Rockford Sun

Incumbent state Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Cherry Valley) fended off challenger Winnebago County GOP Chairman Eli Nicolosi in a commanding fashion in the June 28 District 35 Republican primary. 

Syverson received 15,768 votes or 75% of the total, to Nicolosi’s 5,176 votes, or 24.7%, according to Ballotpedia.

“I am honored and humbled for the overwhelming support we got last night," Syverson said on Facebook. "My commitment to fighting for smaller and responsible government resonated with all our new voters and that's what I'm committed to fight for. Thank you to everyone who supported my campaign, my commitment to you is that I will continue to be the kind of leader you are proud to call your Senator.”  

Syverson’s win over Nicolosi, came as his opponent was facing a protection order from his wife and increased scrutiny after his campaign was accused of forging signatures on candidate petitions.

“If in fact, the Nicolosi campaign, or frankly any campaign, has forged signatures to get on the ballot, that’s illegal, and the state's attorney needs to take action so we send a message that the election process both locally and around the state is clean so people can trust the process,” Syverson previously said.

Syverson was endorsed by the Chicago Tribune in the race. 

"Syverson who comes with rich experience especially in understanding the needs of the industrial sector long important to Rockford, clearly is the better choice for the district, the publication noted. Since he has long represented districts on the edge of the state, he's specially shrewd when it comes to ensuring that Illinois remains competitive with its midwestern neighbors...Syverson has our endorsement." 

The publication also reported that "Syverson also called out Democrats for continuing to engage in gerrymandering by redrawing legislative districts to their own political benefit." The Chicago Tribune noted Syverson told them that “Legislators should not be drawing their own districts, that leads to people being beholden to leaders, not the people who elected them.”

He came to victory in the newly redrawn 35th District which includes parts of Winnebago, Boone, DeKalb, Kane and McHenry counties.