The2008 congressional elections in Illinois were held on November 4, 2008, to determine who would represent theState ofIllinois in theUnited States House of Representatives, coinciding with thepresidential andU.S. Senate elections. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected served in the111th Congress from January 3, 2009, until January 3, 2011.
Illinois has nineteen seats in the House, apportioned according to the2000 United States census. Its 2007–2008 congressional delegation consisted of elevenDemocrats and eightRepublicans. It became, following the election, twelve Democrats and seven Republicans. District 11 was the only seat which changed party (from open Republican to Democratic), althoughCQ Politics had forecast districts 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14 and 18 to be at some risk for the incumbent party.
This district includes part ofCook County. Democratic incumbentBobby Rush, who has held the seat since 1993, ran against Republican nominee Antoine Members.
This district includes part ofCook County. Democratic incumbentDan Lipinski, who has held the seat since 2005, ran against Republican nominee Michael Hawkins and Green Party nominee Jerome Pohlen. Perennial candidate and allegedwhite supremacist Richard Mayers had attempted to run in the Green Party primary.[7]
This district includes part ofCook County. Democratic incumbentLuis Gutierrez, who has held the seat since January 1993, ran against Republican nominee Daniel Cunninghan and Green Party nominee Omar López.
Earlier in 2007, Cook CountyCommissionerRoberto Maldonado and ChicagoaldermenManny Flores,Ricardo Muñoz andGeorge 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.[8]
This district includes part ofCook County. Democratic incumbentRahm Emanuel, who has held the seat since 2003, ran against Republican nominee Tom Hanson and Green Party nominee Alan Augustson.
This district lies entirely withinCook County. Democratic incumbentDanny K. Davis, who has held the seat since 1997, ran against Republican nominee Steve Miller, a United States Navy veteran.
Republican incumbentJerry Weller, who had held the seat since 1995, decided not to seek re-election, leaving this an open seat. Tim Baldermann, mayor ofNew Lenox and police chief ofChicago Ridge, won the Republican nomination but withdrew on February 23.[9] Martin Ozinga was chosen to replace Baldermann on April 30.[10]
This district is in the southwest part of the state and includes the cities ofAlton,Carbondale andEast St. Louis. Democratic incumbentJerry 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.
This district includes parts of theCook County,DuPage County andWill County. Republican incumbentJudy Biggert, who has held the seat since January 1999, ran against Democratic nomineeScott 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.[11]
The district was previously represented by former Speaker of the HouseDennis Hastert from 1987 to 2007. He resigned in November 2007; Bill Foster won the special election held on March 8, 2008.
This district in the central and western part of the state includes the cities ofJacksonville,Peoria andSpringfield. Republican nomineeAaron Schock won against Democratic nomineeColleen Callahan and Green nominee Sheldon Schafer. Republican incumbentRay LaHood, who had held the seat since 1995, decided to retire, leaving this an open seat.
This district in the central part of Southern Illinois includes part ofSpringfield and the outerSt. Louis suburbs. Republican incumbentJohn Shimkus, who has held the seat since 1997, won against Democratic nominee Daniel Davis and Green Party nominee Troy Dennis.
District results
County results
