The Senate:...
Democratic Incumbent: Dick Durbin
Republican Challenger: Steve Sauerberg
The House:...
- Illinois's 6th congressional district: Freshman Peter Roskam (R) won his first term in Congress by a close 51% to 49% margin. This west suburban district was once solidly Republican, but has become more Democratic in recent years. It narrowly went to George W. Bush with 53% to 47% in 2004 (CPVI=R+3). Roskam will face Democrat Jill Morgenthaler, a retired U.S. Army Reserve Colonel and Iraq war veteran.
- Illinois's 8th congressional district: Melissa Bean (D) gained national attention by toppling longtime incumbent Phil Crane in 2004. However, the 8th is considered the most Republican of the Chicago suburban districts (and by some accounts, all of Illinois), and Bean has had a perennial spot on Republican target lists. Bean will face at least two challengers, Republican businessman, and former professional hockey player Steve Greenberg and Green Party candidate Iain Abernathy in the general election.[60]
- Illinois's 10th congressional district: Mark Kirk (R) survived a surprisingly close race in 2006, winning by 53% to 47%. The district, the state's wealthiest, went for John Kerry with 54% in 2004 (CPVI=D+4). In December 2006, Kirk disclaimed any interest in the 2008 U.S. Senate race against the Democratic incumbent, Dick Durbin. Kirk will again face his 2006 opponent, Dan Seals, who won the Democratic primary with 81% against a credible opponent. David Kalbfleisch the founder of the Arlington Heights chapter of the Green Party has announced that he will run for the seat.[61] Kalbfleisch is a Navy veteran and member of Iraq Veterans Against the War.[62][63]
- Illinois's 11th congressional district: Jerry Weller will be retiring at the end of his seventh term.[64] Weller (R) won 55% of the vote in a district that narrowly went for George W. Bush in 2004 with 53% to 47% for John Kerry (CPVI=R+1). The Republican nominee was New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann, but he announced in February that he was dropping out of the race.[65] Local businessman Martin Ozinga was chosen to replace Baldermann as the Republican candidate. [66] State Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson is the Democratic nominee. Jason Wallace, a veteran of the Iraq War and chair of the IBHE-SAC,[67] is running as a Green Party candidate.
- Illinois's 14th congressional district: Democrat Bill Foster won this seat in a special election after former Republican Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert resigned. The Republican nominee is businessman Jim Oberweis, whom Foster defeated in the special election 53%–47%. Robert Hill is also running as the nominee of the Green Party.[68] George W. Bush won this district with 55% of the vote in 2004 (CPVI= R+5).
- Illinois's 16th congressional district: Donald Manzullo (R) defeated a one-term Democratic incumbent in 1992 and has not had a difficult contest since. However, he may face a serious opponent in Robert G. Abboud (D), the Village President of Barrington Hills, a wealthy Chicago suburb. Abboud is the president of RGA Labs Inc. and reportedly quite wealthy.[69] Bush won here with 55% to 45% in 2004 (CPVI=R+4). Scott Summers who was elected as a trustee of McHenry County College in 2005 is running as the Green Party candidate.[70].
- Illinois's 18th congressional district: Ray LaHood (R) has announced that he will not seek reelection in 2008 [71] The district, based in Peoria, was once represented by former House Minority Leader Bob Michel. The district leans Republican, but not overwhelmingly so (CPVI=R+5). State Representative Aaron Schock (R) won the Republican nomination. The Democratic nominee is news personality Colleen Callahan. The Green Party candidate is Sheldon Schafer.[68]
Illinois's 11th congressional district: Jerry Weller(R)
Illinois's 18th congressional district: Ray LaHood(R)
Completed Special Elections:...Illinois's 14th congressional district: Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R) resigned November 26, 2007. In a surprising upset, Bill Foster (D) defeated Jim Oberweis (R) in a special election on March 8, 2008. The two will likely face each other again in November for a full term.
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