Other Illinois Election News

In the 8th Congressional, investment banker David McSweeney wins 42.7% to 32.9%over trial lawyer Kathy Salvi, and in the 9th, Shannon lopsidedly over Ribeiro. Results here.

On the Dem side, it looks like DCCC head Rahm Emanuel's "Fighting Dem" (as described in RCP by Tom Bevan) strategy has paid off in the 6th Congressional, as Duckworth beats Cegelis 43.8% to 40%. She will still have to meet Republican Peter Roskam in the fall, in a traditionally GOP district. Story here from earlier in the night.

UPDATE: The win by Obama-backed Dem candidate for Treasurer, Alexi Giannoulious, over a downstater may burnish Obama's reputation (as if it needed any more), but it may also provide an opening for Republicans to hold on to the Treasurer's spot. Now held by Topinka, the GOP candidate in the fall will be Sen. Christine Radogno of Lemont. (Cache of her site here, couldn't pull up current.) Giannoulious has been linked to an ex-mobster, story by Rich Miller here, and given odd responses on the issue.