May 19, 2024
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Election

GOP incumbent Ugaste ahead in race for 65th District

Illinois 65th serves portions of Kane, DuPage counties

By Brenda Schory
Election 2024
Linda Robertson is a St. Charles Democrat running against incumbent Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva, to represent the state’s 65th District.

Linda Robertson is a St. Charles Democrat running against incumbent Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva, to represent the state’s 65th District. (Photo provided)

Incumbent Republican Dan Ugaste appears to have won a third term by 4,107 votes, according to unofficial results Tuesday night.

Ugaste had 23,551 votes to Democrat challenger Linda Robertson’s 19,444 in the 65th District, according to unofficial results in Kane and DuPage counties.

Ugaste is a Geneva resident and attorney, Robertson, of St. Charles, is a scientist and small business owner.

“I’m happy to have won again,” Ugaste said. “People in the new 65th have spoken the same as the ones in the prior 65th, they elected me. I’m doing what they’re sending me there for.”

Robertson said she enjoyed working on her campaign.

“We did a heck of a thing. We got endorsed by the Chicago Tribune, by Ugaste’s campaign chair and I had a phenomenal crew and we had fun,” Robertson said. “I had such phenomenal support form incredible people – and we did not get support from the Democratic Party of Illinois – it was all grassroots and I’m so proud of what my team did.”

Robertson nearly missed being on the ballot after a challenge was filed alleging that her petition circulators used the wrong paperwork – but the state electoral board ruled that she could stay.

Robertson’s campaign also criticized Ugaste as “extreme,” citing his voting record on various issues, including women’s reproductive rights and his Illinois Right to Life rating as fully pro-life with exceptions for rape and incest.

Ugaste had responded that he votes for reasonable laws – not extreme ones.

In an unexpected twist, Ugaste’s former campaign chairman Greg Marston announced last month that he was endorsing Robertson as the better candidate.

Marston’s reason for dropping his support for Ugaste was that the candidate’s platform was “disconnected from the core values of today’s society.”

But Ugaste said he believes he voted with his district the entire time he’s been in Springfield, and chalked it up to differing opionions within a district.

The 65th District covers portions of Kane and DuPage counties, including Elgin, South Elgin, St. Charles, Campton Hills, Hampshire, Huntley, Pingree Grove, Batavia, Geneva and Wayne.

The Kane County Chronicle will be updating all election returns throughout the night. Check back frequently for updates.