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* You probably already know that Cook County State’s Attorney candidate Kimberly Fox won suburban Cook County 52-33-15. To me, anyway, that margin was as or even more surprising than her 62-26-12 win in the city.

What you might not know is that Foxx unexpectedly won quite a few townships, most of which are considered pretty upscale white, including Barrington, New Trier, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, River Forest and Wheeling.

Upscale white liberals obviously wanted a change at the top.

And Foxx only narrowly lost Elk Grove, Maine, Norwood Park, Riverside and Schaumburg townships to incumbent Anita Alvarez.

Besides those close races in the above suburban townships, Alvarez had expected but mostly not overwhelming victories in Berwyn, Cicero, Hanover, Lemont, Leyden, Lyons, Norwood Park, Orland, Palos, Stickney and Worth townships. Those are more working class places and townships with significant Latino voters. She got stomped everywhere else, particularly in the county’s largest townships.

* Meanwhile, Bernie Sanders lost suburban Cook 54-46, but did win many of the same townships won by Alvarez, including Berwyn, Cicero, Elk Grove, Hanover, Lemont, Leyden, Lyons, Orland, Palatine, Palos, Riverside, Schaumburg, Stickney and Worth.

As some of these township results and the Chicago results showed, Sanders did really well with Latinos on Tuesday. He won Madigan’s 13th Ward, for instance, but didn’t do as well as Alvarez, who took the 13th with 60 percent.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 18, 16 @ 10:52 am

Comments

What was impressive for me in all the State’s Attorney race was the knowledge of simple things…

This is a referendum on Alvarez, Foxx is your chance to say no to Alvarez.

I enjoyed, very much, the poor showing by More.

“Vote Accordingly” was a constant theme in many races… and “vote accordingly” seemed to work often enough too.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 18, 16 @ 10:57 am
My take away is this: I heard from some north suburban democratic legislators that they thought Foxx would do well in their areas. So, I wasn’t surprised with the result. that said: those numbers bode well for suburban north shore legislators that will have races in the fall..

Comment by Not Rich Friday, Mar 18, 16 @ 10:59 am
For all the Trump mania, he only got 557,000 votes in winning Illinois.

Clinton got 1,017,000, Sanders got 982,000.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Mar 18, 16 @ 11:27 am
The results for Foxx along the Lakefront and throughout the Northern suburbs were not surprising at all for those involved with the campaign. What’s key to remember is that this was a primary. Wealthy, college educated DEMOCRATIC primary voters are more liberal.

The State’s Attorney primary was a chance for these voters to get a 2fer. They could eliminate the Alvarez embarrassment and also sooth their own guilt, both consciously and unconsciously, as they internalized the very real fact that they and their families have been the beneficiary of the unquestionable focus of the criminal justice system on the minority communities.

Comment by Anon Friday, Mar 18, 16 @ 11:48 am
I’ve been up the Northfield Twp area several times since Thanksgiving and not one person on either side of the aisle that I’ve spoken to has thought Alvarez should keep her job. Many were angry she didn’t resign when the initial tapes came out at Thanksgiving (and furious with the release schedule of the tapes, transcripts, etc., that were designed to bury them before weekends and holidays, and then having the city blame protestors for being out protesting on shopping weekends when they’re the ones who chose the horrible release schedule. That REALLY rankled people, and they thought it was just nakedly, grossly manipulative politics.)

Comment by Educ Friday, Mar 18, 16 @ 12:21 pm
Good catch Rich. The local party organizations across the NW suburbs are beginning to work as a combined group, and probably worked harder for Foxx than any other candidate.

Of course they reflect their voters, but they got the word out.

Comment by walker Friday, Mar 18, 16 @ 12:23 pm
The loss in River Forest means Alvarez lost in her hometown. http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/3-17-2016/Alvarez-loses-in-her-own-hometown/

Comment by Distant Viewer Friday, Mar 18, 16 @ 12:40 pm
In deference to the smarter on this blog:

What is to be made of the turnout numbers between parties?

In my suburban area, many more Dems came out than Republicans, even though the Presidential primaries were equally competitive and emotional. We were pleasantly, if perhaps naively, surprised.

Comment by walker Friday, Mar 18, 16 @ 1:00 pm
Do not forget Foxx also crushed Alvarez in Pilsen where she grew up by 18%, 52%-34%.

Foxx had an unprecedented grassroots operation for a countywide race that maximized her vote share.

It is clear Cook County and Chicago Democrats what progressive candidates. It is the start of a new era and time for the old boys club to ride off into the sunset.

Comment by pilsen pete Friday, Mar 18, 16 @ 1:18 pm
**What is to be made of the turnout numbers between parties?**

Absolutely nothing.

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/primary-turnout-means-nothing-for-the-general-election/?ex_cid=538fb

Comment by AlabamaShake Friday, Mar 18, 16 @ 2:12 pm
Yes, Kim Foxx got significantly more votes in Cook County than Donald Trump got statewide.

Lots of lessons for those who choose to take them.

Comment by crazybleedingheart Friday, Mar 18, 16 @ 2:17 pm