1988 Cook County, Illinois, elections

1988 was a presidential election year in the United States. The primaries and general elections for Cook County races coincided with those for federal races (President and House) and those for state elections. Political context After Harold Washington's 1987 re-election as Chicago mayor and the end of the Council Wars gridlock on the Chicago City Council, Washington reconciled with the Cook County Regular Democratic Organization. Before his death in November 1987, he endorsed the regular organization's slate of candidates for Cook County office in 1988 (Richard M. Daley for re-election as state's attorney; Aurelia Pucinski for clerk of courts; and Carol Moseley-Braun for recorder of deeds). Voter turnout Primary election Turnout in the primaries was 45.63%, with 1,236,750 ballots cast. General election The general election saw turnout of 72.56%, with 2,095,985 ballots cast. Chicago saw 1,14,080 ballots cast, and suburban Cook County saw 981,905 ballots cast. Straight-ticket voting Ballots had a straight-ticket voting option in 1988. == Clerk of the Circuit Court ==

In the 1988 Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County election, incumbent clerk Morgan M. Finley, a Democrat, did not seek reelection. Democrat Aurelia Pucinski was elected to succeed him. Primaries Democratic ;Candidates The following candidates ran for the Democratic Party nomination for Clerk of the Circuit Court: ;Results Republican ;Candidate The following candidate ran for the Republican Party nomination for Clerk of the Circuit Court: ;Results Illinois Solidarity No candidates ran in the Illinois Solidarity Party primary. General election == Recorder of Deeds ==

In the 1988 Cook County Recorder of Deeds election, incumbent first-term recorder of deeds Harry Yourell, a Democrat, did not seek reelection, instead running to be a commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. Democrat Carol Moseley Braun was elected to succeed him. Mosely Braun's election made her the first African-American to hold the office of Cook County recorder of deeds. Primaries Democratic ;Candidates The following candidate ran for the Democratic Party nomination for Cook County Recorder of Deeds Court: ;Results Republican ;Candidates The following candidate ran for the Democratic Party nomination for Cook County Recorder of Deeds Court: ;Results Illinois Solidarity No candidates ran in the Illinois Solidarity Party primary. The party ultimately nominated Edward M. Wojkowski. General election == State's Attorney ==

In the '''1988 Cook County State's Attorney election''', incumbent second-term state's attorney Richard M. Daley, a Democrat, was reelected. Primaries Democratic Republican Illinois Solidarity No candidates ran in the Illinois Solidarity Party primary. General election ==Cook County Board of Appeals (special election)==

In the 1988 Cook County Board of Appeals special election, one seat on the board were up for election. Due to the death of Harry Semrow, this special election was held to fill the seat he had served on. Democrat Joseph Berrios was elected to fill the seat. Thomas A. Jaconetty had been appointed to hold the seat until the new commissioner elected in this race would be seated. Wiltse would later run unsuccessfully for judgeships on the Cook County Circuit Court in 1998 and 2001. Illinois Solidarity No candidates ran in the Illinois Solidarity Party primary. General election == Water Reclamation District Board ==

In the 1988 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. All three Democratic nominees won. == Judicial elections ==

Pasrtisan elections were held for judgeships on the Circuit Court of Cook County due to vacancies. Retention elections were also held for the Circuit Court. ==Other elections==

Coinciding with the primaries, elections were held to elect the Democratic, Republican, and Illinois Solidarity committeemen for the wards of Chicago. == See also ==