Douglass Defeats Mazzochi In State House Race: Unofficial Results

ELMHURST, IL – Republican state Rep. Deanne Mazzochi, who denounced the Elmhurst school district over the last few months, lost her bid for re-election, according to unofficial results.

Tuesday was the last day for the counting of mail ballots.

Elmhurst Democrat Jenn Ladisch Douglass prevailed with 50.4 percent of the vote to Mazzochi's 49.6 percent.

The tally shows that Douglass received 21,960 votes in the District 45 race to Mazzochi's 21,596. That's a margin of 364 votes.

Mazzochi and Douglass have not returned repeated messages from Patch.

The week after the Nov. 8 election, Mazzochi sued the DuPage County Clerk's Office over the verification of signatures on mail ballots. A DuPage County judge sided with Mazzochi, but the clerk appealed to the state Supreme Court, which has yet to rule.

By Mazzochi's own statements, her lawsuit was not an election challenge.

Mazzochi can seek a recount under state law, but she must pay for it. The recount must be requested within five days of the county's canvass of the vote, which is expected in days.

A tiny part of District 45 is in Cook County. Mazzochi has not challenged Cook County's procedures.

Mazzochi was elected to the state House in 2018.

Since the summer, Mazzochi has criticized Elmhurst School District 205 over curriculum issues, including an "anti-racism assessment." She has called on the superintendent to "clean house."

The election returns showed that Mazzochi was weaker in Elmhurst than she was in the 2020 election. Then, she defeated Clarendon Hills Democrat Jennifer Zordani with 54 percent of the vote.

District 45 includes all or parts of Elmhurst, Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills, Western Springs and Westmont, among other towns.