Tyson-Dunne leads Wehrle in DuPage forest preserve District 2 race

Tina Tyson-Dunne, a Democrat, led Republican William "Bill" Wehrle with 15,204 votes, or 63.5%, to Wehrle's 8,747 votes, or 36.5%, in the DuPage County Forest Preserve Board District 2 race on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

The margin stood at 6,457 votes out of 23,951 counted, according to unofficial results from the DuPage County Clerk. The count is not complete.

Tyson-Dunne, the incumbent, has held the District 2 seat since December 2020, according to the Forest Preserve District's board page. She is a Lombard resident and certified master naturalist.

What was at stake

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is governed by a seven-member board of commissioners that oversees roughly 26,000 acres of woodlands, prairies, wetlands and waterways across 60 forest preserves. The board approved a $151 million budget for 2026, a 5% increase over the prior year, with $69.6 million earmarked for capital projects.

That spending plan includes habitat restoration at Springbrook Prairie in Naperville.

The key issues:

• Tyson-Dunne's stated priorities include habitat preservation and restoration, solar energy projects, trail improvements and accessibility to preserves for residents.
• Wehrle ran as the sole Republican candidate for the seat, according to Shaw Local. The DuPage County GOP listed him as its District 2 candidate.
• The board's 2026 budget directs capital spending toward infrastructure and natural-area restoration across the county, work that the District 2 commissioner votes on directly.

For Naperville residents who use Springbrook Prairie and other DuPage forest preserves, the District 2 seat carries a vote on how those lands are maintained and expanded.

A little history

Tyson-Dunne was first elected to the District 2 seat in November 2020. She faced a contested Democratic primary in March, with challengers Jacalynn "Jax" West and Dana Moreau also filing for the party's nomination, according to Shaw Local. Wehrle, a Lombard resident, was the only Republican to file for the seat.

Districts 1, 2 and 5 were all up for election in 2026 under a staggered schedule set after all six district seats appeared on the 2022 ballot.

What's next

The results remain unofficial until the DuPage County Clerk completes the canvass. County results must be certified by Nov. 24. Mail ballots postmarked by Election Day count if received by Nov. 17, according to Democracy Sentry.

Election results: DuPage County Forest Preserve Board - District 2 (Illinois General Election, 2026-11-03)

Source: DuPage County Clerk. Results current as of Nov. 3, 2026, 8:52 p.m. CST. Reporting: 0 of 113. Unofficial results; the count is not complete.