Cook County Board President Candidates Clash Over Budgets, Taxes, and Trump

Incumbent Toni Preckwinkle and challenger Ald. Brendan Reilly highlight differing approaches in first televised debate

Feb. 22, 2026 at 12:15pm

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Democratic candidates for Cook County Board president Toni Preckwinkle and Ald. Brendan Reilly clashed over a range of issues including President Trump, tax policies, and a costly technology upgrade in their first televised debate. Preckwinkle, the four-term incumbent, repeatedly tried to steer the conversation to her efforts to fight back against Trump, while Reilly, a more conservative-leaning Democrat, hammered on problems with the county's technology upgrade and Preckwinkle's ties to Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Why it matters

The Cook County Board president oversees the 17-member county board, forest preserves, and budgets for the county's massive health system, courts and jail. The debate highlighted the stark differences between the two candidates’ approaches to governing, with Preckwinkle taking a more progressive stance and Reilly positioning himself as a more business-friendly, tough-on-crime candidate.

The details

Preckwinkle attacked Reilly for having a ‘longstanding relationship with’ Trump, and ripped the alderman for what she said was his failure to call out the president’s targeting of Democratic strongholds and his federal funding reductions. Reilly responded by showing a photo of himself standing with Gov. JB Pritzker as evidence of his opposition to Trump. The two also clashed over the county’s costly technology upgrade, with Reilly criticizing the $122 million in lost investment and borrowing costs borne by school and library districts due to late tax bills and distributions. Preckwinkle defended the upgrade as a complex and urgent one that past leaders refused to tackle.

  • The Fox 32 debate took place on Tuesday night.

The players

Toni Preckwinkle

The four-term incumbent Cook County Board president and leader of the county’s Democratic Party.

Ald. Brendan Reilly

The challenger for the Cook County Board president seat, a business-backed, more conservative-leaning Democrat who currently serves as an alderman.

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States, whose policies and actions were a major point of contention between the two candidates.

Brandon Johnson

The current mayor of Chicago, whose relationship with Preckwinkle was criticized by Reilly.

JB Pritzker

The governor of Illinois, who was shown in a photo with Reilly as evidence of his opposition to Trump.

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What they’re saying

“I'll stand up to Donald Trump at least as effectively as Toni.”

— Ald. Brendan Reilly (Chicago Tribune)

“When immigration agents were 'snatching people, kidnapping people without due process, sending them to detention centers around the country, and in foreign gulags, he didn't say anything either.”

— Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Board President (Chicago Tribune)

“I'm not sure why my opponent wants to see these people walking around our streets.”

— Ald. Brendan Reilly (Chicago Tribune)

“Unlike you, Toni, I can actually admit when I made a mistake.”

— Ald. Brendan Reilly (Chicago Tribune)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The debate highlighted the stark ideological differences between the two candidates, with Preckwinkle taking a more progressive stance on issues like immigration and criminal justice reform, while Reilly positioned himself as a more conservative, tough-on-crime candidate. Voters will have to weigh these contrasting visions as they choose the next Cook County Board president.