Local papers from 1980 and 2008 captured national election moments
Archives from Lake County newspapers show how voters in Grundy, DeKalb, McHenry, and La Salle counties reacted to the presidential wins of Reagan and Obama.
By Bianca Herrera ·
Four newspapers published on Nov. 5, 1980, and Nov. 5, 2008, documented the presidential victories of Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. The editions, preserved in the archives of Shaw Media, record how voters in four Illinois counties voted alongside the national electorate during those historic contests.
In 1980, the Morris Daily Herald reported that Reagan was a "big winner" in Grundy County. The front page noted that local voters followed the national trend to cut the state Legislature. Congressman Corcoran defeated his challenger in the 15th Congressional District, while one incumbent county board member lost their re-election bid. State legislator Christensen won a third term in the same cycle.
The Daily Chronicle in DeKalb described the result as a "Landslide win for Reagan" over Jimmy Carter. The paper noted that the county backed most state and national trends. Editorial analysis by Grush characterized the local results as a mixed bag, with the paper publishing full breakdowns of votes for legislative, judicial, and county board seats.
The 2008 Northwest Herald edition marked the election of Barack Obama as the country's first Black president. The paper reported that Obama carried McHenry County. Local Democrats gained two new seats on the county board. Incumbent state's attorney Bianchi won a second term, and voters in Harvard District 50 passed a referendum. The front page also covered celebrations in Chicago.
The Times in Ottawa led with the headline "Making history: 'Yes we can'" to describe the national outcome. The paper noted that Obama's hometown was giddy with the milestone victory. Locally, La Salle County Board Chairman Jerry Hicks won the first county board chairman election. The front page also included coverage of a Marquette High School open house and reader-submitted holiday memories.
These four front pages serve as a record of the specific ballot measures and local races that occurred on the same days as the national presidential elections. The archives document the shifting political alignments in Grundy, DeKalb, McHenry, and La Salle counties across nearly three decades.
