By Ray Hanania
Elections are always contentious, but as Americans, we must cast a vote to select our leaders. The March 17 election is a primary, meaning that voters in each party can determine which candidates should represent their party, Democrats or Republicans.
Here are more of my endorsements in the Democratic and Republican Primary elections on March 17, 2026.
Regardless of who you vote for, make sure to vote!
Patricia Joan “Trish” Murphy for Cook County Commissioner 6th District
In the race for the Cook County Board in the 6th Cook County District, I support Patricia Joan “Trish” Murphy.
Trish Murphy has long been active in the Southwest Suburbs and is the daughter of Joan Murphy, a former Cook County Commissioner who was active in public service for more than 50 years.
As Worth Township Democratic Committeewoman, Trish Murphy has always been an active advocate of local businesses, opposed property tax increases, and has been supportive of the Arab and Muslim community, which over the past two decades has increased its presence in the region.
The Arab and Muslim aspect of this race is of particular interest because she is being challenged by Wesam Shahed, someone I have met a few times as a community member, but not as a regional activist.
As an Arab American myself, I don’t vote based on affinity. I vote based on loyalty and dedication to the interests of the voters. Loyalty of the official to the taxpayers. And the loyalty of the taxpayers to good public leaders.
I’ve known Trish Mauprhy for many years. And during that time, she has always been supportive of the Arab American and Muslim community, speaking out in defense of local business people.
She has also been a very effective leader for the entire community.
Trish Murphy has my strong endorsement for the Democratic Nomination for Cook County Board in the 6th District.
Get more information on Trish Murphy here.
Elizabeth “Liz” Gorman for Orland Township Republican Committeeperson
In the race for Orland Township Republican Committeeperson, I support Elizabeth “Liz” Gorman.
I have known Liz Gorman for more than three decades. We didn’t start out as allies, but she quickly proved to be a champion of taxpayer rights when she led a non-partisan fight to reverse the sales tax increase.
Gorman has always been a smart and effective Republican who knows how to work to get what the taxpayers need. Her priority has always been to stop rising taxes on taxpayers.
That’s what got her targeted by disgraced former Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau.
You remember Pekau, the guy who stumbled into public office when longtime Mayor Dan McLaughlin made a mistake in trying to push through a wage hike and pension hike for himself in 2017. McLaughlin was first elected Village Trustee in 1983 and elected mayor in 1993. McLaughlin was responsible for implementing the Village Manager form of government, making the mayor a part-time position.
No one knew who Pekau was. His father was a mediocre village trustee years before.
McLaughlin was ousted as mayor because he failed to explain to voters why he wanted to change the job of village mayor from part-time (with the village run by a manager) to full-time. Angry with the unexplained pay and pension hikes, voters voted against McLaughlin.
They didn’t vote “for” Pekau, a local landscaper. Pekau was the indirect, accidental beneficiary of McLaughlin’s controversy. Once in office, he quickly turned his back on the taxpayers.
Power and arrogance immediately went to Pekau’s head. More than that, though, he became very personal in his attacks against anyone who questioned his policies. I don’t need to remind Orland Township voters about the six nightmare years in which Pekau took control of the village.
He was ousted last April after it was disclosed he was pushing through massive contracts for his pals, trying to expand his power from the village to the region, and awarding little-scrutinized big-buck contractors to his supporters, including driving three net TIF districts.
Newly elected Mayor Jim Dodge, a veteran Orland Park trustee and financial expert, told me in an exclusive interview that Pekau had left the Village of Orland Park on a road to accumulating a massive debt of more than $200 million.
Pekau was thrown out of office by a landslide rejection of his pathetic, iron-fisted rule, vicious political rule. Instead of drifting off into the sunset, Pekau continues to attempt to control Orland Park through his eNews”litter,” which he spins truth, pretending he was the village’s greatest leader.
His ego just can’t take it. Everything has always been about him, not the voters, not the businesses, and not the taxpayers.
It’s important that voters who kicked Pekau out last April follow through by kicking out Pekau’s efforts to continue to control the GOP locally. Pekau is pushing Ken Duffy, an Orland Township Trustee, as his candidate.
The big winner in the Republican Party is centrist Republican Liz Gorman, the former anti-tax hike fighter at the Cook County board. If Liz Gorman gets back into party leadership, the GOP will have its first chance at restoring credibility.
Gorman was a moderate former member of the Cook County Board who consistently and successfully fought against tax hikes. She served there from 2002 until 2015, when she left to take a job in the private sector. She always delivered on her promises.
While on the Cook County Board, Gorman opposed the Hotel Occupancy Tax and the Food and Beverage Tax in 2003 and again in 2007. She fought against the cigarette tax hike in 2004 and the additional hike in 2006.
She literally organized the opposition to the sales tax hike in 2008. It led to the successful repeal of that sales tax, reducing it from 1.75 percent to 1.25 percent.
Gorman also served as Chairman of the County GOP from 2007 until 2008, when the Republicans were at their height in the six-county region. Gorman was the Orland Township Republican Committee Chairman until Katsenes took over and put it to sleep in 2022.
Orland Park and Township need to finish the job started last April. It’s important.
Gorman is also running in the March 17, 2026, Republican Primary for the Republican nominee for the 17th Cook County District.
Liz Gorman has my strong endorsement for the Republican nomination for Committeeperson for Orland Township.
Get more information on Liz Gorman by clicking here.
Mike Porfirio for re-election as Illinois State Senator, 11th District
In the race for the Democratic nomination for the 11th Illinois Senate District, I support Mike Porfirio.
State Senator Mike Porfirio is one of the most honest and responsible members of the Illinois legislature, and a proud veteran.
Porfirio was born and raised in Bridgeview in a working-class family and a union household. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland in 2004 and served for over six years on Active Duty. During that time, he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom on secure patrols of the Iraqi Oil Terminals and responded to the Pakistani earthquake relief efforts.
Later, he deployed with the US Navy Hospital Ship Comfort on a humanitarian mission to Central and South America. He served as a Naval Science Instructor and Company Officer at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana. While there, he earned a Master of Arts in Political Science and would later earn an MBA from the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he first met his future wife.
After leaving Active Duty, Porfirio returned to his hometown and became involved in local government and politics. He began working for the Village of Bridgeview part-time and later full-time in a variety of roles, including Deputy Clerk, property manager, and administrative aide.
Porfirio was appointed to be the Cook County representative of the Justice-Willow Springs Water Commission in 2011 and was elected to the Bedford Park District in 2013. Shortly after taking office, he was recalled to Active Duty to serve as the Senior US Military Advisor to the Afghan National Police – Intelligence as part of a NATO Training Mission Afghanistan team. He was awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
Upon his return, Porfirio was the Public Works Director in Bridgeview and served as the part-time Village Administrator in the Village of Summit. He was elected as a Township of Lyons Trustee and also served as the Township Clerk. He continues to serve in the US Navy Reserve and holds the rank of Commander, and has commanded multiple units during his career.
Porfirio has been a resident of the 11th District his entire life, and his family has roots in the District for over 75 years. He and his wife Alana, have two daughters, Gabriella and Jacqueline, and two dogs, Razzle and Sona.
Porfirio is a true public servant with a reputation as a coalition builder, community organizer, and problem solver. He believes that the people of the 11th District deserve good, effective, and efficient government that will increase access to opportunities, stimulate economic development and growth, and ensure that the working families of the 11th District and throughout Illinois can achieve the American Dream.
Mike Prforio has my strong endorsement for the Democratic Nomination for re-election in the 11th District.
Get more information on Mike Porfirio by clicking this link.
Richard Boykin for Congress in the 7th District
I strongly endorse Richard Boykin for the 7th Congressional District seat held by retiring Congressman Danny Davis.
I first met Danny Davis when he was elected Chicago alderman in the 29th Ward in 1979. That was the election that saw the Chicago Machine, led by Mayor Michael A. Bilandic, collapse under a challenge from former Chicago Commissioner Jane Byrne.
While the Byrne years were politically tumultuous, Davis was a consistent voice of reason and stability. He served from 1979 until 1990, when he was elected to Congress. I was proud to work on Davis’ congressional election campaign in 1992.
One of Congressman Davis’ chief advisers and aides was Richard Boykin. Boykin served as chief of staff and legislative director to U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis from 1997 until 2006,
Boykin later ran and won a seat on the Cook County Board in 2014.
He was a very good commissioner who was responsive to his district.
Richard Boykin was born in Jackson, Mississippi, and raised in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood. He attended Chicago Vocational High School and accepted an athletic scholarship to Central State University in Ohio, graduating Magna Cum Laude before earning a law degree from the University of Dayton. After spending a year as a Chicago Public School teacher, Richard worked as a Congressional Black Caucus fellow for former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun and served as an LBJ intern for U.S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush on education issues.
As chief of staff and legislative director to Congressman Davis, he was responsible for a staff of 22 professionals and was Rep. Davis’s liaison to federal, state, county, and city officials. In addition, Richard has worked with the members and staff of the Congressional Black Caucus on multiple issues. In August 2011, while a Partner at the law firm Barnes & Thornburg, Richard was appointed to the Business Enterprise Council by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, a long-time 7th Congressional Resident.
On the Cook County board, Boykin was elected to represent the 1st District of Cook County, comprised of the West Side of Chicago and the near West Cook Suburbs.
As Commissioner, Richard doggedly pursued practical measures at the County level to reduce gun violence. He partnered with the Cook County Sheriff, local police chiefs, and members of the community to find and implement a range of solutions, including investments in restorative justice and mental health.
Boykin worked tirelessly to bring resources back to the First District. He forged partnerships between community groups and government entities, resulting in over $42 million in county funds being invested in the First District. He strengthened relationships between business owners, corporations, and the community to create job training programs and scholarships.
Richard also stood up repeatedly against corruption, advocating for greater transparency and integrity at all levels of government. Richard demanded a Department of Justice investigation into allegations of human and civil rights violations at the Homan Square Police site. In 2015, Richard passed an ordinance that banned county law enforcement officials from using chokeholds.
Presently, Richard represents clients in civil matters and advocates for their interests before federal legislative and executive agencies in Washington, D.C. Richard has direct experience pertaining to appropriations, postal, healthcare, education, telecommunications and municipal advocacy, as well as navigating the major committees such as Oversight and Government Reform, Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce.
Having spent decades developing relationships at all levels of government, Richard will know how to secure federal dollars and programs for the 7th District from the moment he is elected to Congress.
There are 13 candidates running for this seat. Several are smart people. But I have known Boykin for many years and have always respected him and his public service. He is the best candidate with the most experience for this office.
Richard Boykin has my strong endorsement for the Democratic Nomination for the 7th Congressional District.
Hi Ray,
I just found out that Keith Pekau's favorite vendor, Tyler Technologies, has not renewed their business license in Illinois.
If I recall correctly, Pekau saddled the village of Orland Park with Tyler Technologies integrated software solutions.
More bad decisions by Keith Pekau that Orland Park residents will be paying for.