THE ILLINOIZE: Exit interview: Yednock

December 3, 2024

Good morning, Illinois.

The Illinois State Board of Elections certified the results of the 2024 General Election yesterday. Statewide turnout was around 70.4%, just above 2012 and just below 2016. About 5.7 million ballots were cast, below the 6 million cast in 2020.

Vice President Harris won Illinois 3,062,863 to 2,449,079 (54.4% to 43.5%). President-Elect Trump improved his 2020 total by 2,188 votes (but his share went up from 40.6% to 43.5%).

We’re starting our exit interviews this morning of lawmakers who are leaving the General Assembly in early January. There are ten current members of the General Assembly not returning, but none lost their seats in the General Election. One Senator (Toro) and one Representative (Flowers) lost their primaries. We probably won’t get to everyone before the break, but we’ll try our best.

There’s nothing on Governor Pritzker’s public schedule today.

Let’s get to it.

YEDNOCK: “RIGHT DECISION TO STEP AWAY”

Rep. Lance Yednock (D-Ottawa) never really imagined politics was a part of his plan. The longtime heavy machine operator and Business Manager for powerful union Local 150, Yednock said he was “plucked” to run against a scandal-plagued Republican lawmaker and unpopular Governor in Republican Bruce Rauner.