1,000 votes: The margin that defined the 2024 Will County Clerk race
Annette Parker and Michelle Stiff face off again for a four-year term in a rematch of the county's closest 2024 election.
By Carlos Rousseau ·
Voters in Will County will decide the next county clerk on Tuesday.
The race pits Republican Annette Parker against Democrat Michelle Stiff in a direct rematch of the 2024 election. In that contest, Parker won by a margin of just over 1,000 votes. More than 320,000 ballots were cast in the 2024 cycle, making it the closest of the countywide races that year.
Both candidates expect a similarly tight outcome in 2026. Stiff said she anticipates the vote count will be close, but she believes the winner will differ this time. She noted that Democrats hold a 53% advantage in registered voters, though she acknowledged that final results depend on turnout. Parker also predicted a tight race. She stated that she thinks voters will turn out in large numbers.
The 2024 election was held for a two-year term because Parker was filling a vacancy. Lauren O'Hara, then known as Lauren Staley Ferry, left the position before her term ended to become the city clerk in Joliet. The election on Tuesday is for a standard four-year term.
The role of county clerk has gained attention in recent years. Running elections is a primary duty of the office. National debates over election integrity have increased scrutiny on local election officials. Parker said the office should not be partisan, even though the candidates' party affiliations appear on the ballot. Stiff said that President Trump's claims regarding election fraud have made the public more aware of the office. She said this awareness has placed the protection of elections on everyone's minds.
Both candidates pledge to run fair and transparent elections. They also both commit to advancing technology in the office and making it easier for voters to cast ballots. Parker pointed out that Will County has avoided the mail-in and early voting glitches seen in some neighboring counties during this cycle. She said she is very proud that such errors have not occurred in Will County. In September, 300 incorrect vote-by-mail ballots were mistakenly sent to two precincts in Kendall County.
Stiff said a top goal for her, if elected, is to create an advisory group. This group would examine voting barriers for young people, individuals with disabilities, and other groups. She said she wants to make voting more accessible to populations that face obstacles. Stiff currently serves as the director of the Will County Workforce Services Division.
Parker previously served as a Will County Board member from Crest Hill before being elected as county clerk. She holds the seat currently.
Four other countywide offices are on the ballot alongside the clerk race. In the sheriff race, Democrat Patrick Jones is running against Republican James Reilly. Incumbent Sheriff Mike Kelley, a Democrat, is not seeking re-election. In the treasurer race, incumbent Democrat Tim Brophy faces Republican Carmen Maurella III. For the regional superintendent of schools, Republican Elizabeth Caparelli-Ruff is running against Democrat Theresa Rouse. Rouse is the outgoing superintendent of Joliet Grade School District 86.
Eight County Board seats are also up for election. The board has 11 districts, with two members representing each district. The current board is evenly split, with 11 Democrats and 11 Republicans. County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, a Democrat, casts the deciding vote in the event of a tie.
