Illinois Treasurer Frerichs Wins 2nd Term

ACROSS ILLINOIS — Democrat Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs won a second term Tuesday night against Republican Jim Dodge and Libertarian Michael Leheney. After Frerichs and Dodge each ran unopposed in the 2018 primary election, Tuesday was sure to be an election to remember for both parties. With more than 2.4 million votes for Frerichs, just over than 1.2 million of those votes came from Cook County alone, according to results and a chart from The Sun-Times.

Mike Frerichs, born in Gifford, Illinois, became the first member of his family to graduate from college when he received a degree from Yale University in 1995. He returned to Gifford to run a technology start-up and serve as a volunteer fireman, according to his campaign website, and was elected to the Champaign County Board in 2000. Then followed his role as Champaign County Auditor when he was sworn in two years later, before being sworn in as the 52nd District State Senator in 2007. In 2015, he was sworn in as Treasurer of Illinois.

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More About Frerichs

Both Frerichs and opposing candidate Dodge said they would be open to the idea of consolidating the treasurer's office with the comptroller's office in an effort to cut costs.

Frerichs campaign website notes the Incumbent Treasurer has been "an aggressive watchdog of our tax dollars, using his office to put the public's money to work through smart and sound investments."

As the former Senate Agriculture and Conservation Committee Chairman, whose family has farmed land for five generations, Treasurer Frerichs understands the needs of Illinois’ farmers, and the value they bring to our state’s economy.

Frerichs cited to The Chicago Tribune and in his campaign website the improved investment returns and upgraded college loan programs during his first term, as well as the Secure Choice program.

Read more about Frerichs on his website: Mike Frerichs

(Photo credit: Seth Perlman/Associated Press)