House party for Illinois GOP

Democrats lose several seats to Republicans

By Katherine Skiba and Kristen Schorsch, Tribune reporters


Republicans appeared headed toward a string of impressive wins in Illinois congressional races Tuesday, reflecting a national trend that saw the GOP take control of the House of Representatives.

Incumbent Democrats Bill Foster, of Batavia; Debbie Halvorson, of Crete; and Phil Hare, of Rock Island, conceded to Republican opponents.

State Sen. Randy Hultgren, who drew tea party support, will take Foster's 14th Congressional seat, while Halvorson was defeated in the 11th Congressional District by Adam Kinzinger, a military pilot who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Kinzinger had tea party backers and a nod from former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Hare lost to Republican Bobby Schilling in the 17th Congressional District. Another Democratic incumbent, Melissa Bean, of Barrington, was locked in a tight race with Republican Joe Walsh. Bean, 48, was vying for a fourth term representing the northwest suburban 8th District in Congress. Walsh, 48, was vastly outspent in the race.

"It is too close to call," Bean told supporters late Tuesday. "There (are) still thousands of votes that need to be counted."

Walsh finished strong despite being dogged by a host of problems, including a foreclosure on his Evanston condo, state and federal tax liens, suspended driver's licenses, and in-fighting in his political operation.

A venture capitalist, Walsh, who lives in unincorporated McHenry, courted support from tea party enthusiasts.

Republican Robert Dold, of Kenilworth, declared victory over Democrat Dan Seals in the 10th Congressional District, which was up for grabs because of Republican Mark Kirk's run for U.S. Senate.

"This is a great night for us, but a bad night for the big spenders in Washington, D.C.," said Dold, president of a suburban, family-owned pest-control business. "By letting your voices be heard, I'll be able to represent you and move our country forward."

Going into Tuesday's voting, Democrats enjoyed a 12-7 advantage in Illinois House seats.

Foster's concession

Foster, 55, a Harvard-educated physicist, said in an emotional concession speech that he understood the frustration of voters who turned him out of Congress. But he said the hard votes he made in office, especially for health care reform, would pay off for the country.

"We all did something historic and necessary for the progress of our country," he said. "History will show we took the necessary steps to get back on the path to prosperity."

Foster lost though he raised substantially more cash than Hultgren. At the end of September, Foster had raised $3.5 million compared to Hultgren's $1.27 million.

"I want you there for that very first vote, and that vote is going to be to fire Nancy Pelosi," Hultgren said to cheers from a crowd in Geneva. "As Ronald Reagan said, 'It is morning in America.'"

Hultgren, 44, had tea party activists as ground troops and outside groups spent major money on his behalf. Foster also saw hefty independent expenditures.

Hultgren, who served as an aide to then-U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert and on the DuPage County Board, lives in Winfield with his wife and four children.

An evangelical Christian, he opposes abortion but made the top themes of his campaign less government, less spending and more liberty.

His district, long represented by Hastert, is traditionally a GOP stronghold.

Kinzinger triumphs

Halvorson, 52, was denied a second term by Kinzinger, 32, a conservative Republican from Manteno and an Air National Guard pilot with combat service.

"We've got a lot of work to do now," Kinzinger said in his victory speech. "This is not about Adam Kinzinger. This is about a team. This is about taking back our country, once again, to be the most powerful country in the world. Tonight, I promise that I will not ... let you down."

Halvorson echoed those thoughts in a gracious concession.

"Our country has a lot to do," she said. "What I want is that this night makes all of you realize that we have a lot to do. It's not about me, it's not about Adam, it's about the people."

Dold claims win

For the GOP, keeping Kirk's seat in GOP hands was key. Democrats had seen the open seat as a rare opportunity for a pickup on what for months had been shaping up nationally as a bleak election.

It was Seals' third try for the seat, and early Wednesday he declined to concede despite Dold's declaration of victory. Seals has been a consultant and Northwestern University lecturer, but Dold belittled his rival during the race by saying Seals had made running for Congress a job search.

"The odds that we have won are not probable; it's not likely," Seals said. "But it's also not impossible."

Both Dold, 41, and Seals, 39, made pro-job, anti-tax appeals to voters, though Dold was more conservative on social issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage.

Schilling emerges

Hare, 61, had served two terms in the western Illinois district and was going for a third against Schilling, 46, a political novice and tea party favorite.

Schilling, a devout Catholic, father of 10 and owner of Saint Guiseppe's Heavenly Pizza in Moline, drew a high-profile endorsement from Republican Mitt Romney.

Other races

Several incumbents coasted to victory, including Democrats Bobby Rush, Jesse Jackson Jr., Luis Gutierrez, Mike Quigley and Danny Davis, all of Chicago; and Dan Lipinski, of Western Springs; Jan Schakowsky, of Evanston; and Jerry Costello, of Belleville.

On the Republican side, the winners included Peter Roskam, of Wheaton; Judy Biggert, of Hinsdale; Don Manzullo, of Egan; Aaron Schock, of Peoria; and John Shimkus, of Collinsville. None faced a serious threat.

Tribune reporter Jared S. Hopkins and freelance reporters Robert Channick, Alicia Fabbre, Jack McCarthy, Dennis Sullivan and Cliff Ward contributed to this report.

kskiba@tribune.com

klschorsch@tribune.com
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