Voters in suburbs around Chicago cast their ballots in Tuesday’s municipal elections, weighing in on everything from mayor to school board members. 

Morning Shift host Tony Sarabia talks to Kerry Lester, a columnist and senior writer at the Daily Herald, about the results in key races across the suburbs, including Palatine, where transgender rights dominated the local school board race, and Bolingbrook, where the normally sleepy race for mayor drew national attention after the incumbent held a fundraiser last year for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. 

Here are some interview highlights. 

Bolingbrook’s mayoral race still too close to call

On Wednesday morning, incumbent Roger Claar narrowly led in a tight race against union organizer Jackie Traynere that marked Claar’s first big challenge since he took office in 1986. This normally sleepy election captured national attention after Claar held a fundraiser for Donald Trump during last year’s presidential election.

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Lester: He certainly got a run for his money, but was it that backlash that people expected? I don’t know. We’re going to drill down today and look at precinct by precinct breakdown.

Aurora elected the city’s first African-American mayor

Richard C. Irvin won in a historic race against Richard “Rick” Guzman.

Lester: Economic development was just a huge issue in the race and what they’re going to do. Renewals of the edge tax credit programs and development of TIF districts were something that came up during the race. I think both mayoral candidates presented a plan for that but Irvin’s message came across loud and clear.

Voters show support for Palatine school district’s policy on transgender students’ use of bathrooms

Incumbents Bob LeFevre Jr. and Anna Klimkowicz, and former board member Ed Yung defeated a slate of candidates opposed to Palatine High School District 211’s policy allowing transgender students to use locker rooms and bathrooms corresponding to their gender identity.

Lester: Voters went with the moderate voices and they chose incumbents over challengers. There was this giant flap over the district’s policy for transgender students and the use of locker rooms and restrooms. … I think that voters expressed that they want to move away from that consternation and they’re somewhat supportive of what the district approved.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. For full analysis of the election results, press ‘play’ above.