Who is running for DuPage County Board District 1 (2-Year Term) in 2026?

DuPage County Board District 1 (2-Year Term): 2026 Candidates & Ballot

2 candidates are tracked for DuPage County Board District 1 (2-Year Term) on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Melissa Villanueva and Paula Pezza. Candidate information follows official Dupage County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

Melissa Villanueva won the Democratic nomination with 64.21 percent of the vote over Maria Sinkule (20.80 percent) and Nicholas R. Panicola, Jr. (14.99 percent); Paula Pezza ran unopposed for the Republican nomination, in the March 17 primary. They meet on the November 3 ballot for this open seat, per the county's official canvass.

Melissa Villanueva

Democratic

Melissa Villanueva is a resident of Elmhurst, per Daily Herald. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Melissa Villanueva.

Paula Pezza

Republican

Paula Pezza is a licensed real estate broker with more than 35 years in the industry who has served as designated managing broker of her family's Elmhurst office for the past decade, per campaign site. Pezza previously served as an Elmhurst alderman from 2009 to 2013 and holds a Seniors Real Estate Specialist designation, per campaign site.

2026 priorities (per the campaign site)

Supports competitive bidding, efficiency measures and intergovernmental agreements to reduce government waste
Wants to strengthen public safety services and infrastructure in partnership with law enforcement, fire and other first responders
Points to a pandemic-era small-business support initiative and business-district redevelopment work as priorities for local economic growth

Source: candidate campaign site.

Campaign site →