The following email has been received from 26th district Democratic Party state senatorial candidate Bill Gentes:

“On election night we were all unable to celebrate the win we all worked hard for so I would like to invite all of you come share a glass of champagne with me at 6:30 on Saturday March 15th at 6:30pm.

“After we drink a few toasts I want to talk about the upcoming campaign and what we are going to be doing and how you can help me get elected.

“I promise to have you all out by 8:00 that evening. So please join me at my headquarters for this important occasion.”

The headquarters is at 452 N Cedar Lake Road in Round Lake. For details, call 847-740-0043.

Democrat Gentes and Republican Dan Duffy are contesting to succeed State Senator Bill Peterson.

As you can see from the primary election returns, Gentes beat North Barrington’s Richard Hammes by 12,777 to 9,297.

Gentes got 57% of the vote (about the same percentage by which McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi beat Dan Regna.)

Adding up the partisan primary results shows that the GOP lost this district by 749 votes.

The Democrats got 50.9% of the total.

Gentes has informed me he is knocking on doors already.

362, as of a week ago.

I saw Duffy at the Nunda Township 8th congressional district debate and got the photo you see to the left.

The one of Gentes at the top I got at the January meeting of the McHenry County Democratic Party Central Committee meeting at the McHenry County Farm Bureau Building in Woodstock.