Michael P. Vespa
Democratic
Biography
No campaign website was found as of September 25, 2026.
Putnam County, Illinois
Circuit Court, 10th Judicial Circuit, Vacancy of Hon. Vespa
Putnam County, Illinois
Circuit Court, 10th Judicial Circuit, Vacancy of Hon. Vespa
2 candidates are tracked for Circuit Court, 10th Judicial Circuit, Vacancy of Hon. Vespa on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Michael P. Vespa and Timothy J. Cusack. Candidate information follows official Putnam County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
About this race
Michael P. Vespa and Timothy J. Cusack are on the November 3, 2026 ballot to fill a vacancy on the 10th Judicial Circuit Court (the seat vacated by the Hon. Vespa). The 10th Judicial Circuit covers Marshall, Peoria, Putnam, Stark and Tazewell counties; every voter there votes on this seat. Illinois circuit judgeships are decided in contested partisan elections, unlike judicial retention questions. Listed from the Illinois State Board of Elections' certified 2026 general election candidate list.
What this office does
Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.