Candidate Center

Our new candidate center is designed to help keep you up-to-date with the campaigns going on across the country. Click on your state of interest and you’ll find a list of candidates running for each federal office, a brief overview of the state, and specific information for campaigns of interest as it becomes available. In the near future, the candidate center will include polls that will be updated as new ones are released, and links to FEC data.

NCEC Candidate Center - Illinois

Illinois

Presidential primary: Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Congressional filing deadline: December 2007
Congressional primary: March 2008

Democrats could move to make Illinois a true Democratic stronghold in 2008. They are expected to win the presidential race and to maintain Dick Durbin's Senate seat, but, most important of all, there is great potential for gains in the House. Several close races in 2006 and two potential Republican retirements have set the stage for intriguing races in 2008.

President (21 Electoral Votes)

Democrats have posted double-digit victories in Illinois for the past four election cycles. Not since George H.W. Bush barely won the state in 1988 has the presidential race in Illinois been even close. If Illinois Senator Barack Obama wins the nomination or is on the Democratic ticket, the margin of victory could be even more profound. As in many other states, there is no evidence at this time to suggest that Illinois will change parties.

U.S. Senate - Dick Durbin (Dem)

Senator Dick Durbin is up for reelection, and all early polling suggests that he should cruise to another term. Several polls dating back to May showed Durbin’s job approval above 60 percent and his favorability above 50 percent. These numbers suggest that he will not be a legitimate target for the GOP in 2008.

The Illinois Republican Party has endorsed Steve Sauerberg to run against Durbin. Chicago journalist Andy Martin and Chicago truck driver Mike Psak are also seeking the GOP nomination.

Dick Durbin (Dem) - Incumbent
Bill Brady (Rep) - State Senator, Developer, GOP Activist and 2006 Governor Candidate
Norm Hill (Rep) - Insurance Executive, GOP Activist, Army Veteran and 2004 Candidate
Andy Martin (Rep) - Legal Activist, Online Journalist and frequent candidate
Jim Nalepa (Rep) - Businessman, Army Veteran and 1994/1996 Congressional Nominee
Mike Psak (Rep) - Truck Driver
Jim Rowe (Rep) - Attorney, Former District School Board Member and 2006 State Senate Nominee
Steve Sauerberg (Rep) - Physician and Medical School Professor

1st District - Bobby Rush (Dem)

Chicago, South and Southwest Sides

Bobby Rush (Dem) - Incumbent
Jason Tabour (Rep) - Businessman, USMC Veteran, 2006 Nominee and 2004 State Representative Nominee

2nd District - Jesse Jackson (Dem)

Chicago, South Side and suburbs

Jesse Jackson Jr (Dem) - Incumbent

3rd District - Dan Lipinski (Dem)

Chicago, Southwest Side, south and west suburbs

Dan Lipinski (Dem) - Incumbent
Gerald Bennett (Dem) - Palos Hills Mayor
Mark Pera (Dem) - Lyons Township School Board President and Attorney
Ray Wardingly (Rep) - Retired Entertainer, USAF Veteran and frequent candidate

4th District - Luis Gutierrez (Dem)

Chicago, parts of the north and Southwest Sides

Luis Gutierrez (Dem) - Incumbent
George Cardenas (Dem) - Chicago Alderman
Manny Flores (Dem) - Chicago Alderman, Attorney and Former Congressional Aide
Roberto Maldonado (Dem) - Cook County Commissioner, Businessman and Former Mayoral Aide
Ricardo Munoz (Dem) - Chicago Alderman
Ann Melichar (Rep) - Attorney

5th District - Rahm Emanuel (Dem)

Chicago, North Side

Rahm Emanuel (Dem) - Incumbent
Alan Augustson (Green) - Economist, Management Consultant and Former Chamber of Commerce Executive

6th District - Peter Roskam (Rep)

Chicago, Northwest and West Sides

Democrats came extremely close to winning this seat in 2006. Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran, came less than 3 percent from winning the race over incumbent Peter Roskam. Duckworth has ruled out the possibility of a rematch in 2008, so Democrats will need to look elsewhere for a strong candidate.

Peter Roskam (Rep) - Incumbent

7th District - Danny Davis (Dem)

Chicago, Downtown and West Side

Danny Davis (Dem) - Incumbent

8th District - Melissa Bean (Dem)

Northwest Chicago suburbs, Schaumburg

Democratic incumbent Melissa Bean has been a consistent target for Republicans over the last two cycles, and if the GOP has any money left, it is sure to at least challenge her. Republican Kirk Morris, father of a Marine killed in Iraq, has entered the race to challenge Bean. Businessman Steve Greenberg and second-time candidate Ken Arnold have also announced their candidacy for the GOP nomination. Early endorsements from other Illinois Republicans and the party establishment have gone to Greenberg who is considered the frontrunner for the nomination. Bean extended her margin of victory in 2006, winning her district by 7 percent.

Melissa Bean (Dem) - Incumbent
Randi Scheurer (Dem) - Artist, Peace Activist and Wife of Independent Candidate Bill Scheurer
Ken Arnold (Rep) - Human Resources Consuting Firm Owner, GOP Activist and ;06 Candidate
Steve Greenberg (Rep) - Wholesale Executive and Former Minor League Hockey Player
Joe Walsh (Rep) - 1996 Candidate
Bill Scheurer (Ind) - Attorney, Peace Activist, Former Democrat and 2004/2006 Candidate

9th District - Jan Schakowsky (Dem)

Chicago's North Side and suburbs, Evanston

Jan Schakowsky (Dem) - Incumbent

10th District - Mark Kirk (Rep)

North and northwest Chicago suburbs

Incumbent Mark Kirk faced a surprisingly strong opponent in 2006, as Democrat Dan Seals received 47 percent of the vote. Seals has already announced that he will seek a rematch, and his enhanced name recognition should help him mount another campaign. However, former Clinton administrative aide Jay Footlik has announced that he will challenge Seals for the nomination. This suburban district is increasingly looking for a moderate representative, which helped push Congressman Kirk to support Democratic measures on stem cell research and an increase of the minimum wage.

Mark Kirk (Rep) - Incumbent
Jay Footlik (Dem) - Business Consultant, Attorney, Former Clinton White House Aide and Democratic Activist
Dan Seals (Dem) - Marketing Executive, Former Congressional Aide and 2006 Nominee
David Kalbfleisch (Green) - Real Estate Investor, Navy Veteran and Peace Activist

11th District - Jerry Weller (Rep)

Western Chicago suburbs and parts of Central IL

Incumbent Republican Jerry Weller announced his retirement from the House at the end of the term, which will lead to an open seat contest in this marginal Illinois district. Weller has not received a significant challenge in several terms, but the district has been close in the last two presidential contests. John Kerry got 46 percent of the vote in 2004 and Al Gore received 49 percent in 2000. In 2006, Democrat Robert Pavich got 45 percent of the vote when he ran against Weller, which is a positive sign that the race is marginal without an incumbent. The district's most populous area, Will County has seen an influx of young suburban families, which is a population that is increasingly friendly to Democrats.

The DCCC received more good news about the race when Democratic State Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination. She is a popular well-known Democrat who's Senate district includes part of Will County, the most populous county in the district, and most of Kankakee County, which is fully part of the 11th Congressional district.

Jerry Weller (Rep) - Incumbent
Jason Michael Wallace (Green)

12th District - Jerry Costello (Dem)

Southwest border, Carbondale, East St. Louis

Jerry Costello (Dem) - Incumbent

13th District - Judy Biggert (Rep)

Southwest Chicago suburbs, Naperville

Judy Biggert (Rep) - Incumbent
Steve Alesch (Green) - Software Engineer and Green Party Activist

14th District - Denny Hastert (Rep)

North central and west, Aurora

Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert has indicated that he will not seek reelection in 2008, and recently announced that he will leave before the end of the current term. A special election will be held to determine who holds the seat before the 2008 election, which presents candidates with an odd conundrum, spend now or spend later. Both parties are touting candidates with large personal wealth, who might be able to personally fund a special election campaign. Republican Jim Oberweis, a wealthy dairy executive, plans to contribute $2.5 million for a primary campaign and an additional $2.5 million for a general election campaign. On the Democratic side, businessman Bill Foster has already contributed $321,000 in personal financing. The large personal financing in this campaign is likely to trigger use of the "millionaires' amendment" which allows candidates who are running against self-financed opponents to exceed the standard individual contribution limits. The millionaires’ amendment also allows the national and state party committees to make unlimited “coordinated” expenditures on behalf of a candidate who is facing a wealthy opponent. The special election benefits these candidates with large sums of money, but they are not the only ones running. Republican state senator Chris Lauzen, who was raised the most money thus far, is also running. Also running for the Democrats is attorney Jontham Stein and 2006 nominee John Laesch.

Recent election cycles suggest that the district is moving toward voting for a Democrat. Hastert’s margin of victory has narrowed in each of the past three cycles, and President Bush received just 55 percent of the vote in this district in 2004.

Denny Hastert (Rep) - Retiring in 2008
Kevin Burns (Rep) - Geneva Mayor and University Official
Chris Lauzen (Rep) - State Senator and Accountant
Jim Oberweis (Rep) - Securities Firm Executive, Dairy Company Owner and frequent candidate
Mike Stokke (Rep) - Congressman Hastert's Chief of Staff
Bill Foster (Dem) - Businessman and Scientist
John Laesch (Dem) - Navy Veteran and 2006 Nominee
Linda Chapa Lavia (Dem)
Jotham Stein (Dem) - Attorney

15th District - Tim Johnson (Rep)

Eastern border, Champaign, Bloomington

Tim Johnson (Rep) - Incumbent

16th District - Don Manzullo (Rep)

Rockford

Don Manzullo (Rep) - Incumbent
Robert Abboud (Dem) - Barrington Hills Mayor, Nuclear Engineer and Inventor

17th District - Phil Hare (Dem)

Western border, Rock Island, Moline

Phil Hare (Dem) - Incumbent

18th District - Ray LaHood (Rep)

Central, Peoria, part of Springfield

The open 18th district was shaping up to be a competitive race, but Democrats were shocked when potential candidate Dick Versace suddenly dropped out of the race. State election laws allow the Democrats to bring in a new candidate, despite the fact that election filing closed on November 5th, but it is unlikely that Democrats will recruit a viable candidate in such short notice.

Ray LaHood (Rep) - Retiring in 2008
Darin LaHood (Rep) - Attorney and Son of Congressman Ray LaHood
David Leitch (Rep) - State Representative, Former State Senate and Banker
Jim McConoughey (Rep) - Businessman
Edward Mokrzycki (Rep) - Former Wal Mart Employee
John Morris (Rep) - Former Peoria City Councilman
Aaron Schock (Rep) - State Representative and Former Peoria School Board President
Stu Umholtz (Rep) - Tazewell County State's Attorney and 2006 Attorney General Nominee
Patricia Benassi (Dem) - Attorney and Community Activist
Bill Edley (Dem) - Former State Representative and State Corrections Department Official
Richard Grawey (Dem) - Circuit Court Judge
Sue Myerscough (Dem) - Appellate Court Judge
Dick Versace (Dem) - Former Indana Pacers Basketball Team Coach and NBA Executive