Democrat Julie Morrison of Deerfield has represented this north suburban district, which runs from parts of Glenview and Wilmette north to Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, since 2023. She ran unopposed in 2022 but faces a challenger this year in Republican Kate McGrath, an insurance agent.
McGrath, 51, tells us she’s a proponent of artificial intelligence, saying the state “should embrace AI as an opportunity for innovation, economic growth and better government, not as something to fear.” She also suggests using AI to make government “smaller and more efficient.” There may well be ways to use AI on behalf of taxpayers, but not if Illinoisans are having to interact with more chatbots when they need answers from state government.
Otherwise, we appreciate McGrath’s focus on reining in Illinois’ budget and incentivizing faster economic growth.
Morrison, 69, has been a leader in the Senate on reasonable gun restrictions, a cause we support. We endorsed her in 2018. She tells us she doesn’t agree with the Chicago Teachers Union’s demands that the state pump billions more into public schools. “We have to be realistic about the financial pressures ahead,” she says.
A practical politician, Julie Morrison is endorsed.
Read all of the Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsements for the 2026 Illinois general election here.
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