10th Judicial Circuit race: Cusack (R), Vespa (D) face off in 2026 general election
PEORIA (25News Now) - Two Peoria-area candidates are competing for a seat on the 10th Judicial Circuit Court in the 2026 general election: Republican incumbent Tim Cusack and Democrat Mike Vespa. Both are running unopposed in the March 17 primary.
The 10th Judicial Circuit covers five counties: Marshall, Putnam, Stark, Tazewell and Peoria. The circuit has 10 circuit judges and 11 associate judges. Circuit judges serve six-year terms.
Cusack was appointed to the bench to complete the term of Judge John Vespa — Mike Vespa’s uncle — who retired in 2024. Cusack first took the bench in 2013 following 23 years as a prosecutor, public defender and private attorney.
“These are courtrooms where the controversy is very, very important to the person that brings the case in front of the judge,” Cusack said. “You don’t want somebody learning on the job, and that wouldn’t be me. That’s why I’m running, again, for this position.”
https://www.25newsnow.com/2026/03/12/10th-judicial-circuit-race-cusack-vespa-face-off-2026-general-election/?outputType=amp