The Ballot Brief
Tazewell County, Illinois

Circuit Court, 10th Judicial Circuit, Vacancy of Hon. Vespa

As of November 4, 2026, WCBU Peoria reported that Michael P. Vespa won Circuit Court, 10th Judicial Circuit, Vacancy of Hon. Vespa; the result is unofficial until Illinois certifies it on December 4. Vespa and Cusack were on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Names follow official Tazewell County election filings. Certified results will appear here once the election office certifies the count. Illinois certifies the general election by December 4, 2026; county canvasses are due November 24. Official results: www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx.

About this race

Michael P. Vespa and Timothy J. Cusack are on the November 3, 2026 ballot to fill a vacancy on the 10th Judicial Circuit Court (the seat vacated by the Hon. Vespa). The 10th Judicial Circuit covers Marshall, Peoria, Putnam, Stark and Tazewell counties; every voter there votes on this seat. Illinois circuit judgeships are decided in contested partisan elections, unlike judicial retention questions. Listed from the Illinois State Board of Elections' certified 2026 general election candidate list.

What this office does

Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.

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Illinois › Tazewell County › Circuit Court, 10th Judicial Circuit, Vacancy of Hon. Vespa

Who won? The official answer comes December 4.

Illinois makes results final in three steps.
✓
Done · Nov 3
Votes were cast and counted
Election night totals are a first count, not the final one.
2
Happening now · by Nov 24
Tazewell County double-checks its count
The county reviews mail ballots, provisional ballots and any recount, then sends official totals to the state.
3
Next · Dec 4
Illinois makes it official
The State Board of Elections certifies the result. The winner appears on this page that day.

What local news is reporting

Not official yetUpdated November 4, 2026

This report is cited to the outlet that published it. We do not call races. Official running count: Illinois official results.

Circuit Court, 10th Judicial Circuit, Vacancy of Hon. Vespa
Michael P. Vespa won the race for Circuit Court, 10th Judicial Circuit, Vacancy of Hon. Vespa, WCBU Peoria reported.WCBU Peoria, “Vespa secures victory in race for Peoria County judgeship”, November 4, 2026. Unofficial until certified.

Reports are checked daily until Illinois certifies on December 4; a certified winner replaces the report on that day.

Michael P. Vespa

Democratic

Biography

No campaign website was found as of September 25, 2026.

Timothy J. Cusack

Republican

Biography

No campaign website was found as of September 25, 2026.

Next on the ballotTazewell County Clerk and Recorder

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Voting info and more

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Circuit Court, 10th Judicial Circuit, Vacancy of Hon. Vespa in 2026?

As of November 4, 2026, WCBU Peoria reported that Michael P. Vespa won Circuit Court, 10th Judicial Circuit, Vacancy of Hon. Vespa; the result is unofficial until Illinois certifies it on December 4. 2 candidates were tracked for Circuit Court, 10th Judicial Circuit, Vacancy of Hon. Vespa on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Michael P. Vespa and Timothy J. Cusack. Candidate information follows official Tazewell County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Circuit Court, 10th Judicial Circuit, Vacancy of Hon. Vespa election in Illinois?

Election Day was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Certified results will appear on this page as the election office certifies them. Illinois certifies the general election by December 4, 2026; county canvasses are due November 24. Official results: https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx. Voting rules for Illinois are on the Illinois election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Tazewell County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Who won the Circuit Court, 10th Judicial Circuit, Vacancy of Hon. Vespa race?

As of November 4, 2026, WCBU Peoria reported that Michael P. Vespa won Circuit Court, 10th Judicial Circuit, Vacancy of Hon. Vespa; the result is unofficial until Illinois certifies it on December 4. Source: WCBU Peoria, "Vespa secures victory in race for Peoria County judgeship", November 4, 2026. We do not call races.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Tazewell County and state election office filings, last verified October 24, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Illinois election office, or see the full Tazewell County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Tazewell County ballot

19 tracked races in Tazewell County, Illinois. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on the November 3 ballot
Tazewell County TreasurerTazewell County SheriffRegional Superintendent of Schools (Regional Office of Education #53)See all 19 Tazewell County races
Candidate profiles
Michael P. Vespa, full profileTimothy J. Cusack, full profileOfficial Illinois election office