Republican Craig Wilcox, 58, of McHenry is running for a third full term in this northwest suburban district covering parts of Lake and McHenry counties. He has faced general-election challenges in each of his last two races. This one is no different. Running to unseat Wilcox is Democrat Karen Battalgia, 64, a registered nurse.
Wilcox, a native Texan who entered public life after a 23-year career in the U.S. Air Force where he earned two Bronze Star medals during tours of duty in Iraq, didn’t garner our endorsement in 2022 over our concerns with his stance toward the 2020 election results. Otherwise, we liked much of Wilcox’s agenda, focused on pension and ethics reform.
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While Donald Trump continues to prattle on about 2020, most of the rest of us have moved on. Wilcox continues to press for pension reform, telling us he believes earned benefits shouldn’t be lessened but that the state should transition for future employees to a 401(k)-style system. That’s worth considering, but first there must be a conversation. And Democrats beholden to public-sector unions show no signs of openness to any discussion.
Battalgia presents a stark contrast and tells us she advocates for enhancing Tier 2 benefits for employees hired in 2011 or later. She also supports the 3% income-tax surcharge backed by House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch.
Democrats already dominate Springfield and giving them more power will make such taxpayer-unfriendly policies more likely. We don’t need another Senate seat changing hands in their favor without very good reason. That’s not the case here. We endorse Craig Wilcox.
Read all of the Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsements for the 2026 Illinois general election here.
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