Republican Stephanie Trussell, 61, was Darren Bailey’s running mate in his unsuccessful 2022 gubernatorial campaign. The Lisle small-business owner who grew up on Chicago’s South Side now faces Democratic state Rep. Margaret DeLaRosa, 65, who was appointed to replace Terra Costa Howard to represent this west suburban district.
We endorsed DeLaRosa in the March Democratic primary as someone with deep roots in this district and a stellar local reputation among the party faithful there. DeLaRosa acknowledges budget trade-offs but offers no specific spending cuts, declines to take a clear position on the millionaire surtax or what to do about Illinois’ pension crisis.
Trussell identifies property taxes as the district’s most pressing problem. She opposes a millionaire surtax, supports moving new public employees into 401(k)-style retirement plans and questions CPS spending amid underutilized schools. But her proposals lack detail, particularly on pension funding and legislative ethics. She is an enthusiastic conservative with some positions to the right of this board, and she may rub some voters the wrong way. But her instincts on fiscal policy are much needed in the statehouse.
Stephanie Trussell is endorsed.
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Read all of the Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsements for the 2026 Illinois general election here.
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