1990 Cook County, Illinois, elections

1990 was a midterm election year in the United States. The primaries and general elections for Cook County races coincided with those for federal (Senate and House) and those for state elections.

In the 1990 Cook County Assessor election, incumbent fourth-term assessor Thomas Hynes, a Democrat, was reelected.

1990 Cook County Clerk election

November 6, 1990
Turnout	47.19%[1][4]
Candidate David Orr Sam Panayotovich Heldia R. Richardson Party Democratic Republican Harold Washington Popular vote 799,884 353,531 106,588 Percentage 63.48% 28.06% 8.46%
Clerk before election Stanley Kusper Democratic Elected Clerk David Orr Democratic

In the 1990 Cook County Clerk election, incumbent fourth-term clerk Stanley Kusper, a Democrat, did not seek reelection, instead opting to run for both Cook County Board of Commissioners president and Cook County commissioner.[6][7] Democrat David Orr was elected to succeed him.

In the 1990 Cook County Sheriff election, incumbent first-term sheriff James E. O'Grady, a Republican, was defeated by Democrat Michael F. Sheahan.

In the 1990 Cook County State's Attorney special election, incumbent state's attorney Cecil A. Partee, a Democrat appointed in 1989 after Richard M. Daley resigned to serve as mayor of Chicago, lost reelection to Republican Jack O'Malley.

This is the last time that a non-incumbent Republican has won election to a Cook County executive office.

In the 1990 Cook County Superintendent of Education Service Region election, incumbent fourth-term superintendent Richard J. Martwick, a Democrat, was reelected.[1][12]

This was the last election before the position was eliminated.[13]

In the 1990 Cook County Treasurer election, incumbent fourth-term[14] treasurer Edward J. Rosewell, a Democrat, was reelected.

In the 1990 President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners election, incumbent president George Dunne, a Democrat that had held the office since 1969, did not seek reelection. Democrat Richard Phelan was elected to succeed him.

1990 Cook County Board of Commissioners election

November 6, 1990
All 17 seats on the Cook County Board of Commissioners 9 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Party Democratic Republican Harold Washington Seats before 10 7 0 Seats won 11 6 0 Seat change 1 1 Popular vote 5,212,283 3,048,275 915,432 Percentage 56.80% 33.22% 9.98% Swing 4.1% 2.07% new

The 1990 Cook County Board of Commissioners election saw all seventeen seats of the Cook County Board of Commissioners up for election to four-year terms in two sets of elections (ten elected from an election held in the city of Chicago and seven elected from an election held in suburban Cook County). This was the last election for the Cook County Board of Commissioners done this way, as the board would switch to districts for its 1994 election.[16]

Democrats increased their majority by a single seat.[17]

1990 Cook County Board of Appeals election

November 6, 1990
2 of 2 seats on the Cook County Board of Review
First party Second party Third party   Party Democratic Republican Harold Washington Seats before 2 0 0 Seats after 2 0 0 Seat change

In the 1990 Cook County Board of Appeals election, both seats on the board were up for election. The election was an at-large election.

In the 1990 Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago election, three of the nine seats on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago board were up for election in an at-large election.[1] All three Democratic nominees won.[1]

Partisan elections were held for judgeships on the Circuit Court of Cook County, due to vacancies. Other judgeships had retention elections.[1]

Two ballot questions were included on ballots county-wide during the November general election.

Coinciding with the primaries, elections were held to elect both the Democratic and Republican committeemen for the suburban townships.[2]

• 1990 Illinois elections