Kane County Reporter

Jeanette Ward (R-West Chicago), former Illinois State senator, is still focused on the numbers in her razor-thin 25th District loss to democratic state Sen. Karina Villa (D-Batavia).

“It was Ronald Reagan who said ‘trust but verify’ and that’s what we’re doing here,” Ward told the Kane County Reporter .“That what we’re doing here, just making sure everything was done properly.”

Ward stated this is being done after her discovery of the recount now being overseen by the Kane County Clerk’s Office in 119 precincts. 

An election vote recount is being because the race coming in close Ward said | Stock Photo

Ward’s petition states that she received 56,376 votes, or just one 1,558 tallies short of Villa’s winning count of 57,834. Similar recounts are also going on in races involving state Sen. Jim Oberweis (R-Sugar Grove) in the 14th Congressional District and David Rickert for Kane County Board Chairman (R-Elgin), with each petition noting that the losing candidates’ votes equal to at least 95% of the votes received by the winning candidate.

The seat sought by Ward was previously held by Oberweis, who relinquished it in order to make his congressional run against U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Naperville).

“It was really a close election and we just want to know for sure,” Ward said.

Ward also noting that Oberweis won the district by nine points just four years earlier. 

“So, yes it was a little surprising to see things turn out the way they did," Ward said.

Ward said if the recount finds anything that might change the overall tabulation of the race a full recount may be sought.

“We’d have to see,” Ward said, adding that she’d have to confer with her attorney and weigh all her options.

Going forward, Ward stated how she hasn’t decided if she may be making another run over time.

“I have no firm plans one way or the other,” Ward said. “I know the political landscape can change quickly. So, we’ll just have to see the way things go.”

Ward has long argued her tax-cutting ways are much more in tune with the people of the district than what she things Villa stands for.

“My opponent, given her voting history, doesn’t seem to want to limit taxes,” Ward said.