Political newcomer Ryan
Higgins' party support appeared to help him defeat rival Anita
Forte-Scott for the 56th District state House Republican nomination
Tuesday night, despite her greater name recognition.
With 56 of 78 precincts reporting, Higgins was leading by a margin of 3,122 to 1,295, getting 70.7 percent of the total vote.
"I'm really honored that Republicans and independents in the district spoke so strongly for something new," Ryan said.
In November's general election, Higgins will face
another newcomer, Democrat Michelle Mussman, who was unopposed in the
primary. Democratic incumbent Paul Froehlich announced last year that
he would not seek re-election.
Ryan said his message then as now will be fiscal responsibility and job creation.
Forte-Scott said Tuesday night her run was aimed at
bringing reform to the Republican party, but that she was open to
learning more about Higgins' positions before November. While she did
not promise to personally support him, she said she remains truly
Republican and would continue to help those Republican candidates she
knows well, like 28th District state Sen. John Millner.
Higgins, 28, is a health care attorney and Fremd High School graduate who moved to Schaumburg in September 2008.
Forte-Scott, 40, is a preschool and day care
administrator as well as a second-term trustee of the Schaumburg
Township District Library board.
After being defeated by Democratic incumbent Paul
Froehlich in the 2008 state House race, Forte-Scott lost the
endorsement of Republican party leaders in the 2010 primary.
Higgins, who once worked as a staffer for former U.S.
Sen. Peter Fitzgerald, campaigned on behalf of Forte-Scott in 2008. But
within a year after her defeat, he had risen through the ranks as the
designated best hope for Republican leaders to reclaim the 56th
District seat, which had been held by the Republicans until Froelich
switched parties about three years ago.
Based on his professional background, Higgins gave a
series of speeches in 2008 unfavorably comparing then Sen. Barack
Obama's health care plan to Sen. John McCain's. Higgins said his
professional insight led him to present himself as the "health care
candidate" in the race, but thought it indicative of his more general
philosophy that problems aren't solved by growing government.