Dan McConchie appointed to fill Dan Duffy's seat in Illinois' 26th Senate District

BARRINGTON – After narrowly winning in the three-way Republican primary race last month, Dan McConchie was appointed Wednesday to be the new state senator for Illinois' 26th Senate District.

McConchie, of Hawthorn Woods, was sworn in by Lake County Judge Daniel Shanes before vowing to fight for those who feel left out of the process in Springfield, according to a news release from the Illinois State Senate.

"Far too long our politicians have ignored the people and simply done whatever benefited them and the special interests who support them," McConchie stated in the release. "This has to come to an end."

McConchie led the primary race against Casey Urlacher and Martin McLaughlin, and as of now, has no Democratic opponent in November's general election.

With the appointment, McConchie fills the seat of former Republican Sen. Dan Duffy, who limited himself to two terms in office and stepped down to take a job as president and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America, a Chicago-based nonprofit. Duffy, of Lake Barrington, endorsed McConchie in the race.

McConchie served eight years in the Army National Guard as both an infantryman and a military policeman before a 2007 crash with a hit-and-run driver caused him to now use a wheelchair.

"I am excited to drive down to Springfield first thing [Thursday] morning to join those other reform-minded legislators who are actively working to return power back to the people and get our state on the right track again," he said in the release.

Illinois' 26th Senate District covers southeastern McHenry and southwestern Lake County, as well as portions of Kane and Cook counties, including Algonquin, Crystal Lake, Cary, Fox River Grove, Carpentersville, Barrington, Kildeer, Lake in the Hills, Lake Zurich, Libertyville, Long Grove, Mundelein, Oakwood Hills, Vernon Hills, Deer Park, Green Oaks, Hawthorn Woods, Hoffman Estates and Island Lake.