Democrats Unseat 2 GOP Incumbents In Historic McHenry Co. Election

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — Democrats unseated two Republican incumbents in McHenry County's Tuesday election, marking a significant political shift in a longtime GOP stronghold.

Democrat Bill McNeese defeated incumbent County Clerk Joe Tirio, while Democrat Bridget Belcastro ousted incumbent Regional Superintendent of Schools Diana Hartmann, according to unofficial election results. The victories were particularly notable in a county where Democrats had won just one countywide office since 1978 before Tuesday's election, according to ABC7 Chicago.

Here is a look at the unofficial results:

McHenry County Clerk

• Bill McNeese (D): 58,576 votes (51.43%)
• Joe Tirio (R): 55,323 votes (48.57%)

McHenry County Regional Superintendent of Schools

• Bridget Belcastro (D): 51,913 votes (52.05%)
• Diana Hartmann (R): 47,815 votes (47.95%)

Tirio has served as McHenry County clerk since 2018 after previously being elected county recorder in 2016. He helped lead an effort to consolidate the recorder's office with the county clerk's office, a move approved by voters in 2018.

During his tenure, Tirio emphasized reducing government costs, improving services and maintaining election integrity, according to his 2022 candidate questionnaire published by the Daily Herald.

McNeese, a U.S. Navy veteran, small business owner and nonprofit founder, campaigned on government accountability, transparency and improving public access to county services, according to his campaign website.

In the regional superintendent race, Belcastro defeated Hartmann, who was appointed to the position in January 2022 and subsequently elected to a full term that November.

Hartmann, a longtime educator and former special education administrator, was selected to lead the office after the removal of former Regional Superintendent Leslie Schermerhorn. The McHenry County Board announced Hartmann's nomination in January 2022.

Belcastro brought 32 years of education experience to the race, including 12 years as principal of Johnsburg Elementary School. She was named Illinois Elementary Principal of the Year in 2024.

In a Ballotpedia candidate questionnaire, Belcastro identified improving collaboration among school districts, addressing chronic absenteeism and strengthening financial transparency within the regional education office as priorities.

Democratic Gains Extend Beyond Countywide Offices

The two countywide victories came as Democrats made gains in other McHenry County races.

Preliminary election results also showed Democrats positioned to flip five Republican-held McHenry County Board seats, according to the Daily Herald.

In District 1, Democrat Deanna "Dee" Darling defeated incumbent Republican Matt Kunkle, receiving approximately 55 percent of the vote. Democrat Edward "Bud" Bowie Jr. defeated incumbent Republican Joe Gottemoller in District 4 with 54.31 percent, while Democrat Austin May unseated incumbent Republican Terri Greeno in District 5 with approximately 51.7 percent.

Democrats also picked up Republican-held seats in District 7, where Patrick Shea defeated Jeff Schwartz; and District 9, where Christine Hamm defeated Niko Kanakaris.

McHenry County voters also favored Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker over Republican Darren Bailey by approximately 53 percent to 42 percent, reversing the county's preference in the 2022 gubernatorial election, the Daily Herald reported.

However, Republicans maintained support in other countywide contests. Incumbent Republican Treasurer Donna Kurtz defeated Democratic challenger Amin Karim, receiving 59,309 votes compared with Karim's 54,350.

Republican Sheriff Robb Tadelman also ran unopposed.

What Do The Results Mean For McHenry County?

Democratic Party of McHenry County Chair Ruth Scifo attributed the party's success to candidates who focused on economic concerns affecting local residents.

"We had strong candidates who focused on the issues that McHenry County voters care about: affordability and kitchen table issues," Scifo told ABC7 Chicago.

Bob Grogan, chair of the Illinois Republican Party, acknowledged the challenges facing Republicans in suburban communities.

"Voters sent a message that they're not happy with the Republican Party," Grogan told ABC7.

Meanwhile, former McHenry County Democratic Party Chair Kristina Zahorik attributed the party's gains to dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump and local Republican leadership, according to the Daily Herald.

Election results remain unofficial until certified by election authorities. This story will be updated as additional results become available.

For more election coverage, visit Patch's 2026 Illinois Election Guide.