Elections were held for Assessor, Clerk, Sheriff, Treasurer, President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, all 17 seats of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, Cook County Board of Review districts 1 and 2, three seats on the Water Reclamation District Board, judgeships in the Circuit Court of Cook County.
2006 was a midterm election year in the United States. The primaries and general elections for Cook County races coincided with those for congressional and those for state elections.
Voter turnout[]
Primary election[]
Voter turnout in Cook County during the primaries was 28.44%, with 762,273 ballots cast. The city of Chicago saw 32.05% turnout and suburban Cook County saw 26.70% turnout.[4][5]
The general election saw 49.85% turnout, with 1,350,918 ballots cast. The city of Chicago saw 49.25% turnout and suburban Cook County saw 50.45% turnout.[1][6][7]
In the 2006 Cook County Assessor election, incumbent Assessor James Houlihan, a Democrat first appointed in 1997 who was reelected in 1998 and 2002, was again reelected.[9]
In the 2006 Cook County Sheriff election, incumbent fourth-term Sheriff Michael F. Sheahan, a Democrat, did not seek reelection.[10] Democrat Tom Dart was elected to succeed him.
John Stroger (before primary)/ Bobbie L. Steele (before general election) Democratic
Elected President
Todd Stroger Democratic
In the 2006 President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners election, incumbent President Todd Stroger, a Democrat appointed following the resignation of his father John Stroger, was elected to a full term. Originally, then-incumbent John Stroger had been running for reelection, winning the Democratic primary, before backing-out and also resigning from the presidency.
Primaries[]
Democratic[]
President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners Democratic primary[2][3]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
John H. Stroger, Jr. (incumbent)
318,634
53.52
Democratic
Forrest Claypool
276,682
46.48
Total votes
595,316
100
Republican[]
President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners Republican primary[2][3]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Tony Peraica
104,807
100
Total votes
104,807
100
General election[]
Suffering health ailments, John Stroger was removed from the ticket in June and replaced by his son Todd Stroger.[11] John Stroger retired in August, and Bobbie L. Steele was appointed to fill out the remainder of his term.[12]
President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners election[1]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Todd H. Stroger
690,945
53.68
Republican
Tony Peraica
596,212
46.32
Total votes
1,287,157
100
Cook County Board of Commissioners[]
2006 Cook County Board of Commissioners election
← 2002
November 7, 2006
2010 →
All 17 seats on the Cook County Board of Commissioners 9 seats needed for a majority
First party
Second party
Party
Democratic
Republican
Seats before
13
5
Seats won
13
5
Seat change
The 2006 Cook County Board of Commissioners election saw all seventeen seats of the Cook County Board of Commissioners up for election to four-year terms.
Fifteen members were reelected. One incumbent Democrat withdrew from their election after being renominated, while one incumbent Republican lost his primary. No seat changed parties.
1st district[]
See also: Cook County Board of Commissioners 1st district
Incumbent second-term Commissioner Earlean Collins, a Democrat, was reelected.
Primaries[]
Democratic[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 1st district Democratic primary[2][3]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Earlean Collins (incumbent)
39,232
100
Total votes
39,232
100
Republican[]
No candidates, ballot-certified or formal write-in, ran in the Republican primary.[2][3] The Republican Party ultimately nominated Henrietta S. Butler.[13]
General election[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 1st district election[1][13]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Earlean Collins (incumbent)
69,621
91.68
Republican
Henrietta S. Butler
6,320
8.32
Total votes
75,941
100
2nd district[]
See also: Cook County Board of Commissioners 2nd district
Incumbent commissioner Robert Steele, a Democrat, was reelected. He had been appointed to succeed his mother Bobbie L. Steele, after they were appointed President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners.
Primaries[]
Democratic[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 2nd district Democratic primary[2][3]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Robert B. Steele (incumbent)
15,777
56.71
Democratic
Desiree Grode
7,852
28.23
Democratic
Frank M. Bass
3,461
12.44
Democratic
Erold Elysee
729
2.62
Total votes
27,819
100
Republican[]
No candidates, ballot-certified or formal write-in, ran in the Republican primary.[2][3] The Republican Party ultimately nominated Scott W. Kummer.[8]
General election[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 2nd district election[1][8]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Robert B. Steele (incumbent)
59,668
88.18
Green
Scott W. Kummer
7,996
11.82
Total votes
67,664
100
3rd district[]
See also: Cook County Board of Commissioners 3rd district
Incumbent Commissioner Jerry Butler, a Democrat who first assumed the office in 1985, was reelected.
Primaries[]
Democratic[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 3rd district Democratic primary[2][3]
See also: Cook County Board of Commissioners 4th district
Then-incumbent Commissioner John Stroger originally sought reelection, winning the Democratic primary, but backed-out due to health issues (and also resigned his seat), and was replaced as Democratic nominee by William Beavers, who went to win the general election.
Primaries[]
Democratic[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 4th district Democratic primary[2][3]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
John Stroger, Jr. (incumbent)
55,244
100
Total votes
55,244
100
Republican[]
No candidates, ballot-certified or formal write-in, ran in the Republican primary.[2][3] Ultimately, the Republican Party nominated Ann Rochelle Hunter.[8]
General election[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 4th district election[1][8]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
William Beavers (incumbent)
78,252
91.54
Republican
Ann Rochelle Hunter
7,234
8.46
Total votes
85,486
100
5th district[]
See also: Cook County Board of Commissioners 5th district
Incumbent third-term Commissioner Deborah Sims, a Democrat, was reelected.
Primaries[]
Democratic[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 5th district Democratic primary[2][3]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Deborah Sims (incumbent)
32,103
Democratic
Dian M. Powell
12,156
Total votes
44,259
100
Republican[]
No candidates, ballot-certified or formal write-in, ran in the Republican primary.[2][3]
General election[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 5th district election[1]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Deborah Sims (incumbent)
74,988
100
Total votes
74,988
100
6th district[]
See also: Cook County Board of Commissioners 6th district
Incumbent first-term Commissioner Joan Patricia Murphy, a Democrat, was reelected.
Primaries[]
Democratic[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 6th district Democratic primary[2]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Joan Patricia Murphy (incumbent)
16,338
56.52
Democratic
Nicholas K. Chambers
7,013
24.26
Democratic
Robert L. Ryan, Jr.
5,558
19.23
Total votes
28,909
100
Republican[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 6th district Republican primary[2]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Michael Hawkins
7,190
100
Total votes
7,190
100
General election[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 6th district election[1]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Joan Patricia Murphy (incumbent)
56,814
73.93
Republican
Michael Hawkins
20,038
26.07
Total votes
76,852
100
7th district[]
See also: Cook County Board of Commissioners 7th district
Incumbent third-term Commissioner Joseph Mario Moreno, a Democrat, was reelected.
Primaries[]
Democratic[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 7th district Democratic primary[2][3]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Joseph Mario Moreno (incumbent)
13,320
69.87
Democratic
Albert Martinez
2,894
15.17
Democratic
Leonard "Len" Dominguez
2,867
15.03
Total votes
19,081
100
Republican[]
No candidates, ballot-certified or formal write-in, ran in the Republican primary.[2][3]
General election[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 7th district election[1]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Joseph Mario Moreno (incumbent)
29,779
100
Total votes
29,779
100
8th district[]
See also: Cook County Board of Commissioners 8th district
Incumbent third-term Commissioner Roberto Maldonado, a Democrat, was reelected.
Primaries[]
Democratic[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 8th district Democratic primary[2][3]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Roberto Maldonado (incumbent)
18,409
100
Total votes
18,409
100
Republican[]
No candidates, ballot-certified or formal write-in, ran in the Republican primary.[2][3]
General election[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 8th district election[1]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Roberto Maldonado (incumbent)
38,795
100
Total votes
38,795
100
9th district[]
See also: Cook County Board of Commissioners 9th district
Incumbent third-term Commissioner Peter N. Silvestri, a Republican, was reelected.
Primaries[]
Democratic[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 9th district Democratic primary[2][3]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Jodi L. Biancalana
16,485
58.41
Democratic
Bruce Best
11,738
41.59
Total votes
28,223
100
Republican[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 9th district Republican primary[2][3]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Peter N. Silvestri (incumbent)
11,474
85.48
Republican
Daniel S. Kollman
1,949
14.52
Total votes
13,423
100
General election[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 9th district election[1]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Peter N. Silvestri (incumbent)
47,881
56.61
Democratic
Jodi L. Biancalana
36,701
43.39
Total votes
84,582
100
10th district[]
See also: Cook County Board of Commissioners 10th district
Incumbent second-term Commissioner Mike Quigley, a Democrat, was reelected, running unopposed in both the Democratic primary and general election.
Primaries[]
Democratic[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 10th district Democratic primary[3]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Mike Quigley (incumbent)
26,207
100
Total votes
26,207
100
Republican[]
No candidates, ballot-certified or formal write-in, ran in the Republican primary.[3]
General election[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 10th district election[1]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Mike Quigley (incumbent)
62,905
100
Total votes
62,905
100
11th district[]
See also: Cook County Board of Commissioners 11th district
Incumbent Commissioner John P. Daley, a Democrat in office since 1992, was reelected.
Primaries[]
Democratic[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 11th district Democratic primary[2][3]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
John P. Daley (incumbent)
45,864
100
Total votes
45,864
100
Republican[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 11th district Republican primary[2][3]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Carl Segvich
4,046
100
Total votes
4,046
100
General election[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 11th district election[1]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
John P. Daley (incumbent)
65,846
79.49
Republican
Carl Segvich
16,986
20.51
Total votes
82,832
100
12th district[]
See also: Cook County Board of Commissioners 12th district
Incumbent first-term Commissioner Forrest Claypool, a Democrat, was reelected.
Primaries[]
Democratic[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 12th district Democratic primary[3]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Forrest Claypool (incumbent)
26,567
100
Total votes
26,567
100
Republican[]
No candidates, ballot-certified or formal write-in, ran in the Republican primary.[3]
General election[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 12th district election[1]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Forrest Claypool (incumbent)
57,709
100
Total votes
57,709
100
13th district[]
See also: Cook County Board of Commissioners 13th district
Incumbent first-term Commissioner Larry Suffredin, a Democrat, was reelected, running unopposed in both the Democratic primary and general election.
Primaries[]
Democratic[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 13th district Democratic primary[2][3]
See also: Cook County Board of Commissioners 14th district
Incumbent second-term Commissioner Gregg Goslin, a Republican, was reelected.
Primaries[]
Democratic[]
No candidates, ballot-certified or formal write-in, ran in the Democratic primary.[2] The Democratic Party ultimately nominated Michelene "Mickie" Polk.[14]
Republican[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 14th district Republican primary[2]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Gregg Goslin (incumbent)
17,523
100
Total votes
17,523
100
General election[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 14th district election[1]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Gregg Goslin (incumbent)
49,400
53.80
Democratic
Michelene "Mickie" Polk
42,426
46.20
Total votes
91,826
100
15th district[]
See also: Cook County Board of Commissioners 15th district
Incumbent eighth-term[12] Commissioner Carl Hansen, a Republican, sought reelection, but was defeated in the Republican primary by Tim Schneider, who went on to win the general election.
Primaries[]
Democratic[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 15th district Democratic primary[2]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Jim Steven Dasakis
10,345
100
Total votes
10,345
100
Republican[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 15th district Republican primary[2]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Timothy O. Schneider
7,293
51.08
Republican
Carl R. Hansen (incumbent)
6,984
48.92
Total votes
14,277
100
General election[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 15th district election[1]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Timothy O. Schneider
35,696
52.67
Democratic
Jim Steven Dasakis
32,075
47.33
Total votes
67,771
100
16th district[]
See also: Cook County Board of Commissioners 16th district
Incumbent first-term Commissioner Tony Peraica, a Republican, was reelected.
Primaries[]
Democratic[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 16th district Democratic primary[2][3]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
William Edward Gomolinski
17,570
100
Total votes
17,570
100
Republican[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 16th district Republican primary[2][3]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Tony Peraica (incumbent)
12,035
100
Total votes
12,035
100
General election[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 16th district election[1]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Tony Peraica (incumbent)
35,605
51.04
Democratic
William Edward Gomolinski
34,154
48.96
Total votes
69,759
100
17th district[]
See also: Cook County Board of Commissioners 17th district
Incumbent first-term Commissioner Elizabeth Ann Doody Gorman, a Republican, was reelected.
Primaries[]
Democratic[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 17th district Democratic primary[2]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Thomas "Tommy" Kraus
18,900
100
Total votes
18,900
100
Republican[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 17th district Republican primary[2]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Elizabeth "Liz" Doody Gorman (incumbent)
12,035
100
Total votes
12,035
100
General election[]
Cook County Board of Commissioners 17th district election[1]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Elizabeth "Liz" Doody Gorman (incumbent)
49,425
55.60
Democratic
Thomas "Tommy" Kraus
39,473
44.40
Total votes
88,898
100
Cook County Board of Review[]
2006 Cook County Board of Review election
← 2004
November 7, 2006
2008 →
2 of 3 seats on the Cook County Board of Review 2 seats needed for a majority
First party
Second party
Party
Democratic
Republican
Seats before
2
1
Seats after
3
0
Seat change
1
1
Seats up
1
1
Races won
2
0
In the 2006 Cook County Board of Review election, two seats, one Democratic-held and one Republican-held, out of its three seats were up for election.
The Cook County Board of Review has its three seats rotate the length of terms. In a staggered fashion (in which no two seats have coinciding two-year terms), the seats rotate between two consecutive four-year terms and a two-year term.[15]
1st district[]
See also: Cook County Board of Review 1st district
Incumbent second-term member Maureen Murphy, a Republican last reelected in 2002, lost reelection to Democrat Brendan F. Houlihan. This election was to a four-year term.[15]
Primaries[]
Democratic[]
No candidates, ballot-certified or formal write-in, ran in the Democratic primary.[2][3] Incumbent Republican Maureen Murphy successfully challenged the nomination petitions of the only Democrat running, Brendan Houlihan, meaning that he was removed from the Democratic primary ballot. However, since, consequentially no candidate appeared on the ballot in the Democratic primary, state law enabled the Democratic committeemen from the Board of Review's 1st district to pick a nominee. They ultimately selected Houlihan as their nominee.[16]
Republican[]
Cook County Board of Review 1st district Republican primary[2][3]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Maureen Murphy (incumbent)
76,100
100
Total votes
76,100
100
General election[]
Cook County Board of Review 1st district election[1][8]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Brendan F. Houlihan
245,227
51.48
Republican
Maureen Murphy (incumbent)
231,153
48.52
Total votes
476,380
100
2nd district[]
See also: Cook County Board of Review 2nd district
Incumbent second-term member Joseph Berrios, a Democrat last reelected in 2002, was reelected. Berrios had not only served since the Board of Review was constituted in 1998, but had also served on its predecessor organization, the Cook County Board of (Tax) Appeals, for ten years. This election was to a two-year term.[15]
Primaries[]
Democratic[]
Cook County Board of Review 2nd district Democratic primary[2][3]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Joseph Berrios (incumbent)
132,358
100
Total votes
132,358
100
Republican[]
No candidates, ballot-certified or formal write-in, ran in the Republican primary.[2][3]
General election[]
Cook County Board of Review 2nd district election[1]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Joseph Berrios (incumbent)
294,148
100
Total votes
294,148
100
Water Reclamation District Board[]
2006 Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago election
← 2004
November 7, 2006
2008 →
3 of 9 seats on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago 5 seats needed for a majority
First party
Second party
Party
Democratic
Republican
Seats before
9
0
Seats after
9
0
Seat change
Seats up
3
0
Races won
3
0
In the 2006 Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago election, three of the nine seats on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago board were up for election in an at-large race.[2][3] Since three six-year seats were up for election, voters could vote for up to three candidates and the top-three finishers would win.
Incumbent commissioner, Democrat Terrence J. O'Brien, was reelected.[17] Winners also included newly-elected Democrats Debra Shore and Patricia Horton.[18][19] The two incumbents who did not seek reelection were James Harris and Harry Yourell.[20]
Primaries[]
Democratic[]
Water Reclamation District Board election Democratic primary[2][3]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Debra Shore
225,051
17.30
Democratic
Terrence J. O'Brien (incumbent)
215,757
16.59
Democratic
Patricia Horton
165,669
12.74
Democratic
James "Jim" Harris
162,951
12.53
Democratic
Frank Avila
149,299
11.48
Democratic
Dean T. Maragos
114,683
8.82
Democratic
Lewis W. Powell, III
110,335
8.48
Democratic
Barrett F. Pedersen
92,293
7.10
Democratic
Boguslaw "Bogie" Stefanski
64,580
4.97
Total votes
1,300,618
100
Republican[]
No candidates, ballot-certified or formal write-in, ran in the Republican primary.[2][3]
Federal government
State government
Ballot measures and referendums
Chicago
1
1
Elections in Illinois