After winning the Republican nomination, incumbent Larry Wennlund opted to retire from the legislature rather than run in the 1996 general election.[2] Republicans slated Kosel to be the Republican candidate.[3] Kosel defeated Democratic candidate Lois Mayer.[4]
She opted not to run in the 2014 general election. Margo McDermed, a member of the Will County Board, won the 2014 general election to succeed Kosel.[5] After the 2014 general election, but prior to the start of the 99th General Assembly, Kosel resigned effective January 7, 2015. The Republican Representative Committee of the Thirty-Seventh Representative District appointed Representative-elect Margo McDermed to fill the subsequent vacancy for the remainder of the 98th General Assembly.[6]