47th District State Rep Race: Mazzochi Faces Zordani

HINSDALE, IL — Both candidates for state representative in the 47th House District are performing distancing acts. The election is Tuesday.

The incumbent, Deanne Mazzochi, R-Elmhurst, is trying everything she can to tie her opponent, Jennifer Zordani, D-Clarendon Hills, with House Speaker Michael Madigan. This tactic is common in battleground races in the suburbs, especially now that Madigan is embroiled in a scandal involving ComEd.

Similarly, Zordani is attempting to keep distance from Madigan. She declines to say whether she would support Madigan as speaker, even though he has drawn a rare challenger this time around.

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Mazzochi has a problem, too — President Donald Trump. Polls show Republicans are in trouble in suburbia because of Trump, particularly with suburban women.

In early October, Patch asked Mazzochi in a face-to-face interview whom she supported for president. She declined to say.

Both state representative candidates have problems with their distancing acts. Patch has found that Democratic organizations under Madigan's control have given hundreds of thousands of dollars to Zordani's campaign.

Asked whether she would support Madigan's opponent for speaker, Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, Zordani told Patch, "I have three weeks of an intense race left. I will stay focused on that."

While she refrains from discussing Trump now, Mazzochi had plenty to say about the president on Facebook in 2016 — all in support. She said Trump "loves America." And she referred to Trump's theory about the "deep state."

"If you favor liberty then the President should be a white, male Republican. Because only then will the Deep State and the Media keep him in check," she wrote.

Mazzochi, who then headed the College of DuPage board, also had opinions about Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton back then.

"We just had a president who was clearly in it to get historic revenge against 'colonialist white men.' Now we're supposed to elect a revenge-hungry shrew who wants to punish all men in general? No thanks," Mazzochi wrote.

Before Patch reported those comments, Illinois' richest man, Ken Griffin, gave Mazzochi's campaign $200,000.

Asked afterward about the comments, Griffin's spokesman said they do not represent the hedge fund manager's values.

Mazzochi's campaign has not returned Patch's requests for comment.

Elected in 2018, Mazzochi defeated Democrat Jim Caffrey with 51.5 percent of the vote. The district has been in GOP hands for decades. The district includes Elmhurst, Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills and Western Springs.

Check other stories about 47th House District candidates Deanne Mazzochi and Jennifer Zordani:

Mazzochi's Sterigenics Vote Criticized

Mazzochi Receives Special Interest Money

Why Did Elmhurst Lawmaker Avoid Taking Stand On Issue?

Elmhurst-Area Democrat Says Madigan 'Face of Machine Politics'

Madigan Donates Big To Elmhurst-Area Democrat

Election 2020: The basics:

• Election date: Nov. 3
• Registration deadline(s): Nov. 3 (in person); Oct. 18 (online)
• Same-day registration: Yes
• Early voting started: Sept. 24 (ends Nov. 2)
• Absentee/mail voting deadline(s): Nov. 3 (postmarked); Nov. 17 (received)