Patch editor Charlotte Eriksen contributed to this report
Republican Jeanne Ives captured the 42nd State Representative District seat and defeated Democrat William Adams on Tuesday.
Adams won a projected 19,298 votes to Ives' 31,057 votes. Ives, a Wheaton City Councilwoman, said in an October candidate forum she promises to protect taxpayers from corruption that runs "rampant" in Springfield.
Ives said she plans to take her experience working on Wheaton City Council down to Springfield.
"[I bring] a vast understanding of how the State impacts not only buisness owners, but municipalities and their ability to actually make the decisions that they want to at the local level."
Ives added that a large part of her victory was due to the conservative "nature of the district" after the remapping of the district as well as the hard work of her campaign.
"We reached out to voters and I was able to speak sincerely and truthfully to people at the doorstep and we worked hard for this victory," she said on Tuesday night. "And my message resonated with them, they're looking for somebody who can sincerely do the work that needs to be done."
The 42nd District covers portions of Carol Stream, West Chicago, Winfield, Wheaton, Warrenville, Lisle, Naperville and Woodridge. The term lasts two years.
Ives has a bachelor's degree in Economics from the United States Military Academy at West Point. She currently lives in Wheaton with her husband Paul and her five children, Matt, Nick, Andrew, Joe and Louisa.