Sutker, who placed second, had been slated by the Cook County Democratic Party organization as its endorsed candidate in the race.

[8] James E. O'Grady Republican Michael F. Sheahan Democratic In the 1990 Cook County Sheriff election, incumbent first-term sheriff James E. O'Grady, a Republican, was defeated by Democrat Michael F. Sheahan.

Corruption allegations took a toll on incumbent Republican James E. O'Grady's prospects for reelection.

[9] O'Grady ultimately had failed to live up to his 1986 campaign promises of disposing of politics and corruption in the Cook County Sheriff's Office, and had become unpopular among his constituents.

[10] O'Grady suffered one of biggest defeats that a Republican Party nominee had experienced in a countywide Cook County election in years.

[11] Within the city of Chicago, O'Grady even trailed Harold Washington Party nominee Tommy Brewer, who was considered a political unknown.

[11] Cecil A. Partee Democratic Jack O'Malley Republican In the 1990 Cook County State's Attorney special election, incumbent state's attorney Cecil A. Partee, a Democrat appointed in 1989 after Richard M. Daley resigned to serve as mayor of Chicago, lost reelection to Republican Jack O'Malley.

[7] Phelan did not have a strong political organization, but ran a multimillion-dollar campaign with heavy investment in television advertising.

[7] He defeated former Illinois Appellate judge R. Eugene Pincham, Cook County clerk Stanley Kusper, and state senator Ted Lechowicz.

[1] Partisan elections were held for judgeships on the Circuit Court of Cook County, due to vacancies.