Politics & Government
Denyse Wang Stoneback Wins Democratic Primary In 16th District
The founder of a gun violence prevention nonprofit defeated an appointed incumbent in the district's first competitive primary in decades.
SKOKIE, IL — For the first time in decades, voters in the 16th District of the Illinois House participated in a contested Democratic Party primary Tuesday, as Rep. Yehiel "Mark" Kalish, the appointed successor to former State Rep. Lou Lang, faced challenges from a pair of Skokie residents — Denyse Wang Stoneback and Kevin Olickal.
With precincts reporting, Kalish trailed Stoneback by more than 10 percent, according to unofficial results. Stoneback collected more than 40 of votes cast in the race to take the nomination. No Republican filed to run in the district, so her primary win essentially assures Stoneback of a seat in the Illinois General Assembly next year.
"I was really honored and humbled by the thousands of people who voted for me and entrusted their representation in me, and so it's a really incredible feeling. There's nothing quite like it. I'm a first-time candidate, so it's a bit overwhelming, but I know I can meet the challenge and I am really humbled and honored," Stoneback said.
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"I'm going to do my very best to represent our very diverse district. There are many different cultures, religions, ethnicities and people from all walks of life who reside in our district and I'm honored to represent every single one of them."
The district includes all or part of Skokie, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove and Chicago's 40th and 50th wards. For 32 years, it was represented by Lang, the former deputy majority leader and Niles Township Democratic Committeeman. Two days before Lang was to be sworn in to a 17th term in office, he resigned to become a partner in a lobbying firm.
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A few weeks later, Kalish, 44, was selected by Lang and former 50th Ward Committeeman and state Sen. Ira Silverstein, to serve out the rest of Lang's term. The Philadelphia native and founder of the S4 Group lobbying firm residents in Chicago's West Rogers Park neighborhood. He said he was the first ordained rabbi in the history of the Illinois General Assembly.
With his introduction to public office coinciding with the reinstatement of unified Democratic Party control in Springfield, Kalish presided over an eventful first term in office. In Gov. JB Pritzker's first few months in office, the Illinois General Assembly signed off on a constitutional referendum on progressive tax rates, a $45 billion infrastructure spending plan and the legalization of sports betting and recreational marijuana.
But Kalish's most controversial act was his decision to vote "present" on the Reproductive Health Act, reversing what other lawmakers described as a commitment to support the abortion rights bill. Backers of the bill argued it was essential to ensure reproductive rights in Illinois even if the U.S. Supreme Court were to reverse its landmark Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion.
Kalish was joined by three other Democratic Illinois state representatives in voting "present." Seven House Democrats voted "no." Kalish said there were many positive parts of the bill but his religious values and beliefs conflicted with a portion of the preamble that he had not read until after the bill had advanced to the floor.
Rep. Kelly Cassidy, the bill's sponsor, said Kalish had gone back on a pledge to support it and could not be trusted to make a promise in the future. She said Kalish had offered to resign over the issue.
Kalish was not one of the 14 prospective candidates for state representative who sought the the endorsement of Lang's political organization, the Niles Township Democrats. After a group of local Democrats narrowed the field to a trio of finalists, Lang endorsed Stoneback.
Stoneback, 50, is the founder of the gun control nonprofit People for a Safer Society and formerly worked in educational publishing. She recalled the origin of the group — she had been working on textbooks for students in second grade while learning of the massacre of grade school students in Newtown, Connecticut. Stoneback said continued progress on gun violence prevention would be a key priority for her time in office.
Following the endorsement, Kevin Olickal, the 26-year-old executive director of the Indo-American Democratic Organization and former legislative chief of staff, decided to enter the race. Olickal emphasized he was the only candidate who was not handpicked by Lang and who was not beholden to special interests or political institutions.
In a primary election with near-record low Election Day turnout after public health officials urged people to avoid crowds and close contact with others to stem the spread of the new coronavirus, Stoneback said her campaign prioritized the health and safety of its staff, volunteers and the community at large.
"But I think that this outbreak has driven home — has put in the forefront of everybody's mind — the need for universal health care and paid sick leave in our community," Stoneback said. "And how we can be prepared for such emergencies moving forward."
Unofficial results via the Chicago Board of Elections and the Cook County Clerk's Office.
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