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Rauner knocks Quinn out of governor's mansion
CHICAGO (AP) — Republican businessman Bruce Rauner has unseated Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, ending Democrats' 12-year grip on President Barack Obama's home state.
The matchup between the Winnetka venture capitalist and the Chicago Democrat was among the most competitive and costly nationwide.
Rauner's win helps the GOP complete a near-sweep of Midwest governorships.Quinn had pushed issues affecting everyday people. He also reminded voters how he navigated Illinois out of crisis after the two previous governors went to prison. He tried to paint Rauner as an out-of-touch multimillionaire.
Rauner countered by saying a vote for Quinn would support politics as usual.He began his run with a statewide push for term limits, then focused on a federal lawsuit scrutinizing hiring under Quinn and the incumbent's support for make a tax increase permanent.
Bustos wins 17th U.S. House rematch with Schilling
CHICAGO (AP) — Democratic U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos has won a rematch with Republican Bobby Schilling for Illinois' 17th Congressional District .Bustos is a first-term congressman from East Moline who unseated Schilling in 2012. Schilling is a pizza shop owner from Colona who served one term in Congress before Bustos won his seat.Bustos emphasized her work on agriculture, including the latest farm bill, and her help with the federal purchase of the Thomson state prison.She got help from first lady Michelle Obama, who held a get-out-the-vote rally for Democratic candidates in Moline last week.Schilling said Bustos broke a promise to give up 10 percent of her pay. Bustos said she misspoke.The district stretches from Rockford west to the Mississippi River and includes the Quad Cities area.
Anderson unseats Jacobs in state Senate race
Moline firefighter Neil Anderson, a Republican, has defeated state Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-Moline, in the 36th District. With all but 3 of 254 precincts reporting, Anderson had nearly 56 percent of the vote (25,168 votes) to Jacobs' 44 percent (20,024). The 36th District includes Whiteside County.
Sales tax for schools finally passes in Whiteside County
STERLING – After being rejected three times by voters, a 1 percent sales tax to fund school facilities improvements finally was passed today in Whiteside County. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, 51 percent of voters (8,870) said "yes" to the sales tax, while 49 percent (8,485) voted "no."
Fritts re-elected treasurer in Lee County
DIXON – Despite an aggressive challenge from Democrat Wes Morrissey, longtime Lee County Treasurer John Fritts won re-election today by a large margin. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Fritts garnered nearly 61 percent of the vote.
Madigan elected to 4th term as attorney general
CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has been re-elected to a fourth term over Republican candidate Paul Schimpf. The Chicago Democrat had been widely expected to win another four years in the job she's held since 2002. She easily won her last two elections, had raised millions and built a national profile by playing a key role in multi-state lawsuits. Many had expected her to run for governor, but in July she announced she would seek re-election instead. Schimpf of Waterloo is a prosecutor and U.S. Naval Academy graduate. He focused on promises to fight corruption. Madigan is known for a 2012 settlement she helped negotiate with mortgage lenders over fraudulent practices after the housing bubble burst. Her office also has investigated for-profit colleges that allegedly left students unqualified for jobs.
White cruises to another term as secretary of state
CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White has easily won a sixth term over Republican Mike Webster.White is already the longest-serving secretary of state in Illinois, a milestone he passed earlier this year. He has held the office since 1999, winning several contests for re-election by large margins.Webster is an accountant and tax attorney who lives in an unincorporated area near Burr Ridge. He acknowledged the tough race, calling himself a longshot candidate. He had less than $1,400 cash on hand at the end of September, compared with more than $770,000 for White.In Illinois, the secretary of state's office oversees driver licensing and maintains state records.
Kinzinger re-elected in 16th District
The Associated Press has declared that U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Channahon, has been re-elected to Congress in the 16th District. Kinzinger defeated Democrat Randall Olsen to earn his third term, and his second in the 16th District, which includes Lee, Ogle and Bureau counties.
Carroll County voters reject sales tax
Voters in Carroll County today voted down a request for a 1 percent sales tax to fund improvements to school facilities. With all 22 precincts reporting, 53 percent of voters (2,951) opposed the sales tax, while 47 percent (2,617) approved.
Durbin wins another Senate term
CHICAGO (AP) — U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin has defeated Republican state Sen. Jim Oberweis to win a fourth term. The Senate's second-ranking Democrat had been expected to keep the seat he's held since 1997. He campaigned as a champion for the middle class, pushing for a higher minimum wage and tax breaks for companies that keep good-paying jobs in the U.S. The 69-year-old from Springfield also says his tenure and position on Capitol Hill have helped him bring billions of dollars in federal funds back to Illinois. Oberweis called Durbin a career politician and accused him of losing touch with voters. The 68-year-old dairy entrepreneur from Sugar Grove said he had the business background to create jobs. Durbin painted Oberweis as too extreme for Illinois.
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