Foster appears on his way to holding 11th Congressional District

Democratic Congressman Bill Foster appeared to be on his way to reelection in Illinois’ 11th Congressional District after fending off a challenge from Republican Jerry Evans, a businessman from Warrenville, based on unofficial vote totals from Tuesday’s election.

With 93% of the vote counted, Foster was leading with about 55% of the vote, 186,128 votes, compared with Evans, who had 44% with 149,341 votes.

Foster, who has represented the 11th District since 2013 and previously represented the 14th District from 2008 to 2011, is a former scientist and resident of Naperville and serves as a member of the House Financial Services Committee.

“I am honored that the voters of the 11th District have reelected me to serve as their representative in Congress, and I am grateful for everyone who worked hard to make this victory possible,” Foster said in an official statement. “I’m very grateful for how well I did in Will County and the other southern districts. Overall, it was a very good result.”

He said he was grateful for Evan’s conduct in conceding the race.

“At a time when our politics are so polarized and the results of our elections are frequently questioned, I was gratified to receive a gracious call from my opponent, Jerry Evans, conceding the election and wishing me well in the upcoming Congress. Serving the people of Illinois in Congress has been the honor of a lifetime, and I look forward to continuing to serve them in the 119th Congress.”

“Running for Congress has been the honor of my life, and the individuals I have encountered along the way have made my life incredibly more fulfilling,” Evans said in a statement to The Herald-News. “I look forward to continuing to serve my community and strive to keep it one of the best places for people to live and pursue their dreams. My wife and I extend our heartfelt congratulations to Congressman Foster and our sincere prayers for his and his family’s well-being.”