The Green Papers: Illinois 2008 General Election
 
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Elections for Statewide offices and Congress
Primary & Special Primary CD 14: Tuesday 5 February 2008
Special Election House CD 14: Saturday 8 March 2008
General Election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Electoral Votes:21(3.90% of 538)
Governor:1 
Senators:2(Electoral Classes 2 and 3)
2002-2010 Representatives:19(4.37% of 435)
2000 Census:12,439,042 (4.41% of 281,998,273)
Estimated Voting age population (November 2000):8,983,000
Registered Voters (November 2000):7,129,026
Capital:Springfield
Tuesday 5 February 2008 polling hours 6:00a CST (1200 UTC) to 7:00p CST (0100 UTC).
Saturday 8 March 2008 polling hours 6:00a CST (1200 UTC) to 7:00p CST (0100 UTC).
Tuesday 4 November 2008 polling hours 6:00a CST (1200 UTC) to 7:00a CST (1300 UTC).
 

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Illinois State and Local Government

Illinois 2008 Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions:
Democrats, Republicans, Third Parties

Returns from a media source

 
           
President  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2008, 2012. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime. Electors: 21 (Winner-take-all)
Up for election in 2008
U.S. Senate  6 year term. No Term Limit. 110th Senate  Senate Electoral Classes
Class 2
Seat up for election		 Democratic Senator Richard J. "Dick" Durbin
• First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2002
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994]
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 February 2008 Primary
  Candidate Democratic     Senator Richard J. "Dick" Durbin
• FEC S6IL00151: $6,250,611
    Republican     Andy Martin - lost primary
• FEC S4IL00362: Financial report not available
    Republican     Michael J. "Mike" Psak - lost primary
• FEC S8IL00157: $11,517
  Candidate Republican     Steven Kenneth Sauerberg
• Endorsed by the Illinois Republican Central Committee
• FEC S8IL00165: $1,672,118
  Candidate Green     Kathleen J. "Kathy" Cummings
  Candidate Libertarian     Larry A. Stafford
• FEC S8IL00181: Financial report not available
  Candidate Constitution     Mike Hensley
  Candidate Constitution     Chad Koppie
  Candidate Socialist Workers Party     Betsy Farley
  Candidate Independent     Alton C. Franklin, III
Class 3 Democratic Senator Barack Obama
• First elected: 2004
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010
Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Term Limit: None, All Governors
  Democratic Governor Rod R. Blagojevich
• First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2006
• Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010
Lieutenant Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Elected on a ticket with (but nominated separately from) the Governor
  Democratic Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn
• First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2006
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010
110th U.S. House of Representatives  2 year term, Election Cycle 2006, 2008. No Term Limit. 110th House
Partisan Composition (primary disposition):
11 Democratic (11 Renominated);
8 Republican (6 Renominated, 2 Open)
CD 1
{map}
Seat up for election		 Democratic Congressman Bobby Lee Rush
• First elected: 1992
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 February 2008 Primary
  Candidate Democratic     Congressman Bobby Lee Rush
• FEC H2IL01042: $310,289
    Democratic     William Walls, III - lost primary
• FEC H8IL01080: Financial report not available
  Candidate Republican     Antoine Members
• FEC H8IL01098: Financial report not available
  Candidate Socialist Workers Party     John Hawkins
CD 2
{map}
Seat up for election		 Democratic Congressman Jesse Louis Jackson, Jr.
• First elected: 12 December 1995 in Special Election re: resignation of Congressman Mel Reynolds, 1 October 1995
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 February 2008 Primary
 ** Uncontested Race **
  Candidate Democratic     Congressman Jesse Louis Jackson, Jr.
• FEC H6IL02124: $792,991
CD 3
{map}
Seat up for election		 Democratic Congressman Daniel William Lipinski
• First elected: 2004
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 February 2008 Primary
    Democratic     Palos Hills Mayor Gerald R. "Jerry" Bennett - lost primary
• FEC H8IL03060: $229,015
    Democratic     Jim Capparelli - lost primary
• FEC H8IL03078: $105,350
  Candidate Democratic     Congressman Daniel William Lipinski
• FEC H4IL03077: $515,690
    Democratic     Mark N. Pera - lost primary
• FEC H8IL03052: $768,274
  Candidate Republican     Michael Hawkins
• FEC H8IL03086: Financial report not available
    Republican     Arthur Joseph "Art" Jones - lost primary
• FEC H4IL03028: Financial report not available
  Candidate Green     Richard Mayers
  Candidate Green     Jerome Pohlen
• FEC H8IL03094: Financial report not available
CD 4
{map}
Seat up for election		 Democratic Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez
• First elected: 1992
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 February 2008 Primary
After announcing his retirement on 6 March 2007, Congressman Gutierrez decided to run for re-election on 16 August 2007.
  Candidate Democratic     Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez
• FEC H2IL08039: $296,929
  Candidate Green     Omar N. López
  Candidate Socialist Workers Party     Laura Anderson
CD 5
{map}
Seat up for election		 Democratic Congressman Rahm Emanuel
• First elected: 2002
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 February 2008 Primary
  Candidate Democratic     Congressman Rahm Emanuel
• FEC H2IL05092: $1,859,887
  Candidate Green     Alan Augustson
• FEC H8IL05065: Financial report not available
CD 6
{map}
Seat up for election		 Republican Congressman Peter J. Roskam
• First elected: 2006
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 February 2008 Primary
    Democratic     Stan Jagla - lost primary
• FEC H8IL06063: $2,101
  Candidate Democratic     Jill Morgenthaler
• FEC H8IL06071: $306,822
  Candidate Republican     Congressman Peter J. Roskam
• FEC H6IL06117: $1,388,640
CD 7
{map}
Seat up for election		 Democratic Congressman Danny K. Davis
• First elected: 1996
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 February 2008 Primary
    Democratic     Robert Dallas - lost primary
• FEC H0IL07084: Financial report not available
  Candidate Democratic     Congressman Danny K. Davis
• FEC H4IL07037: $258,860
  Candidate Socialist Workers Party     Dennis Richter
CD 8
{map}
Seat up for election		 Democratic Congressman Melissa Luburich Bean
• First elected: 2004
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 February 2008 Primary
  Candidate Democratic     Congressman Melissa Luburich Bean
• FEC H2IL08088: $2,220,569
    Democratic     Randi Scheurer - lost primary
• FEC H8IL08069: Financial report not available
    Republican     Kenneth Wayne "Ken" Arnold - lost primary
• FEC H6IL08113: $37,444
  Candidate Republican     Steven Mathew "Steve" Greenberg
• FEC H8IL08077: $522,602
    Republican     Kirk Morris - lost primary
• FEC H8IL08085: $35,235
CD 9
{map}
Seat up for election		 Democratic Congressman Janice D. "Jan" Schakowsky
• First elected: 1998
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 February 2008 Primary
    Democratic     John F. Nocita - lost primary
• FEC H8IL09141: $15,010
  Candidate Democratic     Congressman Janice D. "Jan" Schakowsky
• FEC H8IL09067: $893,993
  Candidate Republican     Michael Benjamin Younan
• FEC H8IL09158: Financial report not available
  Candidate Green     Morris Shanfield
• FEC H8IL09166: Financial report not available
CD 10
{map}
Seat up for election		 Republican Congressman Mark Steven Kirk
• First elected: 2000
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 February 2008 Primary
    Democratic     Jay K. Footlik - lost primary
• FEC H8IL10099: $662,676
  Candidate Democratic     Daniel Joseph "Dan" Seals
• FEC H6IL10119: $1,417,332
  Candidate Republican     Congressman Mark Steven Kirk
• FEC H0IL10120: $2,946,345
  Candidate Green     David James Kalbfleisch
• Removed from the primary ballot 21 December 2007. Likely to be named as the replacement candidate for the general election.
• FEC H8IL10081: Financial report not available
  Candidate Independent     Allan Stevo
• FEC H8IL10107: Financial report not available
CD 11
{map}
Seat up for election
Open		 Republican Congressman Gerald C. "Jerry" Weller
• First elected: 1994
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Open Seat - 21 September 2007: Congressman Weller stated that he will not seek re-election.
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **
  Candidate Democratic     state Senate Majority Leader Deborah "Debbie" DeFrancesco Halvorson
• FEC H8IL11113: $861,344
    Republican     New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann - apparently not a candidate
• Withdrew 22 February after winning the 5 February primary.
• FEC H8IL11097: $103,860
  Candidate Republican     Harry Bond
• Possible replacement candidate
    Republican     Terry Heenan - lost primary
• FEC H8IL11121: Financial report not available
    Republican     Jimmy D. Lee - lost primary
• FEC H8IL11105: $139,061
  Candidate Republican     Martin Ozinga, III
• Announced intentions 17 April 2008 to be the replacement candidate
• FEC H8IL11139: Financial report not available
  Candidate Green     Jason Michael Wallace
• FEC H8IL11071: $5,115
CD 12
{map}
Seat up for election		 Democratic Congressman Jerry F. Costello
• First elected: in Special Election, 9 August 1988, re: death of Congressman Melvin Price, 22 April 1988
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 February 2008 Primary
  Candidate Democratic     Congressman Jerry F. Costello
• FEC H8IL21021: $855,988
  Candidate Republican     Timmy Jay "Tim" Richardson, Jr.
• FEC H8IL12061: Financial report not available
  Candidate Green     Rodger W. Jennings
• FEC H8IL12079: Financial report not available
CD 13
{map}
Seat up for election		 Republican Congressman Judy Biggert
• First elected: 1998
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 February 2008 Primary
  Candidate Democratic     Scott Harper
• FEC H8IL13119: $247,410
  Candidate Republican     Congressman Judy Biggert
• FEC H8IL13069: $685,058
    Republican     Sean Thomas O'Kane - lost primary
• FEC H8IL13127: $230,525
  Candidate Green     Steven J. "Steve" Alesch
• FEC H8IL13101: Financial report not available
CD 14
{map}
Seat up for election		 Democratic Congressman G. William "Bill" Foster
• First elected: 8 March 2008
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 February 2008 Primary. Note: Prior to winning the Special Election for this seat on 8 March 2008, Congressman Foster won his party's nomination in the 5 February.
  Candidate Democratic     Congressman G. William "Bill" Foster
• Won the 5 February 2008 primary for this seat before winning the 8 March 2008 Special Election for this seat.
• FEC H8IL14067: $3,459,389
    Democratic     Jonathan J. "John" Laesch - lost primary
• FEC H6IL14111: $172,787
    Democratic     Joe Serra - lost primary
• FEC H8IL14117: Financial report not available
    Democratic     Jotham Shepard Stein - lost primary
• FEC H8IL14042: $228,409
    Republican     Michael J. Dilger - lost primary
• FEC H8IL14125: Financial report not available
    Republican     state Senator Christopher J. "Chris" Lauzen - lost primary
• FEC H8IL14075: $1,208,958
  Candidate Republican     James D. "Jim" Oberweis
• FEC H8IL14083: $3,927,523
 

Republican Congressman J. Dennis Hastert, who was first elected in 1986, announced his retirement on 17 August 2007 effective at the end of his current term. On 18 October 2007 he announced that he planned to resign before the end of his current term but he did not provide a date. He resigned on 26 November 2007. On 4 December 2007, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich called for a 5 February 2008 special primary and an 8 March 2008 Special Election to fill the vacant seat. Democrat G. William "Bill" Foster and Republican James D. "Jim" Oberweis won the special primary and G. William "Bill" Foster won the special election.

CD 14
{map}
Seat up for election
Special Election		 Republican
• Seat up for election: Saturday 8 March 2008
• Special Election - On 4 December 2007, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich called for a 5 February 2008 special primary and an 8 March 2008 Special Election to fill the vacant seat.
  Elected Democratic 51,140 52.50% G. William "Bill" Foster
• FEC H8IL14067: $3,459,389
  Candidate Republican 46,270 47.50% James D. "Jim" Oberweis
• FEC H8IL14083: $3,927,523
    Democratic     Jonathan J. "John" Laesch - lost primary
• FEC H6IL14111: $172,787
    Democratic     Jotham Shepard Stein - lost primary
• FEC H8IL14042: $228,409
    Republican     state Senator Christopher J. "Chris" Lauzen - lost primary
• FEC H8IL14075: $1,208,958
Total 97,410 100.00%  
CD 15
{map}
Seat up for election		 Republican Congressman Timothy V. "Tim" Johnson
• First elected: 2000
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 February 2008 Primary
  Candidate Democratic     Steve Cox
• FEC H8IL15049: Financial report not available
  Candidate Republican     Congressman Timothy V. "Tim" Johnson
• FEC H0IL15053: $169,976
CD 16
{map}
Seat up for election		 Republican Congressman Donald A. Manzullo
• First elected: 1992
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 February 2008 Primary
  Candidate Democratic     Robert G. Abboud
• FEC H8IL16062: $202,973
  Candidate Republican     Congressman Donald A. Manzullo
• FEC H0IL16085: $737,368
  Candidate Green     Scott Summers
• Removed from the primary ballot on 6 December 2007. Likely to be named as the replacement candidate for the general election.
• FEC H8IL16070: $0
CD 17
{map}
Seat up for election		 Democratic Congressman Philip G. "Phil" Hare
• First elected: 2006
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 February 2008 Primary
 ** Uncontested Race **
  Candidate Democratic     Congressman Philip G. "Phil" Hare
• FEC H6IL17155: $570,132
CD 18
{map}
Seat up for election
Open		 Republican Congressman Ray LaHood
• First elected: 1994
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Open Seat - 27 July 2007: Announced he will not run for re-election in 2008.
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **
  Candidate Democratic     Colleen Callahan
• FEC H8IL18076: $137,945
    Republican     Jim McConoughey - lost primary
• FEC H8IL18050: $448,154
    Republican     John David Morris - lost primary
• FEC H8IL18035: $445,956
  Candidate Republican     state Representative Aaron Schock
• FEC H8IL18043: $1,123,170
  Candidate Constitution     Brad Carter
  
If no Democratic candidate is nominated in the primary, the Democratic county chairmen will have 60 days after the primary to nominate a candidate for the 4 November 2008 ballot.
CD 19
{map}
Seat up for election		 Republican Congressman John M. Shimkus
• First elected: 1996
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 February 2008 Primary
  Candidate Democratic     Daniel Paul Davis
• FEC H8IL19090: $21,543
    Democratic     Joseph E. "Joe" McMenamin - lost primary
• FEC H8IL19108: $131,919
  Candidate Republican     Congressman John M. Shimkus
• FEC H2IL20042: $776,473
  Candidate Green     Victor "Vic" Roberts
• FEC H6IL19086: Financial report not available
Secretary of State  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010
  Democratic Secretary of State Jesse White
• First elected: 1998; re-elected: 2002, 2006
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010
Attorney General  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010
  Democratic Attorney General Lisa Madigan
• First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2006
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010
Treasurer  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010
  Democratic Treasurer Alexander "Alexi" Giannoulias
• First elected: 2006
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010
Comptroller  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010
  Democratic Comptroller Daniel W. "Dan" Hynes
• First elected: 1998; re-elected: 2002, 2006
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010
Political Parties    Parties appear in parenthesis and italics when a candidate receives the endorsement of a given Party and/or official sources indicate a candidate's association with a particular Party but only where the Party in question does not appear on the actual ballot as such.
Major Parties
 • Democratic (affiliates): 19 incumbents, 21 candidates
 • Republican: 9 incumbents, 17 candidates
Major Third Parties
 • Green (affiliates): 12 candidates
 • Libertarian: 1 candidate
 • Reform (affiliates)
Other Third Parties
 • America First
 • Constitution (affiliates): 3 candidates
 • Independence (affiliates)
 • Marijuana
 • Socialist Workers Party: 4 candidates
Independents
 • Independent: 2 candidates
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
 • Not readily classifiable
 
Candidates running under the banner of more than one party are counted towards each party's total. A candidate who has lost a primary or is apparently no longer a candidate is not counted.
Notes
Candidates for office appear on this page in italics where 'The Green Papers' does not yet have independent confirmation from an election authority that the person so listed will actually appear on the ballot.
 
FEC indicates the Federal Election Commission (FEC) Campaign Finance Summary "Total Receipts" for candidates for Federal Office.
Links Links to other web sites
Constitution   Links to State Constitutions
 • Illinois Constitution
Election Authority
 • Illinois State Board of Elections
Legislature   Links to State Legislatures
 • Illinois General Assembly
Democratic
 • Democratic Party of Illinois
 • Illinois House Democrats
Republican
 • Illinois House Republican Organization
 • Illinois House Republicans
 • Illinois Republican Party
 • Illinois Republican Party - We Are Illinois
 • Illinois Senate Republican Caucus
Third Party
 • America First Party of Illinois
 • Illinois American Reform Party
 • Illinois Green Party
 • Illinois Marijuana Party
 • Independence Party of Illinois
 • Libertarian Party of Illinois
 • Moderate Party
 • Reform Party of Illinois (Not affiliated with the Reform Party USA)
Media & others
 • Belleville News-Democrat
 • Benton Evening News
 • Carmi Times
 • Chicago Sun-Times
 • Chicago Tribune
 • Daily American News - West Frankfort
 • Daily Herald - Arlington Heights
 • Daily Review Atlas - Monmouth
 • Daily Southtown - (Chicago) - Tinley Park
 • Daily Times - Pekin
 • DC's Political Report - Illinois
 • Du Quoin Evening Call
 • Edwardsville Intelligencer
 • Herald & Review - Decatur
 • Illinois Campaign for Political Reform
 • Illinois Times - Springfield
 • Journal Gazette and Times-Courier - Mattoon
 • Modern Vertebrate - Chicago
 • NewsLink.org - Illinois
 • Peoria Journal Star
 • Pioneer Press - Chicago
 • Politics1.com - Illinois
 • Rockford Register Star
 • Sauk Valley - Dixon - Sterling - Rock Flats
 • St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 • Star Courier - Kewanee
 • Star Publications - Tinley Park
 • Suburban Chicago Newspapers
 • The Capitol Fax Blog
 • The Courier News - Elgin
 • The Daily Journal - Kankakee
 • The Daily Ledger - Canton
 • The Daily Register - Harrisburg
 • The Herald News - Joliet
 • The Journal - Chicago's Northwest Suburbs
 • The Macomb Journal
 • The Naperville Sun
 • The News-Gazette - Champaign - Urbana
 • The Pantagraph - Bloomington-Normal
 • The Quincy Herald-Whig
 • The Register-Mail - Galesburg
 • The Southern Illinoisan - Carbondale
 • The State Journal-Register - Springfield
 • The Telegraph - Alton
 • The Times-Press - Streator
 • The Zephyr - Galesburg
 • WBBM TV - CBS - Chicago
 • WBEZ - Chicago Public Radio
 • WEEK TV - NBC - East Peoria
 • WLS TV - ABC - Chicago
 • WMAQ TV - NBC - Chicago
 

  2008 General Election Home  
 
2008 Election Dates for Statewide offices and Congress:   Chronologically   --   Alphabetically  
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  Governors     Senate     House  
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  Senators by 'Class'  
  Governors by election 'cycle'  
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  Gubernatorial Primaries at a Glance   --   Senatorial Primaries at a Glance  
....
  Open Governor's Chairs, Senate and House Seats (the incumbent is not running for re-election)  
  Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats with no incumbent running for them  
  Uncontested Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats (one candidate running for office)  
  Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats with multiple incumbents running for them  
  Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats with only one major party candidate running for office  
....
  2008 Partisan Composition by State  
  2008 Political Party Breakdown by State - "Traditional" Sections and Regions  
....
  Political Parties  
....
  Senate Electoral Classes  
....
  Statewide Political Party Strength  

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