeth Christina Dibler, 12,649 to 12,478, in the race for the Gamrath vacancy in the City-only 8th Subcircuit.