Faulkner has served as commissioner since winning the seat in 2012, while Hoffman has experience serving in an at-large seat on Urbana’s City Council.
Faulkner could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.
No Democrat filed for the seat, so the primary determined the winner.
“I knew it would be tough running against an incumbent,” Hoffman said. “It was a close race.”
Before the election, Faulkner touted his experience over the past four years, saying it will make him a better commissioner. He has said the current group of commissioners has worked well together on various projects, including a collaboration between the city and county that extended a sanitary sewer line to Robert Rotshchild Farm to ensure that business remained in Champaign County.
Faulkner also cited the Champaign Economic Partnership, a collaboration in which local governments and private businesses have worked together to promote economic development in the county.
Hoffman, who has served on Urbana’s council for four years, has also served as chairman of the Champaign County Republican Club and has a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Cincinnati. Hoffman had said his focus if elected would be on economic development, as well as working with local officials to fight the region’s heroin epidemic.
Champaign County Board of Elections Director Kathy Meyer said close races may change due to outstanding or provisional ballots. Official results will be released on March 28. It will not be known if close races require a recount until then, Meyer said.
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