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Joseph G. McGraw
Joseph G. McGraw was a judge of the Illinois 17th Circuit Court. He left office on July 5, 2023.
McGraw (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Illinois' 17th Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
McGraw has served as the district's chief judge since January 1, 2012. He was unanimously elected by his fellow circuit judges to succeed Janet R. Holmgren.[1]
Biography
Joseph G. McGraw was born in Illinois and lives in Rockford. McGraw earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois in Champaign and a J.D. from the Northern Illinois University College of Law. His career experience includes working in law enforcement as a prosecutor, private attorney, and judge. During his role as judge, McGraw was elected chairman of the Illinois Conference of Chief Judges.[2]
Elections
2024
See also: Illinois' 17th Congressional District election, 2024
Illinois' 17th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 19 Republican primary)
Illinois' 17th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 19 Democratic primary)
General election
General election for U.S. House Illinois District 17
Incumbent Eric Sorensen defeated Joseph G. McGraw in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 17 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Eric Sorensen (D) | 54.4 | 170,261 |
 | Joseph G. McGraw (R) | 45.6 | 142,567 | |
| Total votes: 312,828 | |||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 17
Incumbent Eric Sorensen advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 17 on March 19, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Eric Sorensen | 100.0 | 28,533 |
| Total votes: 28,533 | |||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 17
Joseph G. McGraw defeated Scott Crowl in the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 17 on March 19, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joseph G. McGraw | 67.6 | 20,223 |
 | Scott Crowl | 32.4 | 9,696 | |
| Total votes: 29,919 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Ray Estrada (R)
Endorsements
McGraw received the following endorsements.
- U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R)
- Congressional Leadership Fund
Pledges
McGraw signed the following pledges.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Joseph G. McGraw did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
McGraw’s campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Restoring Law and Order in Our Neighborhoods and at Our Border The border crisis may begin hundreds of miles away, but the mass amounts of fentanyl pouring into America are killing our community members, and the migrant crisis landing in our towns further burdens our already overloaded social services system. Judge Joe knows what it takes to secure the border and keep Illinois families safe. When Judge Joe is in Congress, Illinois families won't take a backseat to anyone. That's why he'll fight to build the wall, expand border patrol, crack down on the cartels, and ensure those who peddle lethal drugs are put behind bars. Economy In Washington, he’ll stop the out-of-control spending that is driving inflation and crushing family budgets, and he’ll cut taxes on American factories to bring good-paying jobs home. He'll defend family farmers and kill the death tax once and for all. Judge Joe will stand up for us, and restore our district to the economic powerhouse it once was. Clean Up Washington' Taking on China Judge Joe knows Communist China is America’s greatest threat and recognizes Washington politicians have been soft on China for far too long. Judge Joe will crack down on China when they cheat economically and fight to hold them accountable for their role in poisoning Americans with fentanyl. As a prosecutor and judge, Joe knows no good comes when you coddle bad actors. That’s why he’ll ensure America projects strength on the world stage starting with China.[3] |
” |
| —Joseph McGraw’s campaign website (2024)[4] | ||
2014
McGraw was retained to the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court with 83.9 percent of the vote on November 4, 2014. [5]
Evaluations
The Illinois State Bar Association and participating attorneys rated Joseph G. McGraw as Recommended for retention in a 2014 poll.[6]
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Education
McGraw earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois, going on to receive his law degree from Northern Illinois University.[1]
Career
Prior to his judicial appointment in 2002, McGraw was an assistant state's attorney for Warren and Winnebago counties, a partner in the law firm of Turner & McGraw, and the owner of his own firm, The Law Office of Joseph G. McGraw, Ltd.[1]
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 17th Judicial Circuit Court of the State of Illinois, "Hon. Joseph G. McGraw Elected As Chief Judge Commencing January 1, 2012"
- ↑ Judge Joe McGraw for Congress, "About Joe," accessed February 26, 2024
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Judge Joe McGraw for Congress, “Issues,” accessed February 26, 2024
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "List of judges seeking retention in the November 4, 2014 general election," accessed May 8, 2014
- ↑ Illinois State Bar Association, "Judicial Evaluations," October 2014
Federal courts:
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Central District of Illinois, Northern District of Illinois, Southern District of Illinois • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Central District of Illinois, Northern District of Illinois, Southern District of Illinois
State courts:
Illinois Supreme Court • Illinois Appellate Court • Illinois Circuit Court
State resources:
Courts in Illinois • Illinois judicial elections • Judicial selection in Illinois
