Election results in Champaign County considered “final”

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, IL (Chambana Today) – In one of Central Illinois’ closest mayoral races, Sam Hall unseated three-term incumbent Chuck Smith by just 34 votes — 684 to 650 — becoming Rantoul’s first African American mayor. Hall now joins Terrence Stuber in Tolono and DeShawn Williams in Urbana as part of a historic wave of new leadership breaking barriers across the region.

Also making history: Shauna Clayborn, who became the first woman of color elected to represent Champaign’s City Council District 3. She defeated Jamar Brown 1,098 to 813.

In another high-profile race, Fatima Ahmed emerged as the top vote-getter in a crowded field of 11 candidates for Champaign school board, collecting 6,886 votes in a race for two-year seats. She’ll serve alongside fellow winners Christy Arnold (6,249), Tony Bruno, Justin Michael Hendrix, and Grace Kang.

Meanwhile, Democrats swept all six contested Champaign Township races, including Leah Taylor winning supervisor. Kevin Flynn secured the clerk position, and the four board seats went to Jessica Shortz, Sanford Hess, Rob Ore, and Alan Joyce — giving Democrats a clean 6–0 record over Republican incumbents.

Lastly, the City of Champaign Township’s property tax proposal to support the Strides Shelter did not pass by a 56.8% to 43.1% margin.