Walters wins DuPage County Board District 2 seat

Democrat Mary Rada Walters won the DuPage County Board District 2 two-year term seat, collecting 34,553 votes, or 62.9%, to Theresa McClear's 20,345 votes, or 37.1%, according to unofficial results from DuPage County Clerk. All 111 of 111 reporting units have reported, with 54,898 votes counted. Walters won by 14,208 votes.

Under Illinois law, mail ballots postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 17 are still eligible to be counted.

What was at stake

The DuPage County Board oversees a $661.5 million annual budget that includes a $71.5 million property tax levy, according to the county's fiscal year 2026 budget. That budget directs $9 million toward stormwater upgrades, including improvements at the Elmhurst Quarry.

The key issues:

• Affordability: Walters's campaign prioritized housing costs, childcare and health care alongside fiscal responsibility, according to her Ballot Brief profile. McClear's campaign website called for lowering taxes and fiscal responsibility.
• Public safety: Walters supported mental health services, substance-use treatment and secure firearm storage measures, according to her Ballot Brief profile. McClear called for supporting law enforcement and first responders, according to her campaign website.
• Budget oversight: The county board sets the property tax levy each year. A homeowner with a home valued at $350,000 pays about $129 in property taxes to DuPage County, according to the county's budget documents.

A little history

Walters, a Lombard attorney who works in the Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Trustee's Office in Lisle, had not held elected or appointed office before this race, according to her candidate questionnaire. She holds a law degree from UIC John Marshall Law School. Her father, Bob Rada, is an Oakbrook Terrace alderman in Ward 3, she said in the questionnaire.

Walters won the Democratic primary on March 17, 2026, with 62.31% of the vote over Mahnoor Ahmad, according to The Ballot Brief.

McClear listed more than 20 years of business and community leadership on her campaign website. She served as a township trustee and as a board member for the Turning Pointe Center for Autism, and previously worked as a manager at Keebler Foods and Kellogg Company, according to the site.

The DuPage County website lists three current District 2 board members: Paula Deacon Garcia, Andrew Honig and Yeena Yoo. Two of those seats carry terms expiring in December 2026.

Election results: DuPage County Board - District 2 (Illinois General Election, 2026-11-03)

Source: DuPage County Clerk. Results current as of Nov. 3, 2026, 9:36 p.m. CST. Reporting: 111 of 111. Unofficial results; every reporting unit has reported.