Will County Board: Two Races Within 200 Votes as Mail Ballots Remain

Article Summary: Will County Board races were on the ballot in eight districts on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, with two seats at stake in each. In Districts 2 and 4, the race for the second seat stands under 200 votes in unofficial results, and provisional and late-arriving mail ballots won’t be counted until Nov. 17.

Will County Board Races Key Points:

• District 2: Democrat Bob Howard leads Republican Judy Ogalla by 81 votes, 10,074 to 9,993, for the second seat. Republican Frankie Pretzel finished first.
• District 4: Republican Stephen J. Balich leads Democrat Sheri Boniecki-Cooling by 194 votes, 9,474 to 9,280, for the second seat.
• District 3, which includes Crete, Monee, Green Garden and parts of Frankfort townships: Democrat Sherry Newquist finished first and Republican Daniel Butler leads Democrat Marc McKirdie by 602 votes for the second seat.

WILL COUNTY — Two Will County Board races were too close to settle on election night after Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. In District 2, which includes Peotone, Will, Washington and Manhattan townships, the race for the second of two seats stood at 81 votes in unofficial results.

County Board races were on the ballot in Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 11. Voters in each district could choose up to two candidates. All precincts have reported, but the clerk’s office will count provisional ballots and remaining mail ballots postmarked by Election Day on Nov. 17. Results become official after the canvass, which must happen no later than Nov. 24.

District 2: 81 Votes Apart

District 2 covers precincts in Frankfort, Jackson, Manhattan, New Lenox, Peotone, Washington, Will and Wilton townships. Republican Frankie Pretzel led the field with 13,145 votes (39.58%). Democrat Bob Howard had 10,074 (30.33%) and Republican Judy Ogalla had 9,993 (30.09%). Democrats had one candidate in the race, so the ballot listed “No Candidate” for their second slot.

Ogalla ran ahead of Howard in the township precincts in Peotone (920 to 535), Will (372 to 169) and Washington (1,017 to 935). Howard ran ahead in the Frankfort, Manhattan, New Lenox and Jackson township precincts.

District 4: 194 Votes Apart

District 4 covers precincts in Frankfort, Homer and New Lenox townships, and had two candidates from each party. Republican James M. Richmond finished first with 11,567 votes (30.22%). Republican Stephen J. Balich had 9,474 (24.75%), Democrat Sheri Boniecki-Cooling had 9,280 (24.24%), and Democrat William Pratt had 7,959 (20.79%).

District 3: Southeastern Will County

District 3 covers precincts in Crete, Frankfort, Green Garden and Monee townships. Democrat Sherry Newquist received 12,324 votes (42.2%). Republican Daniel Butler, the only Republican on that ballot, had 8,740 (29.93%), and Democrat Marc McKirdie had 8,138 (27.87%). Butler carried Green Garden Township precincts with 1,216 votes, more than Newquist and McKirdie together. Newquist ran first in Crete and Monee.

Other Districts

• District 1: Joe Van Duyne (D) 11,849 (39.73%); Debbie Militello (R) 10,434 (34.99%); Katie Deane-Schlottman (R) 7,540 (25.28%).
• District 5: Sherry Williams (D) 10,162 (28.27%); David G. Oxley (R) 9,488 (26.39%); Karen Johnson (D) 8,935 (24.85%); James “JJ” Balonek (R) 7,364 (20.48%). Oxley leads Johnson for the second seat by 553 votes.
• District 8: Mica Freeman (D) 11,699 (40.51%); Mark V. Revis (R) 9,075 (31.42%); Michael Crowner (D) 8,107 (28.07%).
• District 9: Destinee Ortiz (D) 11,049 (43.87%); Alex Zapien (D) 7,977 (31.67%); Raquel M. Mitchell (R) 6,162 (24.46%).
• District 11: Sheldon L. Watts (D) 11,426 (45.97%); Jacqueline L. Traynere (D) 8,989 (36.16%); Steven Smith (R) 4,443 (17.87%).