Dupage Policy Journal

Crime, inflation and the quality of education were the most important issues to voters in the recent election, State Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst) told the DuPage Policy Journal.

"My race is still officially being designated as too close to call, but in talking to so many people leading up to Election Day, I would say the things they clearly were most concerned about were crime, inflation and the quality of education our kids are getting across the state," the legislator said. "These are all things Republicans have long stood for and been pushing."

Her advice to other future Republican candidates is "Make sure the voters know who you are and what you stand for."

Mazzochi said she plans to focus on crime and taxes in the upcoming legislative session.

"I think everyone knows we have to do something about crime and taxes," she said. "Those are definitely two areas where we need to have something done so that we can start to make life a bit easier for people."

Her takeaway from the most recent election is, "We have to continue to fight for what our constituents are telling us they want and need to see."

Democrats have controlled the Illinois House since 1997, according to Ballotpedia. Democrats have also controlled the Illinois Senate since 2003.             

Democrat Gov. J.B. Pritzker was re-elected to serve a second term. He said in a tweet, "To the many Illinoisans who exercised their civic duty at the polls or by mail: Thank you for believing in our democracy. I serve ALL the people of Illinois and I look forward to working for you these next four years."

Many of Illinois' counties are Republican, but election results are dominated by Chicago and its surrounding suburbs, which are extremely Democratic, according to Fox News.