2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois

The 2008 congressional elections in Illinois were held on November 4, 2008 to determine who would represent the State of Illinois in the United States House of Representatives, coinciding with the presidential and U.S. Senate elections. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected served in the 111th Congress from January 3, 2009 until January 3, 2011.

2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois

← 2006 November 4, 2008 (2008-11-04) 2010 →
All 19 Illinois seats to the United States House of Representatives
Majority party Minority party   Party Democratic Republican Last election 10 9 Seats before 11 8 Seats won 12 7 Seat change 1 1 Popular vote 3,176,203 1,961,173 Percentage 60.52% 37.37% Swing 2.99% 4.41%
Democratic   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90%   >90% Republican   50–60%   60–70%

Illinois has nineteen seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Its 2007–2008 congressional delegation consisted of eleven Democrats and eight Republicans. It became, following the election, twelve Democrats and seven Republicans. District 11 was the only seat which changed party (from open Republican to Democratic), although CQ Politics had forecast districts 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14 and 18 to be at some risk for the incumbent party.

Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois, 2008^[1]
Party		Votes	Percentage	Seats	+/–
	Democratic	3,176,203	60.52%	12	+1
	Republican	1,961,173	37.37%	7	-1
	Independents	110,819	2.11%	0	—
Totals		5,248,195	100.00%	19	—

District 1

See also: Illinois's 1st congressional district

 

This district includes part of Cook County. Democratic incumbent Bobby Rush, who has held the seat since 1993, ran against Republican nominee Antoine Members. CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Safe Democrat'.

Illinois's 1st congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bobby Rush (incumbent)	233,036	85.87
	Republican	Antoine Members	38,361	14.13
Total votes			271,397	100.00
	Democratic hold

District 2

See also: Illinois's 2nd congressional district

 

This district includes parts of Cook County and Will County. Democratic nominee Jesse Jackson, Jr., who has held the seat winning a special election in December 1995, ran against Republican nominee Anthony Williams. CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Safe Democrat'.

Illinois's 2nd congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jesse Jackson, Jr. (incumbent)	251,052	89.41
	Republican	Anthony Williams	29,721	10.59
	Write-ins		3	0.00
Total votes			280,776	100.00
	Democratic hold

District 3

See also: Illinois's 3rd congressional district

 

This district includes part of Cook County. Democratic incumbent Dan Lipinski, who has held the seat since 2005, ran against Republican nominee Michael Hawkins and Green Party nominee Jerome Pohlen. CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Safe Democrat'.

Perennial candidate and alleged white supremacist Richard Mayers had attempted to run in the Green Party primary.^[2]

Illinois's 3rd congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Dan Lipinski (incumbent)	172,581	73.28
	Republican	Michael Hawkins	50,336	21.37
	Green	Jerome Pohlen	12,607	5.35
Total votes			235,524	100.00
	Democratic hold

District 4

See also: Illinois's 4th congressional district

 

This district includes part of Cook County. Democratic incumbent Luis Gutierrez, who has held the seat since January 1993, ran against Republican nominee Daniel Cunninghan and Green Party nominee Omar López. CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Safe Democrat'.

Earlier in 2007, Cook County Commissioner Roberto Maldonado and Chicago aldermen Manny Flores, Ricardo Muñoz and George Cardenas had announced their intentions to run for the seat in 2008, as Gutierrez had said he planned to retire. However, Gutierrez later changed his mind and announced he would seek re-election in 2008.^[3]

Illinois's 4th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Luis Gutierrez (incumbent)	112,529	80.60
	Republican	Daniel Cunninghan	16,024	11.48
	Green	Omar N. López	11,053	7.92
Total votes			139,606	100.00
	Democratic hold

District 5

See also: Illinois's 5th congressional district

 

This district includes part of Cook County. Democratic incumbent Rahm Emanuel, who has held the seat since 2003, ran against Republican nominee Tom Hanson and Green Party nominee Alan Augustson. CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Safe Democrat'.

Illinois's 5th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Rahm Emanuel (incumbent)	170,728	73.94
	Republican	Tom Hanson	50,881	22.04
	Green	Alan Augustson	9,283	4.02
Total votes			230,892	100.00
	Democratic hold

District 6

See also: Illinois's 6th congressional district

 

This district includes parts of DuPage County and Cook County. Freshman Republican incumbent Peter Roskam, who won the then-open seat in a close election in 2006, ran against Democratic nominee Jill Morgenthaler, an Iraq War veteran. CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Republican Favored'.

Illinois's 6th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Peter Roskam (incumbent)	147,906	57.57
	Democratic	Jill Morgenthaler	109,007	42.43
Total votes			256,913	100.00
	Republican hold

District 7

See also: Illinois's 7th congressional district

 

This district lies entirely within Cook County. Democratic incumbent Danny K. Davis, who has held the seat since 1997, ran against Republican nominee Steve Miller, a United States Navy veteran. CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Safe Democrat'.

Illinois's 7th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Danny K. Davis (incumbent)	235,343	85.02
	Republican	Steve Miller	41,474	14.98
Total votes			276,817	100.00
	Democratic hold

District 8

See also: Illinois's 8th congressional district

 

This district includes parts of Lake County, McHenry County and Cook County. Democratic incumbent Melissa Bean, who has held the seat since 2005, ran against Republican nominee Steve Greenberg. CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Democrat Favored'.

Illinois's 8th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Melissa Bean (incumbent)	179,444	60.72
	Republican	Steve Greenberg	116,081	39.28
Total votes			295,525	100.00
	Democratic hold

District 9

See also: Illinois's 9th congressional district

 

This district includes all of Evanston, Skokie, Niles, Morton Grove, Park Ridge and Norridge, parts of Wilmette, Northfield, Glenview, Golf, Rosemont and Des Plaines, as well as much of the North Side of Chicago. Democratic incumbent Jan Schakowsky, who has held the seat since 1999, ran against Republican nominee Michael B. Younan and Green Party nominee Morris Shanfield. CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Safe Democrat'.

Illinois's 9th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jan Schakowsky (incumbent)	181,948	74.66
	Republican	Michael B. Younan	53,593	21.99
	Green	Morris Shanfield	8,140	3.34
	Write-ins		13	0.01
Total votes			243,694	100.00
	Democratic hold

District 10

See also: Illinois's 10th congressional district

 

This district includes parts of Lake County and Cook County. Republican incumbent Mark Kirk, who has held the seat since 2001, ran against Democratic nominee Dan Seals, who also ran against Kirk in the 2006 election. CQ Politics forecast the race as 'No Clear Favorite'.

Illinois's 10th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mark Kirk (incumbent)	153,082	52.56
	Democratic	Dan Seals	138,176	47.44
Total votes			291,258	100.00
	Republican hold

District 11

See also: Illinois's 11th congressional district

 

This district includes the towns of Joliet, Kankakee, LaSalle, Ottawa and Streator, as well as all or parts of Will County, Kankakee County, Grundy County, LaSalle County, Bureau County, Woodford County and McLean County. An open seat, Democratic State Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson ran against Republican nominee Marty Ozinga (a local businessman) and Green Party nominee Jason Wallace. CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Democrat Favored'.

Republican incumbent Jerry Weller, who had held the seat since 1995, decided not to seek re-election, leaving this an open seat. Tim Baldermann, mayor of New Lenox and police chief of Chicago Ridge, won the Republican nomination but withdrew on February 23.^[4] Martin Ozinga was chosen to replace Baldermann on April 30.^[5]

Illinois's 11th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Debbie Halvorson	185,652	58.40
	Republican	Marty Ozinga	109,608	34.48
	Green	Jason Wallace	22,635	7.12
Total votes			317,895	100.00
	Democratic gain from Republican

District 12

See also: Illinois's 12th congressional district

 

This district is in the southwest part of the state and includes the cities of Alton, Carbondale and East St. Louis. Democratic incumbent Jerry Costello, who has held the seat since August 1988, ran against Republican nominee Tim Richardson and Chairman of the Metro East Green Party Rodger Jennings. CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Safe Democrat'.

Illinois's 12th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jerry Costello (incumbent)	212,891	71.40
	Republican	Tim Richardson	74,382	24.95
	Green	Rodger Jennings	10,907	3.66
	Write-ins		1	0.01
Total votes			298,181	100.00
	Democratic hold

District 13

See also: Illinois's 13th congressional district

 

This district includes parts of the Cook County, DuPage County and Will County. Republican incumbent Judy Biggert, who has held the seat since January 1999, ran against Democratic nominee Scott Harper and Green Party nominee Steve Alesch. CQ Politics initially forecast the race as 'Safe Republican', but changed the forecast to 'Republican Favored' after Harper had raised more money than the 2006 Democratic nominee for this seat by mid-July.^[6]

Illinois's 13th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Judy Biggert (incumbent)	180,888	53.55
	Democratic	Scott Harper	147,430	43.65
	Green	Steve Alesch	9,402	2.78
	Write-ins		51	0.02
Total votes			337,771	100.00
	Republican hold

District 14

See also: Illinois's 14th congressional district

See also: 2008 Illinois's 14th congressional district special election

 

This district includes the cities of Aurora, Elgin, DeKalb and Dixon, as well as parts of Henry County, Whiteside County, Lee County, DeKalb County, Kane County, Kendall County and DuPage County. Democratic nominee Bill Foster, who had held the seat since March 2008, won against Republican nominee Jim Oberweis, who also lost to Foster in the special election. CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Leans Democratic'.

The district was previously represented by former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert from 1987 to 2007. He resigned in November 2007; Bill Foster won the special election held on March 8, 2008.

Illinois's 14th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bill Foster (incumbent)	185,404	57.75
	Republican	Jim Oberweis	135,653	42.25
Total votes			321,057	100.00
	Democratic hold

District 15

See also: Illinois's 15th congressional district

 

This district includes the cities of Charleston, Urbana, Danville and Champaign, as well as all or parts of Livingston County, Iroquois County, Ford County, McLean County, DeWitt County, Champaign County, Vermillion County, Macon County, Piatt County, Douglas County, Edgar County, Moultrie County, Coles County, Cumberland County, Clark County, Crawford County, Lawrence County, Wabash County, Edwards County, White County, Saline County and Gallatin County. Republican incumbent Timothy V. Johnson, who has held the seat since January 2001, won against Democratic nominee Steve Cox. CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Safe Republican'.

Illinois's 15th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Timothy V. Johnson (incumbent)	187,121	64.19
	Democratic	Steve Cox	104,393	35.81
Total votes			291,514	100.00
	Republican hold

District 16

See also: Illinois's 16th congressional district

 

This district includes the cities of Rockford, Crystal Lake, Machesney Park, Belvidere, Freeport and Galena, as well as all or parts of Jo Daviess County, Stephenson County, Winnebago County, Boone County, McHenry County, Carroll County, Ogle County, DeKalb County and Whiteside County. Republican incumbent Donald A. Manzullo, who has held the seat since 1993, won against Democratic nominee Robert G. Abboud and Green Party nominee Scott K. Summers. CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Safe Republican'.

Illinois's 16th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Don Manzullo (incumbent)	190,039	60.87
	Democratic	Robert G. Abboud	112,648	36.08
	Green	Scott Summers	9,533	3.05
Total votes			312,220	100.00
	Republican hold

District 17

See also: Illinois's 17th congressional district

 

This district includes the cities of Sterling, Rock Island, Moline, Kewanee, Galesburg, Canton, Macomb, Quincy, Springfield and Decatur, as well as all or parts of Henry County, Whiteside County, Rock Island County, Mercer County, Knox County, Warren County, Henderson County, Fulton County, McDonough County, Hancock County, Adams County, Pike County, Calhoun County, Greene County, Jersey County, Macoupin County, Madison County, Montgomery County, Christian County, Sangamon County, Macon County, Shelby County and Fayette County. Democratic incumbent Phil Hare, who has held the seat since January 2007, ran unopposed. CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Safe Democrat'.

Illinois's 17th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Phil Hare (incumbent)	220,961	99.77
	Write-ins		517	0.23
Total votes			221,478	100.00
	Democratic hold

District 18

See also: Illinois's 18th congressional district

 

This district in the central and western part of the state includes the cities of Jacksonville, Peoria and Springfield. Republican nominee Aaron Schock won against Democratic nominee Colleen Callahan and Green nominee Sheldon Schafer. CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Republican Favored'.

Republican incumbent Ray LaHood, who had held the seat since 1995, decided to retire, leaving this an open seat.

Illinois's 18th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Aaron Schock	182,589	58.88
	Democratic	Colleen Callahan	117,642	37.94
	Green	Sheldon Schafer	9,857	3.18
Total votes			310,088	100.00
	Republican hold

District 19

See also: Illinois's 19th congressional district

 

This district in the central part of Southern Illinois includes part of Springfield and the outer St. Louis suburbs. Republican incumbent John Shimkus, who has held the seat since 1997, won against Democratic nominee Daniel Davis and Green Party nominee Troy Dennis. CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Safe Republican'.

Illinois's 19th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Shimkus (incumbent)	203,434	64.46
	Democratic	Daniel Davis	105,338	33.38
	Green	Troy Dennis	6,817	2.16
Total votes			315,589	100.00
	Republican hold

See also

2008 United States House of Representatives elections

References

1. "Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives".
2. "Alleged white supremacist running for Congress in 3rd District". February 8, 2021.
3. Rep. Gutierrez scraps plans to retire, will run in 2008 Yahoo News
4. Hal Dardick and Erika Slife Republican quits District 11 race, Mayor of New Lenox throws wrench into key national contest Chicago Tribune, February 23, 2008
5. Slife, Erika (May 1, 2008). "GOP taps Ozinga for U.S. House contest". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 4, 2009.
6. . CQ Politics. July 25, 2008. Archived from the original on July 31, 2009. Retrieved April 30, 2009.

External links

• 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois at Curlie
• U.S. Congress candidates for Illinois at Project Vote Smart
• Campaign contributions for Illinois congressional races from OpenSecrets
• from 2008 Race Tracker