John Cabello defeats Mark Szula in Republican primary for Illinois House 90th District

Republican voters want to send John Cabello back to Springfield.

The former state representative declared victory over Mark Szula in Tuesday's primary election for the 90th District seat. With 90% of the district's precincts counted, Cabello had garnered 74% of the vote.

"I want to thank everyone who voted, even those who didn't vote," he said. "Obviously, we still have to get through November, but I would be honored to go back down and sit in the seat that you gave me the honor of sitting in before."

He added, "This one is for Nathan Carlson."

Carlson, 21, of Machesney Park, was one of five Marines killed earlier this month in a training exercise when their Osprey aircraft crashed in the California desert near the Arizona border.

"Nathan was like a son to me," Cabello said.   

The re-drawn district stretches from the Freeport region to the Rockford region to include Durand, Shirland, Roscoe, Rockton, South Beloit and most of Machesney Park. 

Cabello, a former state representative, ran on a campaign to repeal the Safe-T-Act and curb tax increases and state mandates placed on local municipalities.

More:Two Rockford area candidates want to represent Illinois House 90th district

Cabello, a Rockford police officer and Machesney Park resident, previously represented the 68th District but was defeated in a tight 2020 race by State Rep. Dave Vella, D-Rockford.   

Szula, who serves as village president of Roscoe, ran on a campaign to introduce legislation that would bring property tax relief to residents by allowing them to deduct what they pay in property taxes from their state income tax and to support efforts that increase funding and training to law enforcement.

Chris Green: 815-987-1241; cgreen@rrstar.com; @chrisfgreen