St. Clair County Democrat Associate Judges Kevin Hoerner and Patrick Foley defeated their Republican rivals, Paul Evans and Circuit Judge William Stiehl to earn six-year terms.
For the McGlynn vacancy, Hoerner topped Evans by a vote total of 45,865 to 39,116, a difference of 6,749, and margin of 54-46%. Hoerner's vote total in St. Clair County was 40,919, and in East St. Louis, 4,946; Evans' total in St. Clair County was 38,968, and in East St. Louis, 148.
For the Duebbert vacancy, Foley edged out Stiehl, who sits by appointment of the Illinois Supreme Court, 44,326 to 40,719, a difference of 3,607 votes, and margin of 52-48%. However, Stiehl outperformed Foley among St. Clair County voters, 40,719 to 39,404. In East St. Louis, where voters prefer Democrats by 90%, Foley was up 4,922 over Stiehl, 157.
The Democrat candidates outraised their Republican counterparts by large margins due primarily to contributions from local and Chicago plaintiff lawyers.
The elections played out in the nation's second largest asbestos docket, where in 2021 the number of cases grew by 50% over the previous year.
Foley outraised Stiehl by an 8-1 margin.
Through mid-October, Foley collected a little more than $150,000 in direct and in-kind contributions. Stiehl raised a little more than $19,000 in direct and in-kind contributions in the same period.
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.
Through mid-October, Hoerner raised $147,000.
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.
Through mid-October, O'Fallon attorney Evans had not raised any funds.
Democrats have maintained control of the St. Clair County judiciary for decades, with Republicans making gains only in the election of McGlynn in 2014 and Duebbert in 2016.