Incumbent Democrat Debbie Ming-Mendoza defeated Republican Steve Adler for Madison County Clerk after the two sparred in an attack campaign alleging voter fraud.
Ming-Mendoza has been county clerk since 2012 and won Tuesday by a margin of 53.1 to 46.9 percent.
"My profound gratitude to each and every one of you two trusted and believed in me and gave me your vote. I am proud that my campaign stayed positive through some very negative attacks by my opponent,. I believed in the goodness of the voters of Madison County and you affirmed that belief. I am so grateful to you and now, I look forward to continuing to do the job I love with my county clerk family. Thank you!" Ming-Mendoza wrote on her campaign's Facebook page.
Adler is the current executive director of the Metro East Sanitary District.
A campaign video for Adler suggested voter fraud at residential care facilities.
In the video, an Alton woman says she felt someone was using her Uncle Mike after she learned that he has been voting from a residential facility in Godfrey that cares for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Ming-Mendoza denied the claims and called the ad “cruel,” “misleading” and “inappropriate.”
Adler also claimed Ming-Mendoza received home owner exemptions for two properties in Granite City. By law, property owners can only claim exemptions for one property.
Ming-Mendoza called the allegation “absolutely a misrepresentation.”
Prior to her election to county clerk, Ming-Mendoza had worked as the county assessor since the 1970s.
Voters also elected to merge the recorder of deeds position with the county clerk by a margin of 65 to 35 percent.
On Nov. 3, Adler expressed his support of the measure. In a Facebook post, he wrote that the consolidation will save taxpayers over $150,000 per year.
“We could use one LESS elected county politician,” he wrote.