Democratic state Sen. Debbie Halvorson held a sizable lead Tuesday as she tried for a promotion to Congress in a southwest suburban seat that had been Republican for more than a decade.
In a tight rematch along the North Shore, Republican Rep. Mark Kirk led Democrat Dan Seals, who was hoping returns from Cook County would help him score an upset.
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Kirk’s race was one of three where suburban Republicans were trying to fend off Democratic challengers emboldened by Barack Obama’s presence at the top of the ticket in his home state. Early returns showed close races for Rep. Peter Roskam of Wheaton and veteran Rep. Judy Biggert of Hinsdale.
One thing was not in doubt Tuesday: The Illinois congressional delegation would get one new suburban member. In the 11th District, Republican Rep. Jerry Weller retired, leading to an expensive and often nasty campaign to replace him. With two thirds of the vote counted, Halvorson had 58 percent to outpace Republican concrete magnate Martin Ozinga III of Homer Glen.
“I’m very optimistic,” Halvorson said. “The numbers aren’t all in, but I’m very, very grateful for the outpouring of support at this point.”
In the 10th District, Kirk had 53 percent to Seals’ 47 percent as he sought a fifth term. But of the 42 percent of the vote counted, nearly all of it was in Lake County, where Kirk, of Highland Park, traditionally has done better.
In DuPage County, Roskam, whose contest two years ago was one of the nation’s most expensive, had 57 percent to 43 percent for Democratic military veteran Jill Morgenthaler of Des Plaines with a quarter of the vote counted.
And Biggert, facing her toughest race yet, had 55 percent to 42 percent for Democratic businessman Scott Harper of Lockport with 13 percent of the vote counted.
Two Democratic lawmakers were hoping an Obama-inspired surge would let them breathe easier on Election Night.
One got his wish early, as Republican Jim Oberweis called Democratic Rep. Bill Foster to concede defeat in the far west suburban 14th District. Foster of Geneva repeated a surprise special election victory in March to succeed retired former Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert. Foster had 57 percent with close to half the vote counted.
And Rep. Melissa Bean of Barrington, who barely cracked 50 percent in her two wins, had 57 percent with more than half the vote counted against Republican businessman Steve Greenberg of Long Grove, who ended up not putting much of his personal wealth into the contest.