Democratic Party of DuPage County Announces Public Meeting and Application Process to Fill 42nd House District Vacancy

Meeting set for Sunday, Oct. 12 at 1:30 p.m.; applications due Thursday, Oct. 9 at 5:00 p.m.

CAROL STREAM, Ill. — The Democratic Party of DuPage County (DPDC) today announced the process and timeline to fill the Illinois House District 42 seat, which will be vacant following the resignation of Rep. Terra Costa Howard effective Oct. 2 at 12 p.m. CT. Rep. Costa Howard is leaving office after her appointment as a Resident Circuit Judge in the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, Fifth Subcircuit.

Public Meeting to Fill the Vacancy
Date/Time: Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. CT
Location: College of DuPage — Health & Science Center, Lecture Hall 1234 (HSC 1234), 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137.
Format: Meeting is open to the public for observation; no public comment will be taken. Applicants will have the opportunity to deliver a 3‑minute statement.

How to Apply
What to send: Resume and letter of interest
Where: info@dupagedemocrats.com
Deadline: Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. CT.

Eligibility note: Under state law, the appointee must be a member of the same political party as the departing officeholder and otherwise eligible to serve in the General Assembly.

Appointment Process
Who appoints: In accordance with 10 ILCS 5/25‑6, the Representative Committee for House District 42—composed of DPDC Chair Reid McCollum and two appointed members—will fill the vacancy at the Oct. 12 meeting. The other members of the Committee are Dyan Page, Chair of the York Township Democratic Organization and Dennis Terdy, former Chair of the Democratic Party of Milton Township.

Statement from DPDC Chair Reid McCollum
“We’re committed to a transparent, equitable process that gives every eligible Democrat in HD‑42 a fair opportunity to be considered. We invite interested community members to apply and to share their vision for serving this district.”

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