Elected officials are primary winners in the new 91st House District in Illinois

Democrat Sharon Chung and Republican Scott Preston won primary races Tuesday for the open seat in the redrawn 91st House District.

Chung was ahead of opponent Kayla Bailey-Smith of Bloomington 3,617 to 2,097, or 63.3% to 36.6%, with nearly 95% of the votes counted Wednesday.

Preston, who will face Chung in the Nov. 8 general election, led primary opponent James Fisher of Hudson 4,683 to 2,800, or 62.6% to 37.4%, with nearly 95% of the votes counted Wednesday.

There's no incumbent in the new 91st District.

Pekin Mayor Mark Luft, a Republican who currently represents the 91st District, doesn't live in the redrawn district. He was defeated Tuesday by Travis Weaver in the Republican primary for the redrawn 93rd House district.

More:Travis Weaver tops incumbent Mark Luft to win GOP primary for 93rd Illinois House District

The 91st District in Tazewell County includes the majority of Fondulac Township in East Peoria, the southern third of Washington including everything south of the downtown square, a portion of the northern edge of Morton, and all of Deer Creek.

The district also includes portions of Woodford and Peoria counties and much of the Bloomington-Normal area.

Chung and Preston are elected officials.

Chung, 43, of Bloomington, has been on the McLean County Board since 2018. She's a professional violist and violinist.

Preston, 34, who became the youngest person elected to the Normal Town Council in 2013, was re-elected to the Town Council in 2017 and 2021. He owns the Preston Property Group, which oversees a portfolio of properties.

McLean County Board members are elected in partisan elections. Normal Town Council members are elected in non-partisan elections.

Chung said she's happy and relieved about her primary win.

"I've knocked on more than 4,000 doors over the last two months," she said.

"A lot of people in Bartonville, East Peoria and Washington told me they're excited about the possibility of having a Democrat represent them in the General Assembly for the first time in more than 40 years."

Preston said he's excited about the upcoming general election campaign.

"I look forward to continuing to meet and talk with people across the district," he said. "I'm honored to have the opportunity to continue taking our message forward. I won't take the support we earned (Tuesday) for granted.

"I'll fight hard in Springfield for a better Illinois."

Both Chung and Preston said they'll work to help families who are dealing with a high cost of living because of inflation.

Steve Stein can be reached at (248) 224-2616 or stevestein21@yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpartanSteve.