State Sen. Debbie Halvorson and former NBA coach Dick Versace got uncontested Democratic primaries in two open races for congressional seats now held by Republicans as filing for the Feb. 5 Illinois primary came to a close Monday.
In addition, Democratic voters will find the names of seven presidential candidates on the accelerated-primary ballot, with last-day filings by New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, Sens. Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Joseph Biden of Delaware and Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio.
Those four join previously filed contenders Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.
Republican presidential contenders and their convention delegate candidates file their petitions between Nov. 28 and Dec. 5.
Halvorson, the state Senate majority leader and a decade-long lawmaker from Crete, emerged as the lone Democratic contender for the south and southwest suburban 11th Congressional seat being vacated by retiring Republican Rep. Jerry Weller. Three Republicans filed to compete for the GOP primary nomination on Monday: New Lenox Mayor Timothy Baldermann; former White House aide Jimmy Lee of North Utica; and Terry Heenan of New Lenox.
Versace, who formerly coached the Indiana Pacers and Bradley University, was the lone Democrat to file for the central Illinois 18th Congressional seat being vacated by retiring Republican Rep. Ray LaHood. Previously filing for the GOP nomination were state Rep. Aaron Schock of Peoria, businessman Jim McConoughey of Dunlap and John Morris, a former Peoria City Council member.
In the north suburban 8th Congressional District, two-term Democratic Rep. Melissa Bean of Barrington gained a primary challenge from two last-day filers, artist Randi Scheurer of Lindenhurst and computer consultant Jonathan Farnick of Woodstock. Kirk Morris of Gurnee was a final-day filer on the Republican side to join businessman Steve Greenberg of Long Grove and Kenneth Arnold of Gurnee in seeking the GOP nomination.
In the west suburban 6th Congressional District, Jill Morgenthaler, an Army veteran who formerly served as Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s homeland security director, filed to challenge for the seat held by first-term Republican Rep. Peter Roskam of Wheaton. Morgenthaler, of Des Plaines, joins Roselle businessman Stan Jagla in seeking the Democratic nomination.
In the Republican primary for the right to challenge two-term Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, last-day filers were Norm Hill of Grayslake, who finished seventh in an eight-way race for the 2004 GOP Senate nomination, and conservative trucker Mike Psak of Chicago. Previously filing for the Republican nomination were Willowbrook physician Steve Sauerberg and frequent candidate Andy Martin.
A number of candidates want to replace retiring former House Speaker Dennis Hastert in the 14th Congressional District, which includes Kane, Kendall and much of DeKalb Counties.
In the Republican primary, voters will choose among state Sen. Chris Lauzen of Aurora; Jim Oberweis of Sugar Grove, president and CEO of Oberweis Dairy; and Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns. Four Democrats filed to run for the seat: scientist and businessman Bill Foster of Geneva; attorney Jotham Stein of St. Charles; John Laesch of Yorkville; and Joseph Serra of Geneva.
West suburban voters will have several state House candidates from which to choose.
In the 96th District seat now held by Republican Joe Dunn, Darlene Senger of Naperville, Michael Bowler of Aurora and Michael Wisniewski of Naperville filed to run as Republicans. Dianne McGuire of Naperville is unopposed in the Democratic primary.
In the 48th District, where Republican Rep. James Meyer is stepping down, Dave Carlin of Naperville, Michael Connelly of Lisle and Douglas Krause of Naperville have filed to run as Republicans. No Democrat filed.
In the 49th District, Republican state Rep. Tim Schmitz of Batavia will be challenged in the primary by James Krenz of Carpentersville.
In the 50th District, where Republican state Rep. Patricia Reid Lindner has decided not to run again, Republicans Anton L. Graff of Yorkville, Kay Hatcher of Yorkville, David Richmond of Batavia and Terry Hunt of Big Rock will face off in the primary. Mary Schneider of Batavia filed as a Democrat.
A number of DuPage and Kane County Board members also face challengers, including Republican Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay of St. Charles. Political newcomer Jim MacRunels, a financial management adviser from Elburn, is running as a Republican.
Of the 13 Kane County Board seats up for election, only one has a rare Democratic contest and just three have GOP primary contests.
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In DuPage County, there will be Republican primaries in five of six County Board districts, and a Democratic primary in District 1.
The re-election campaign of Kane County Board member Jan Carlson of Elburn got a boost Monday evening when former Gov. Jim Edgar appeared at a campaign reception.
Carlson was chairman of the county GOP organization while Edgar was governor.
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