Judy Baar-Topinka captured the Republican nomination to run for governor this fall against encumbent Rod Blagojevich.   With 9,948 of 11,700 precincts counted, Topinka had 38 percent edging out Jim Oberweis who had 32 percent. State Sen. Bill Brady had 19 percent and Chicago businessman Ron Gidwitz had 11 percent.

Blagojevich captured 70 percent of the vote to challenger Edwin Eisendrath's 30 percent with 9,948 of 11,700 precincts counted.  The governor's relatively low percentage against a political unknown suggests that he may be vulnerable against Topinka in this fall's election.

In local elections, Woodford County Sheriff Jim Pierceall beat Eureka police officer Chris Shoemaker, 2,894 to 2,370.  Woodford County Treasurer Shirley Miller beat challenger Floyd Sherry Jr., 3,451 to 1,557 and incumbent County Clerk Debbie Harms, appointed in December to fill the vacancy created by Peggy Rapp's resignation, defeated challenger Richard Arnold, 3,823 to 1,109.

Winners of the Republican ballot for Woodford County offices were unchallenged by Democratic nominees and are, therefore, effectively elected to their office since they will be running un-opposed in the fall election.

Kenneth Uphoff of Kappa, Thomas Evans of Benson, and Tom Janssen of Minonk won nominations to the Woodford County Board.