Margaret DeLaRosa for Illinois 42nd House Democratic primary

The 42nd District, which includes all or parts of suburbs such as Downers Grove, Glen Ellyn, Lisle, Lombard and Wheaton, is represented by Margaret DeLaRosa; DeLaRosa, 63, who served as president of the Glenbard Township School District 87 school board from 2022 to 2025, was appointed to the seat last October to fill the term of Terra Costa Howard, who became a judge. DeLaRosa, who we’ve heard is a particularly kind person, was endorsed by, among others, U.S. Rep. Sean Casten.

His challenger in the primary race is Lynn LaPlante, a DuPage County board member and professional musician with extensive union support. She defended a project aimed at redeveloping the current exhibition center into an artistic complex. LaPlante, 53, told us she supports a new tax in Illinois on the “ultra-rich,” which we don’t agree with, but many of her positions struck us as reasoned and thoughtful, including her views on the SAFE-T Act. We haven’t discerned a huge difference on the issues between these two candidates, although LaPlante is slightly to the left of the moderate DeLaRosa and probably seems more of a fighter to us.

DeLaRosa, however, has deep roots in this district and an excellent local reputation among his district’s party faithful. Margaret DeLaRosa is approved.

Read all of the Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsements for Illinois’ 2026 primary elections here.

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