Appointed Cook County Commissioner Kisha McCaskill declared victory Tuesday night in her bid for a full term, apparently fending off a challenge from Dolton Trustee Kiana Belcher in the Democratic primary for the 5th District Cook County Board seat.
In the 6th District, a field of five Democratic contenders seeking to replace Commissioner Donna Miller appeared to narrow to Worth Township Supervisor Patricia Joan “Trish” Murphy and Palestinian-American attorney Wesam Shahed, according to preliminary results Tuesday night.
5th District
With 90% of precincts reported Tuesday, McCaskill had 53% of the vote, while Belcher had 47%, according to unofficial results.
“I’m grateful, honored and blessed to receive such an outpouring of votes from the residents of the 5th District,” McCaskill said in a statement. “I don’t take this overwhelming sign of support for granted. It is an honor to serve the people of this district and I am committed to the upward mobility of this region.”
The 5th District seat was previously held by Monica Gordon, who was elected in 2022. It represents parts of the South Side and portions of Bloom, Bremen, Calumet, Lake, Rich, Thornton and Worth townships.
Gordon resigned in 2024 after being elected as Cook County clerk in a special election, and McCaskill was appointed to fill her seat in January 2025.
Belcher emphasized in the campaign that although McCaskill held the seat, it was both candidates’ first time on the ballot.
McCaskill has been executive director of the Harvey Park District since 2015.
Belcher was elected a Dolton trustee in 2021. She was reelected in 2025 as part of now-Mayor Jason House’s Clean House slate in opposition to former Mayor Tiffany Henyard.
Cook County Commissioner Kisha McCaskill speaks at a National HIV Testing Day at Walgreen’s in Oak Lawn June 27, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
Kiana Belcher speaks during a Dolton Village Board meeting Nov. 6, 2024. (Vincent D. Johnson / for the Daily Southtown)
Both McCaskill and Belcher said ahead of the election that high property taxes would be a priority to address.
The winner will face Republican Richard Nolan in November. He ran uncontested in his primary.
6th District
With 96% of precincts reported, Murphy was in the lead with 36.8% of the vote, followed by Shahed with 32.8% of the vote.
“We are very optimistic with the results so far, and if the trend continues I’ll be happy to serve as the next Cook County Commissioner of the 6th District,” Murphy said in a statement Tuesday night.
The remaining three candidates — Veronica Bolling-Franklin, Sylvester Fulcher and Antoine Bass — each garnered about 10% of the vote, according to unofficial results.
Patricia Joan ‘Trish’ Murphy (Campaign photo)
Wesam Shahed (Campaign photo)
Miller, who has held the seat since 2018, chose not to seek reelection in favor of running in the crowded 2nd Congressional District race.
The 6th District includes parts or all of Bridgeview, Justice, Hickory Hills, Palos Hills, Chicago Ridge, Alsip, Crestwood, Midlothian, Oak Forest, Tinley Park, Orland Hills, Matteson, Richton Park, Park Forest, Steger, Sauk Village, Lynwood, South Holland, South Chicago Heights, Glenwood, Homewood and East Hazel Crest.
Murphy told the Daily Southtown she felt her experience as an elected official gave her a leg up over her opponents. She is also the Democratic committeeperson for Worth Township and serves on the Moraine Valley Community College board.
Murphy’s mother, Joan Patricia Murphy, held the 6th District seat from 2002 until 2016.
Shahed, a Bridgeview resident, has worked for both the Cook County state’s attorney and the Illinois attorney general’s offices.
No candidates filed for the Republican primary in the 6th District.
elewis@chicagotribune.com