In another sign of the changing political landscape of Chicago’s suburbs, longtime state Rep. Deb Conroy is set to become the first woman to chair the DuPage County Board — and the first Democrat to hold that position in at least three-quarters of a century.
According to unofficial vote totals, Conroy is leading Republican Greg Hart with most of the votes counted in a tight race to lead the state’s second largest county.
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“It’s time to write a new chapter in DuPage County and we’re very excited about it,” said Conroy, 60, of Elmhurst.
As of Wednesday, Conroy led with nearly 51% of votes to Hart’s roughly 49%. The vote count is expected to be certified later this month, after final mail-in ballots are included.
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Hart conceded the race late Tuesday, congratulating Conroy on her victory.
“Our community’s future is bright,” he posted on his Facebook page early Wednesday. “The only thing that can dim that brightness is if we capitulate to the political extremes, partisan polarization, and the demonization of our political opponents. We must reject those approaches and work together to build bipartisan consensus.”
The race to lead the historic Republican stronghold became pricey, with Hart’s campaign raising about $1.7 million, nearly double Conroy’s war chest of about $924,000, according to Reform for Illinois’ Sunshine Database.
Hart, a 35-year-old management consultant and County Board member from Hinsdale, also had the backing of DuPage’s GOP establishment, with endorsements from the sheriff, coroner and longtime county board Chairman Dan Cronin, who stepped down from the position after 12 years.
Conroy said all her predecessors as County Board chairs have been white Republican men, a trend her campaign aimed to change.
She said as recently as about 10 years ago, “almost everyone in power was an older, white man.”
“And today that is not the face of DuPage County,” she said. “DuPage County today is richly diverse.”
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The county of about 925,000 residents was roughly 15% Hispanic or Latino, 13% Asian and about 5% Black, according to 2021 census population estimates. In 2000, only 9% of the county population was Hispanic, 8% was Asian and 3% of residents were Black, according to census figures.
DuPage County was once considered among the most Republican areas in the nation. But Democrats have gained power in recent years, now holding most state legislative offices and a majority of the 18 County Board seats.
As chair, Conroy will lead a board of 10 Democrats and eight Republicans.
DuPage County, a historic GOP stronghold, also shifted to the left in recent years on national politics, voting overwhelmingly for President Joe Biden over former President Donald Trump in 2020. The last two presidential cycles also favored Democrat Hillary Clinton over Trump in 2016 and President Barack Obama over Republican challenger Mitt Romney in 2012.
As board chairman, Conroy wants the county to do more to help the environment and limit climate change, in part by bringing more green energy and buildings to DuPage. She would like to add a mental health committee to the board, to expand services and help link residents to those that already exist through the DuPage County Health Department as well as local nonprofits.
“There’s so many people who need to know where to go,” she said. “I think we can help to make some of those connections.”
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Conroy said she also wants to establish a chair of diversity on the board.
“We want to write the next chapter and embrace the richness of our community,” she said.
Conroy has represented the 46th House District since 2013 but chose not to seek reelection in order run for the County Board.
The mother of four adult sons was an Elmhurst Community Unit District 205 school board member and attended York Community High School, the College of DuPage and Columbia College.
“I think our message resonated well,” Conroy said. “I was confident that DuPage and the state of Illinois were going to choose truth over lies and love over hate.”
Her victory was part of a wave of Democratic wins in across large swaths of the state, including many suburban congressional races that went Blue. Democratic Rep. Lauren Underwood declared victory over Republican challenger Scott Gryder, the Kendall County Board chairman, in the 14th District. Republican challenger Catalina Lauf conceded late Tuesday to Democratic U.S. Rep. Bill Foster in the 11th District.
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As for board chair race, Conroy characterized her win as a greater triumph for Democrats across the county.
“This race was … about so many Democrats out in DuPage County who thought they were by themselves many years ago,” she said. “It was their fight that we all won together.”
Bob Goldsborough is a freelance reporter. Suzanne Baker of the Naperville Sun contributed.