Republican Mark Luft is the winner of the 91st District race to replace retiring state Rep. Mike Unes (R-East Peoria).
Luft has served as Pekin's mayor since 2019, when he defeated then-incumbent John McCabe by a decisive 19 percent margin.
Luft defeated Democrat Josh Grys of Pekin, a former teacher, by a 64% to 36% margin.
"I am humbled by the election results and appreciate the support from all throughout the district who made this victory possible," said Luft. "Illinois' problems are pressing, but I look forward to getting our economy back on track, balancing the state's budget, and enacting ethics reform."
"I truly don’t know what the future holds for me at this moment," said Grys. "I will continue to work to make a difference in our state and our country. I want to make life better for our people, and will be working with my team and family in deciding what that looks like."
Unes has represented the district since 2010, when he defeated eight-term Democratic incumbent Mike Smith of Canton. The 91st was once a Democratic bastion in west-Central Illinois, but the district which includes portions of Peoria, Tazewell, and Fulton counties has grown redder over the past decade.
Unes was one of just a handful of Republicans who bucked former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner in ending the state's two-year-long budget impasse in 2017.
The East Peorian announced he was taking a executive post at UnityPoint Health-Methodist's philanthropic arm soon after announcing his retirement from politics.
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