{"id":33401,"date":"2026-03-20T08:09:20","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T13:09:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thexradio.com\/news\/?p=33401"},"modified":"2026-03-20T08:09:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T13:09:20","slug":"margaret-croke-wins-democratic-primary-for-illinois-comptroller","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thexradio.com\/news\/local-news\/33401-margaret-croke-wins-democratic-primary-for-illinois-comptroller\/","title":{"rendered":"Margaret Croke Wins Democratic Primary for Illinois Comptroller"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"pdfprnt-buttons pdfprnt-buttons-post pdfprnt-top-right\"><a href=\"javascript: window.print()\" class=\"pdfprnt-button pdfprnt-button-print\" target=\"_self\" ><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thexradio.com\/news\/wp-content\/plugins\/pdf-print\/images\/print.png\" alt=\"image_print\" title=\"Print Content\" \/><span class=\"pdfprnt-button-title pdfprnt-button-print-title\">Print<\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-md-12\">\n<div class=\"entry-header\">\n<h2 class=\"jeg_post_subtitle\">Four Democrats fought to replace outgoing Comptroller Susana Mendoza<\/h2>\n<div class=\"jeg_meta_container\">\n<div class=\"jeg_post_meta jeg_post_meta_1\">\n<div class=\"meta_left\">\n<div class=\"jeg_meta_author coauthor\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"avatar avatar-80 photo\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/CNI-Staff_SZALINSKI_300.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/CNI-Staff_SZALINSKI_300.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 2x\" alt=\"Ben Szalinski\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" \/><span class=\"meta_text \">by<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/news\/author\/ben-szalinski\/\">Ben Szalinski<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"jeg_meta_date\">\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/news\/margaret-croke-wins-democratic-primary-for-illinois-comptroller\/\">March 19, 2026<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"jeg_meta_category\"><span class=\"meta_text\">in<\/span>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/news\/category\/elections\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Elections<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"meta_right\">\n<div class=\"jeg_meta_zoom\" data-in-step=\"3\" data-out-step=\"2\">\n<div class=\"zoom-dropdown\">\n<div class=\"zoom-icon\"><span class=\"zoom-icon-small\">A<\/span>\u00a0<span class=\"zoom-icon-big\">A<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jeg_featured featured_image \">\n<div class=\"thumbnail-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-post-image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/CROKE-FILING-0727.jpg?resize=1140%2C570&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Margaret Croke\" width=\"1140\" height=\"570\" data-attachment-id=\"87724\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/news\/crowded-dem-primaries-gop-field-for-governor-take-shape-as-candidates-file-for-office\/croke-filing-0727\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/CROKE-FILING-0727.jpg?fit=1140%2C760&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1140,760\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON D3100&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1761641026&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;18&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;400&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.000625&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"CROKE FILING-0727\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Margaret Croke&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Democratic state representative and comptroller candidate Margaret Croke talks to a staffer on Gov. JB Pritzker\u2019s campaign on Monday, Oct. 27, before filing nominating petitions for comptroller. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/CROKE-FILING-0727.jpg?fit=300%2C200&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/CROKE-FILING-0727.jpg?fit=1140%2C760&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1\" \/><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Democratic state representative and comptroller candidate Margaret Croke talks to a staffer on Gov. JB Pritzker\u2019s campaign on Monday, Oct. 27, before filing nominating petitions for comptroller. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jeg_share_top_container\">\n<div class=\"jeg_share_button clearfix\">\n<div class=\"jeg_sharelist\"><a class=\"jeg_btn-facebook expanded\" href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcapitolnewsillinois.com%2Fnews%2Fmargaret-croke-wins-democratic-primary-for-illinois-comptroller%2F\" rel=\"nofollow\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook\"><i class=\"fa fa-facebook-official\"><\/i>Facebook<\/a><a class=\"jeg_btn-twitter expanded\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Margaret%20Croke%20wins%20Democratic%20primary%20for%20Illinois%20comptroller%20via%20%40%40CapitolNewsIL&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fcapitolnewsillinois.com%2Fnews%2Fmargaret-croke-wins-democratic-primary-for-illinois-comptroller%2F\" rel=\"nofollow\" aria-label=\"Share on Twitter\"><i class=\"fa fa-twitter\"><\/i>Share<\/a><a class=\"jeg_btn-reddit expanded\" href=\"https:\/\/reddit.com\/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcapitolnewsillinois.com%2Fnews%2Fmargaret-croke-wins-democratic-primary-for-illinois-comptroller%2F&amp;title=Margaret%20Croke%20wins%20Democratic%20primary%20for%20Illinois%20comptroller\" rel=\"nofollow\" aria-label=\"Share on Reddit\"><i class=\"fa fa-reddit\"><\/i>Reddit<\/a><i class=\"fa fa-share\"><\/i><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"jeg_main_content col-md-8\">\n<div class=\"jeg_inner_content\">\n<div class=\"jeg_ad jeg_article jnews_content_top_ads \">\n<div class=\"ads-wrapper  \"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content no-share\">\n<div class=\"content-inner \">\n<div class=\"summary-box-gray\" role=\"complementary\" aria-label=\"Summary Box\">\n<h3><strong>Article Summary<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>State Rep. Margaret Croke of Chicago will be the Democrats\u2019 nominee for comptroller, the Associated Press reported.<\/li>\n<li>Croke won a narrow victory of Sen. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, after the race was too close to call on election night.<\/li>\n<li>Her victory cements another win for Gov. JB Pritzker, who endorsed Croke in the race.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>SPRINGFIELD \u2014 Chicago state Rep. Margaret Croke was declared the winner in the Democratic primary for Illinois comptroller, according to the Associated Press.<\/p>\n<p>Croke will advance to the November election and face Republican Bryan Drew of Marion in the first open election for the comptroller\u2019s office since 2016. Incumbent Comptroller Susana Mendoza, a Democrat from Chicago, is not seeking reelection after nearly 10 years in office.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThank you to the voters across Illinois for putting their trust in me to serve as the Democratic nominee for state comptroller,\u201d Croke said in a statement Thursday. \u201cI am running for this office to be a fiscal watchdog who will protect taxpayer dollars, ensure transparency in how our state spends money, and pay bills on time. I am incredibly grateful that my message is resonating with so many people across our state.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/elections\/primary-results-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Results<\/a>\u00a0of the closely contested race as of Thursday afternoon show Croke receiving 34.6% of the vote with 92% of precincts across the state reporting. The race was too close to call on Tuesday night as Sen. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, trailed by a few points.<\/p>\n<p>Croke received 39% of the vote in Cook County, which is home to the largest population of Democratic voters in the state. Villa, who positioned herself as the progressive in the race, performed best in west suburban counties that include parts of her Senate district and received 32.3% of the vote statewide.<\/p>\n<p>Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim came in third with 24.4% of the statewide vote but received support from more than half of primary voters in her home county. Kim also won several downstate counties where she campaigned heavily.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, received 8.7% of the vote.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Another win for Pritzker<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Croke\u2019s victory also chalks up another win for Gov. JB Pritzker, who endorsed her for the office and financially supported her campaign, allowing her to run multiple TV ads to boost her name recognition.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMargaret has always been committed to responsible fiscal management and improving the lives of hardworking Illinoisans,\u201d Pritzker said in a statement. \u201cShe knows how to get things done, and I know she will hit the ground running on day one fighting for Illinois families.\u201d<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-106559\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/260318-BRYAN-DREW-COMP-3-BS.jpg?resize=1140%2C768&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/260318-BRYAN-DREW-COMP-3-BS.jpg?w=1140&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1140w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/260318-BRYAN-DREW-COMP-3-BS.jpg?resize=300%2C202&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/260318-BRYAN-DREW-COMP-3-BS.jpg?resize=768%2C517&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/260318-BRYAN-DREW-COMP-3-BS.jpg?resize=750%2C505&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 750w\" alt=\"Republican comptroller nominee Bryan Drew \" width=\"1140\" height=\"768\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" data-attachment-id=\"106559\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/news\/margaret-croke-wins-democratic-primary-for-illinois-comptroller\/260318-bryan-drew-comp-3-bs\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/260318-BRYAN-DREW-COMP-3-BS.jpg?fit=1140%2C768&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1140,768\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"260318-BRYAN-DREW-COMP-3-BS\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Republican comptroller nominee Bryan Drew &lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Republican comptroller nominee Bryan Drew speaks at a Republican Unity breakfast in Naperville on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Ben Szalinski) &lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/260318-BRYAN-DREW-COMP-3-BS.jpg?fit=300%2C202&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/260318-BRYAN-DREW-COMP-3-BS.jpg?fit=1140%2C768&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" \/><\/p>\n<figure><figcaption>Republican comptroller nominee Bryan Drew speaks at a Republican Unity breakfast in Naperville on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Ben Szalinski)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Croke\u2019s attention now turns to her Republican opponent, Drew, who told reporters on Wednesday at a Republican Party breakfast in Naperville that his career as an attorney makes him the candidate who understands how government works the best.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnfortunately, my opponent said she stands with JB on everything,\u201d Drew said. \u201cThat\u2019s not the job. The job of the comptroller is to stand with the people, and that\u2019s exactly what I\u2019m going to do. I\u2019ll be an independent person for the people of this state.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/\"><em>Capitol News Illinois<\/em><\/a><em>\u00a0is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p> Four Democrats fought to replace outgoing Comptroller Susana Mendoza byBen Szalinski \u00a0March 19, 2026 in\u00a0Elections A\u00a0A Democratic state representative and comptroller candidate Margaret Croke talks to a staffer on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Margaret Croke Wins Democratic Primary for Illinois Comptroller - Effingham&#039;s News and Sports Leader, 979XFM and KJ Country 102.3<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Effingham&#039;s News and Sports Leader\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thexradio.com\/news\/local-news\/33401-margaret-croke-wins-democratic-primary-for-illinois-comptroller\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Margaret Croke Wins Democratic Primary for Illinois Comptroller - 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