Saba Haider, a DuPage County Board member and Aurora Democrat, is projected to win the race for Illinois House District 84, defeating Republican Brian Scopa of Naperville in a contest to replace outgoing state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit. Haider was leading with 70.9% of the vote to Scopa's 29.1% with 82% of votes counted, according to the supplied election-night tallies, while the race itself drew attention for a shared focus on affordability, schools and public safety.
The Associated Press called the race for Haider on Tuesday, according to Patch, which also reported that she had received more than 70 percent of the vote. Shaw Local, in reporting by Emily K. Coleman, put her share at 70.9% with 82% of votes counted at the time. Haider, a business owner and sitting DuPage County Board member, is set to take over a seat left open when Kifowit opted not to seek reelection.
Why the Seat Came Open
Kifowit instead ran for Illinois comptroller but lost that primary, clearing the way for a new face in the 84th District. The race featured both candidates campaigning on overlapping concerns even as they diverged sharply on policy specifics.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Haider said voters in the district were concerned about affordability, funding public schools and ensuring safe communities. Scopa, 48, of Naperville, told the same outlet that voters were talking about affordability, safety and schools — largely mirroring Haider's read on the electorate even as the two offered different prescriptions.
Haider's Platform and Priorities
During the primary, Haider identified economic growth, mental-health and addiction services, and strong public schools with support for educators among her top priorities, per the dossier's attributed claims. She has also said she favors targeted property tax relief for seniors and working families paired with school funding reforms.
In her campaign questionnaire with Shaw Local, Haider wrote that her priorities include strong public schools, support for educators, and economic opportunity for working families. She also backed the SAFE-T Act, the state law that eliminated cash bail and limited the offenses allowing pretrial jail, saying, “Our justice system should be fair, humane, and focused on real public safety, not on who can afford to pay cash bail.”
On energy and utility costs, Haider told the Daily Herald that large data centers should pay the costs they impose on the electric grid and water systems rather than passing those costs on to ordinary ratepayers, framing it as a matter of fairness for utility customers across the district.
Scopa's Case and Military Background
Scopa, a retired U.S. Navy commander who served 22 years in the Navy, completed six combat deployments and served as chief engineer aboard a destroyer. He also serves as vice chair of the Naperville Township Republican Organization and campaigned, according to his campaign website, on improving schools, bringing fiscal discipline to Springfield and making communities safer.
On the budget, Scopa pointed to state spending growth as a core concern, telling the Chicago Tribune, “Our budget has gone up 40% over the last eight years,” and calling for greater transparency in how that money is spent.
Part of a Broader Night for Democrats
Haider's projected win came amid a broader sweep for Democrats in the area. NCTV17 reported that Democrats won all eight Illinois House seats in which Naperville-area voters cast ballots, calling District 84 for Haider as part of that trend. The outlet's tally reinforced the projections already reported by the Associated Press and Patch on election night.
Results remain unofficial pending further counting and certification.
