South Cook News

Republican Patrick Sheehan is leading State Sen. Michael Hastings (D-Frankfort) in the 19th District. 

"My race has not been called, but we are still leading," Sheehan posted to Facebook.

"My race has not been called, but we are still leading. I haven't forgotten the conversations at the doors and I expect those conversations to reflect the final tally when it's all said and done. Thank you for your continued support! Cheers! Pat."

The race in the Southwest suburbs has been a key one, Hastings has been in the news recently for allegations of abuse, harassment, and inappropriate behavior towards women. Hastings's ex-wife has accused him of abuse while they were married and records show that the State paid a $150,000 settlement to Hastings's former chief of staff over harassment accusations. 

Earlier in the campaign, Sheehan called on Hastings to resign as he is facing abuse and harassment allegations. 

"I join Gov. Pritzker in demanding that Sen. Hastings resign from the state Senate ... Taxpayers should not have to continue paying for Sen. Hastings' unacceptable behavior, and they definitely should not have to continue paying his Senate salary while he deals with these serious allegations," Sheehan said.

Once seen as a rising star in Springfield, in the wake of these allegations, Hastings is fighting for his seat in the South suburbs, where his family is powerful. 

According to WBEZ, police reports say, "Hastings’s wife told officers last year that in 2020, he put her in a headlock and slammed her into a door repeatedly." 

Hastings has denied this. Other women who have worked with Hastings have said that he has made them feel uncomfortable. 

According to WBEZ, "Jen Walling, the longtime executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council, said in an interview last week that Hastings had yelled at her, pounded his hands on a table in a Capitol meeting room and approached her in a menacing manner during disagreements over legislation in Springfield in the past five years." 

Hastings has refused to resign saying the allegations are "baseless and without merit." 

However, he did step down as Senate Democratic Majority Whip in August.

In the first general election without former House Speaker Michael Madigan, Democrats have held their supermajorities in both houses of the General Assembly. 

On the heels of Republican losses across the state, House Minority Leader Jim Durkin announced he would not seek another term as leader. 

"It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as leader of the House Republican caucus, but it’s time for the Illinois Republican Party to rebuild with new leaders who can bring independents back to the party that are needed to bring change to the state," Durkin said.