Rep. Tom Cross bests Bob Grogan in race for treasurer

State Rep. Tom Cross handily won the Republican nomination for state treasurer in Tuesday night’s primary.

Now he must do battle with a fellow lawmaker if he wants the job Dan Rutherford left behind to run for governor. And moments after the primary race ended, the general election foes came out swinging.

Cross, R-Oswego, faces Sen. Michael Frerichs, D-Champaign, in November. As he claimed the nomination Tuesday night, Cross said Frerichs has joined Gov. Pat Quinn in supporting “budget-busting spending” and “job-crushing regulations.”

Frerichs, a former Champaign County auditor, said Cross touts legislative leadership in Springfield “without real results.”

Cross spoke by phone Tuesday to his primary opponent, DuPage County Auditor Bob Grogan of Downers Grove. Cross led the vote count all night, claiming 57 percent of the vote about 10 p.m. with 90 percent of precincts reporting.

“He probably had a 20-year head start on me,” Grogan said of his opponent Tuesday night.

Cross served 21 years in the Legislature, including 11 as House minority leader.

But Frerichs, like Grogan before him, said he’s more qualified than Cross to be treasurer.