Two races for circuit court vacancies in St. Clair County have the Democrat candidates leading their Republican counterparts in campaign financing by large margins due primarily to contributions from local and Chicago plaintiff lawyers.
The elections are playing out in the nation's second largest asbestos docket, where in 2021 the number of cases grew by 50% over the previous year.
For the vacancy of former circuit judge Ron Duebbert, Associate Judge Patrick Foley has outraised sitting Circuit Judge William Stiehl, Republican, by an 8-1 margin.
Since the beginning of the year, Foley has collected a little more than $150,000 in direct and in-kind contributions. Stiehl has raised a little more than $19,000 in direct and in-kind contributions.
Stiehl sits by appointment of the Illinois Supreme Court to fill the remainder of Duebbert's term.
The biggest contributors to Foley's campaign are product liability attorney John Driscoll, $10,000; Korein Tillery, $6,000; asbestos firms, Simmons, $6,000 and Gori Law, $5,000 and medical malpractice firm Keefe, Keefe and Unsell, $5,000.
For the vacancy of former circuit judge Stephen McGlynn, who was elevated to federal juge in 2020, Associate Judge Kevin Hoerner has raised $147,000, of which $66,500 has come since the beginning of September.
Among the biggest contributors to Hoerner are Cates Mahoney, $10,000; Becker Hoerner, $10,000; Simmons Hanly Conroy, $6,000; Korein Tillery, $6,000 and Keefe, Keefe and Unsell, $5,000.
Chicago trial attorney contributors to Hoerner include Clifford Law, Power Rogers and Keith Hebeisen, who each gave $2,000.
Hoerner's Republican opponent, O'Fallon attorney Paul Evans, has not raised any funds in this election cycle.
Democrats have maintained control of the St. Clair County judiciary for decades, with Republicans making gains only in the election of McGlynn in 2014 amd Duebbert in 2016.
St. Clair County GOP chair Cheryl Mathews said the local judicial races are crucial for "making positive changes."
"Judges who are not swayed by the political party of the prosecutors or defendants are sorely needed," she said. "Judges should be aware only of the law and the case before them. Evans and Stiehl would bring balance to the judicial system."