Peoria-area voters weighed in on a host of national, state and local races and issues on Nov. 8.
Here are details on key winners and their victory percentages from unofficial results from balloting in Peoria County, where the turnout was 49.3% (58,260 out of 118,079 registered voters):
For Congress: Incumbent Republican Darin LaHood of the 16th District won with 64.6% of the tally.
First-time candidate Eric Sorsensen, a Democrat won the 17th District seat after incumbent Cheri Bustos decided not to run.
For the General Assembly: Both local incumbents overwhelmingly were re-elected — Rep. Jehan Gordon Booth (D-92nd) got 92.2%, and Sen. Dave Koehler (D-46th) received 62.6%.
For the Peoria County Board: Winners from the eight contested Districts were evenly divided.
Democratic districts will be:
2nd District – Camille Coates (78.1%)
4th – Brandy Bryant (59.2%)
9th – Danny Phelan (53.4%)
10th – Rob Reneau (54.6%)

Republican-represented districts will be
8th – Nate Hoerr (51%)
11th – Linda Daley (61.7%)
13th – Terry Ruhland (64.5%)
15th – Steve Rieker (62.4%)

A referendum on whether or not to eliminate the office of County Auditor showed 38,883 approved eliminating the County Auditor (70%) and 16,667 preferred keeping it (30%).
Current County Auditor Jessica Thomas has said she should remain in office until the end of her term, in 2024, but the County says her office will close within a few weeks, so that disagreement may be determined as part of other pending court actions.

Lastly, an advisory question about redistricting also was on Peoria Township ballots: “Should the State of Illinois adopt an independent citizens commission for the federal and state redistricting process, that
would be guided by principles established in fair maps initiatives?”
About 74% of voters casting ballots on that question (18,254 out of 24,652) said Yes to the non-binding question, brought by the Peoria Area Green Party, whose member Sheldon Schafer commented, “The state legislatyure has to take the initiative to pursue this.”