In the 10th congressional, Mark Kirk wins it over Dan Seals, 52-47, countering the blue Dem wave. Seals was an attractive candidate, but did not live in the district, was clearly a liberal backed by Chicago Dems, and was the subject of FEC investigations and an investigation by the attorney general about his fundraising.
Kirk, a commander in the Naval Reserves, emphasized his reasoned commitment to the environment, support for the war on terror and our ally Israel, and more fiscal accountability and transparency. (Previous post here.)
Peter Roskam, in the open seat vacated by Republican Henry Hyde, battled another outsider, Tammy Duckworth, who was the poster figure for anti-war Democrats around the country. They poured in money and outside campaign help, but it wasn't enough to deny Roskam a victory. Roskam, a social and fiscal conservative, ran on local issues and carried the day. Video here.
Peraica-Stroger race for Cook County still in contention. Amazing.
As far as the rest of the election---it's going to be a long two years!
PS: There were some confused Democrat voters at my polling place yesterday. Now that part is not news, but they lived in the 9th and were disappointed they couldn't vote for Dan Seals. Maybe I should cut them some slack, as Seals actually lives in the 9th, not the 10th where he ran for office.
So I have a suggestion for Dan Seals---run against flaming liberal Jan "Tax Cheat" Schakowsky next time in the 9th. And you'll have crossover appeal---even I'll vote for you.
UPDATE: Vis-vis Cook County voting fiasco and other assorted Illinois fiascos, The Indignant Citizen. Also hat tip Wilmette blog--Does Peraica have it?!!!? Who knows, it's the Cook County official website. Tribune shows more votes counted with different results, Stroger leading--unofficial AP.
UPDATE: AP unofficial call, via Tribune--Stroger is the winner. Sun Times, Peraica:"I smell a rat here":
Two hours earlier, however, Orr emerged from his office to say "hooligans" were trying to break into boxes with election cartridges inside."Drunks or whoever, they were trying to block people from bringing them up," Orr said. "And the freight elevator was broken."
Still, Orr said the integrity of the election hadn't been compromised.
Media cameras captured boxes being ripped open by unknown people, and others lying over the boxes to protect them. One man was arrested for allegedly damaging the elevator.
"It's just absolute anarchy over here," Peraica spokesman Dan Proft said. "We just saw a box coming in that was open . . . it's just been chaos."
Cook County officials said all of the ballot materials had been accounted for.
The free-for-all started after Peraica urged his supporters to leave the election night party at the Hotel Intercontinental and march about a mile to the building at 69 W. Washington.
Once they arrived, a Stroger campaign volunteer was seen briefly wedging himself into the revolving door. Eventually, most supporters were allowed in, and Peraica and six supporters met with Orr, along with seven Stroger supporters.
"I smell a rat here," Peraica said, citing $60 million in upgrades county taxpayers funded to improve voting equipment since a similar debacle in the March primary.
Peraica's venomous response was a stark contrast to Stroger's reaction. Stroger, a Democrat, giggled as he told supporters he was going to bed for the night and would wake up today "just like Christmas" and celebrate.
Peraica, a Republican, said he was ready for the long haul. "This is going to go on for as long as it takes," he said. "We are not going to have this election stolen from us."
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