Cross vs. Frerichs: Historically Close Race Could Lead to Recount

Two weeks after election day, and there’s still no winner in the Illinois state treasurer race.

As of Monday, less than 400 votes separated State Rep. Tom Cross (R-Oswego) and Democratic State Sen. Michael Frerichs.

A third candidate, Libertarian Matthew Skopek, captured about 4 percent of the vote on Nov. 4.

The tight race could lead to the first recount request in 30 years, according to CBS Chicago, which reported that an Associated Press analysis found no race as close as the Cross/Frerichs battle since 1900.

A spokesman for the Frerichs campaign on Monday said the Democrat is within 331 votes of Cross, while a Cross spokesman said the Republican leads by 381 votes.

There are no automatic recounts in Illinois, but a recount could be requested by a voter or candidate who has evidence of voting irregularities or mistakes, according to the Northwest Herald. To request a recount, there is a $10,000 filing fee, and thousands of signatures must be collected within 15 days after the election is certified.

While neither campaign was discussing a possible recount, a rep for Cross last week said the campaign had become aware of voting irregularities in the Cook County suburbs. According to Cross campaign manager Kevin Artl, the campaign had found hundreds of voters who cast “multiple” votes, both on election day and through mail or early voting, ABC 7 reported.

Cross stepped down from his position as House Republican Leader to run for treasurer; on Nov. 4, Plainfield resident Mark Batinick defeated Democrat Moira Dunn for the seat. Current Treasurer Dan Rutherford did not seek re-election, instead launching an unsuccessful bid in the four-way Republican gubernatorial primary.