Illinois voters have handed Attorney General Kwame Raoul another term in office, with the Democratic incumbent fending off Republican challenger Robert W. Fioretti in Tuesday's election. The Associated Press called the race for Raoul on Tuesday, capping a contest that pitted the two-term attorney general against a Chicago political veteran seeking to unseat him.
Raoul had pulled in more than 2.3 million votes with 91% of the estimated statewide total counted, while Fioretti trailed with 1.5 million votes at the same point in the count, according to the Chicago Tribune. The outlet's election coverage also noted that Cook County, where more than 1 million ballots were cast for Raoul, stood at 89% counted. CBS News separately reported that it had projected Raoul as the winner over Fioretti, as detailed in its live election results coverage.
A Rematch Years in the Making
Raoul, the Democratic attorney general of Illinois, faced Fioretti in his reelection bid. Polls across the state were open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., with anyone already in line by the closing hour still permitted to cast a ballot, the Tribune's election-day coverage noted.
Raoul entered the race with a strong track record. He won his previous two elections by more than an 11-point margin, according to WBEZ, a cushion that helped frame expectations heading into Tuesday's contest against Fioretti.
The 2022 Race
In 2022, Raoul faced Republican Thomas DeVore, according to NBC News.
With the Associated Press call in hand and the vote count climbing past 91% statewide, Raoul heads into another term as Illinois attorney general, while final statewide totals continue to be tabulated.
