Lori Wilcox Stuns Terry Matthews In Bloom Township Race

BLOOM TOWNSHIP - One of the biggest upsets in the Illinois primary election Tuesday night came in Bloom Township, where a challenger upended a longtime incumbent for the position of Bloom Township Democratic committeeman. With all precincts reporting, Chicago Heights City Clerk Lori Wilcox won by less than 200 votes over her closest competitor, incumbent Committeeman and South Chicago Heights Mayor Terry Matthews. Art Wiggins Jr., a third candidate in the race, garnered about 17 percent of the vote.

Matthews has held the committeeman position since 2004 and had previously had a stint during the 1990s. Unofficial results indicate he will have to hand over the reins to Wilcox.

Prior to election night, Matthews touted his experience in helping elect Democrats to state and local offices, while Wiggins says he's out to break the machine and institute needed change in Bloom Township. Wilcox did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the race and is a finalist for the job of city clerk in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Follow more Illinois elections here

READ MORE: 3 Vie For Bloom Township Democratic Committeeman Post

BLOOM TOWNSHIP DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEEMAN

(all precincts reporting)

Art Wiggins Jr.: 16.28%, 1,872 votes

Lori Wilcox: 42.63%, 4,903 votes

Terry Matthews: 41.1%, 4,727 votes

Source: Cook County

Photo via Art Wiggins Jr. / City of South Chicago Heights / City of Chicago Heights