2016 Illinois Comptroller special election
November 8, 2016
Turnout67.41%
 
Nominee Susana Mendoza Leslie Munger
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,676,244 2,404,723
Percentage 49.45% 44.43%
Mendoza:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Munger:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      40–50%
     No votes
Comptroller before election

Leslie Munger
Republican

 Elected Comptroller

Susana Mendoza
Democratic

A special election for Illinois Comptroller took place on November 8, 2016. After comptroller Judy Baar Topinka died shortly after her reelection in 2014, Republican Governor Bruce Rauner appointed Leslie Munger, a former business executive and unsuccessful 2014 nominee for the Illinois House of Representatives, to fill her seat at the beginning of his term in 2015.[1] Per Illinois state law, a special election was held to elect a comptroller to finish Topinka's term. Munger ran as the Republican nominee against Democratic Chicago City Clerk Susana Mendoza.[2] State Senator Daniel Biss ran for the Democratic nomination, but dropped out in November 2015.[3]

Mendoza defeated Munger by 49.45% of the vote to Munger's 44.43%, becoming Illinois' tenth comptroller on December 5, 2016.

Election information

The primaries and general elections coincided with those for federal elections (president, House and Senate), as well as those for other state offices.

Background

Topinka died in December 2014, shortly after being re-elected to a second term in November, but before that second term began, outgoing Democratic Governor Pat Quinn (who lost his own bid for re-election) appointed his former budget chief Jerry Stermer to fill the remainder of Topinka's first term, allowing Governor-elect Bruce Rauner to make his own appointment for what would have been Topinka's second full term.[4]

In an early January 2015 special session, the Democratic-led Illinois General Assembly approved a bill requiring that a special election be held at the next regular statewide election for any vacancy in any statewide executive office that occurs more than 28 months before the end of the term. Governor Quinn signed the bill shortly thereafter.[5] Whoever incoming Governor Bruce Rauner appointed to fill Topinka's second term would serve only until a 2016 special election, instead of serving the full four-year term. The special election law received criticism from Republicans, who described it as a move to weaken Governor Rauner by shortening the term of his appointee.[4]

Turnout

For the state-run primaries (Democratic and Republican), turnout was 35.94%, with 2,755,220 votes cast.[6][7] For the general election, turnout was 67.41%, with 5,412,543 votes cast.[6][7]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Withdrew

Results

Democratic primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Susana Mendoza 1,626,175 100.00%
Total votes 1,626,175 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Results

Republican primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Leslie Munger (incumbent) 1,129,045 100.00%
Total votes 1,129,045 100.00%

Libertarian Party

Candidates

Declared

Green Party

Candidates

Declared

General election

Endorsements

Leslie Munger

Results

2016 Illinois Comptroller special election[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Susana Mendoza 2,676,244 49.45% +3.78%
Republican Leslie Munger (incumbent) 2,404,723 44.43% -5.13%
Libertarian Claire Ball 187,017 3.46% -1.30%
Green Tim Curtin 144,559 2.59% N/A
Total votes 5,412,543 100.00% N/A
Democratic gain from Republican

References

  1. ↑ Geiger, Kim; Hinkel, Dan (January 8, 2015). "Rauner's pick for comptroller not worried about possible 2016 election". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  2. 1 2 Huffer, Ryan (September 30, 2015). "Comptroller Munger could face tough election in 2016". WSOY-AM. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Vinicky, Amanda (November 22, 2015). "Biss Bows Out Of Comptroller's Race". WUIS (website ed.). Springfield, Illinois: University of Illinois at Springfield. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  4. 1 2 Long, Ray; Hellman, Jessie; Garcia, Monique (January 8, 2015). "Illinois lawmakers quickly approve special comptroller election in 2016". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Quinn signs law for special election of comptroller". The Washington Times, LLC. Associated Press. January 10, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Voter Turnout". www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on May 30, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "2011 Municipal General - 2/22/11". chicagoelections.gov. Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  8. 1 2 Pearson, Rick (September 22, 2015). "City Clerk Mendoza gets major union backing in state comptroller bid". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  9. 1 2 "Candidate List: GENERAL PRIMARY - 3/15/2016". Springfield, Illinois: Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on November 24, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Libertarians seeking Illinois posts including U.S. Senate, state comptroller". The State Journal-Register. Archived from the original on September 18, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Official Site". Claire Ball - Libertarian for Illinois Comptroller. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  12. ↑ "It's Official We WILL be Able to Vote for the Greater Good in Illinois". Illinois Green Party. Archived from the original on August 16, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Munger best bet for comptroller". The News-Gazette. September 29, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Munger has proved she's right for comptroller job". Herald-Whig.
  15. ↑ "Illinois comptroller navigates through hurricane of red ink". Belleville News-Democrat. October 8, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Endorsement: In a big proxy war, Leslie Munger for comptroller". Chicago Sun-Times. October 11, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Endorsement: Leslie Munger for comptroller, to help manage an Illinois drowning in debt". Chicago Tribune. October 14, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Our View: Leslie Munger is our choice for comptroller". Rockford Register Star. October 15, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Illinois' Top Elections to Watch". The Chicago Defender. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Our Opinion: Leslie Munger endorsed for Illinois comptroller". The State Journal-Register. October 23, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Endorsement: Munger for Illinois comptroller". Daily Herald. October 24, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Endorsement: Illinois comptroller, Munger". Journal Star. October 27, 2016.
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