Eric Rinehart

Update: Lake County DA Eric Rinehart won the 2020 general election with nearly 52% of the vote. 

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State Attorneys have an enormous impact on Black communities. They have the power to decide who gets prosecuted and the severity of each prosecution. Under current State Attorney Mike Nerheim, police misconduct and wrongful convictions have sent innocent people to prison for decades and cost taxpayers millions in lawsuits. 

Black and Latinx people— despite making up just 29% of the population— accounted for over 54% of the county’s jail population in 2018. After years of unjust prosecutions, Lake County deserves a progressive State’s Attorney.

Eric Rinehart (D) is a former public defender who has dedicated his career serving the people of Illinois. As an experienced attorney, he understands the unique problems facing Lake County, and is dedicated to building a fairer justice system for our community.

As State Attorney, Eric Rinehart will:

• Expand treatment courts and diversion programs so people can be rehabilitated, not criminalized.
• Require annual training to address racial bias in prosecutor’s charging decisions.
• Create pathways for residents to rebuild their lives, by helping expunge and seal their records.
• Increase transparency by publishing case data so anyone can review prosecutorial decisions.

Vote Eric Rinehart for Lake County State Attorney on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. You must be a registered voter to participate in this election. Register to vote today or check your registration status with the Lake County Clerk’s Office. 

You don’t need to wait until November to vote! In person early voting begins up to 40 days before the election. You can also vote by mail to cast your ballot safely and securely. The state is mailing absentee-ballot applications to most voters. Election day polling locations will open on November 3 from 6 AM to 7 PM. To find your nearest polling place, visit the county clerk’s website.