The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois was held on Tuesday, November 6, to elect the 18 U.S. representatives from the state, one from each of the state's 18 congressional districts, a loss of one seat following the 2010 United States census. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election. Primary elections were held on March 20, 2012.
Republicans struggled after a strong showing in 2010, losing a total of five seats, one via redistricting, and four via losses by incumbents. Joe Walsh, Bob Dold, Judy Biggert, and Bobby Schilling were all defeated in their bids for re-election. Walsh, Dold, and Schilling had all been elected during the wave year of 2010.
Redistricting A redistricting bill was introduced to the Illinois General Assembly by members of the Democratic Party in May 2011. Although Representatives are not required to live within their districts, the new map drew the homes of at least five Republican incumbents into districts where they would have to run against other Republicans, and others into districts which strongly favor Democrats.
After an amendment which modified the 13th and 15th districts was passed with Republican support, the new map was passed by the Illinois House of Representatives on May 30, 2011 and the Senate on May 31. Governor Pat Quinn, a Democrat, signed the map into law on June 24. Republican members of the congressional delegation planned to mount a legal challenge.
Overview United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois, 2012PartyVotesPercentageSeats beforeSeats after+/– Democratic 2,799,570 57.07% 8 12 +4 Republican 2,002,848 40.83% 11 6 -5 Others 102,826 2.16% 0 0 - Totals 4,905,244 100.00% 19 18 -1
District 1
The 1st district, which had been represented by Democrat Bobby Rush since 1993, had seen a decline in population and so now extends into the Chicago suburbs and rural areas of Will County.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Bobby Rush, incumbent U.S. representative
Eliminated in primary Harold Bailey Raymond Lodato, lecturer in public policy at the University of Chicago Clifford Russell Jr., police officer Jordan Sims, political commentator for an online newspaper Fred Smith, program director for a youth care agency
Endorsements
Primary results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Donald Peloquin, mayor of Blue Island
Eliminated in primary Frederick Collins, police officer and 2010 candidate for Cook County sheriff Jimmy Lee Tillman II, producer
Endorsements
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call, November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal BallCrystal Ball , November 5, 2012 NY TimesHouse Race Ratings, The New York Times, November 4, 2012RCP, November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 2
The new 2nd district stretches from Kankakee County, through Will County and to Chicago. Democrat Jesse Jackson, Jr., who had represented the 2nd district since 1999, sought re-election.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Jesse Jackson Jr., incumbent U.S. representative
Eliminated in primary Debbie Halvorson, former U.S. representative
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JesseJackson, Jr. DebbieHalvorson Undecided We Ask AmericaWe Ask America February 21, 2012 1,294 ± 2.7% 54% 32% 14%
Primary results
Republican primary Republican Adam Kinzinger, who was first elected to represent the 11th district in 2010 and now lives in the 2nd district, sought re-election in the 16th district.
Candidates Nominee Brian Woodworth, associate professor at Olivet Nazarene University
Eliminated in primary James Taylor Sr., newspaper publisher
Declined Adam Kinzinger, incumbent U.S. representative for the 11th district
Endorsements
Primary results
Independents Marcus Lewis, postal worker
General election Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JesseJackson, Jr. (D) BrianWoodworth (R) MarcusLewis (I) Undecided We Ask AmericaWe Ask America October 21, 2012 819 ± 3.5% 58% 27% 15% —
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
Aftermath Jesse Jackson, Jr. resigned his seat in the 112th Congress on November 21, 2012, and also resigned his seat in the 113th Congress on the same day. As a result, no one was seated in the 113th Congress for the 2nd congressional district, and a special election was called for April, 2013, to fill the vacancy.
District 3
The 3rd district, which had been represented by Democrat Dan Lipinski since 2005, now extends to Bridgeport, Chicago and Lockport, Will County. Lipinski sought re-election.
Democratic primary Insurance executive and health care activist John Atkinson was expected to challenge incumbent Lipinski, and raised over $535,000 in the first quarter of 2011, but no longer lives in Lipinski's district. Atkinson had considered instead running in the 11th district, but suspended his campaign on June 14, 2011.
Candidates Nominee Dan Lipinski, incumbent U.S. representative
Eliminated in primary Farah Baqai, police officer
Withdrawn John Atkinson, Insurance executive and health care activist
Endorsements
Primary results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Richard Grabowski, manufacturing company supervisor
Eliminated in primary Jim Falvey, attorney Arthur J. Jones, insurance sales representative
Endorsements
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 4
The 4th district, which had been represented by Democrat Luis Gutiérrez since 1993, was extended to incorporate Gutiérrez's new home in Portage Park.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Luis Gutiérrez, incumbent U.S. representative
Eliminated in primary Jorge Zavala, teacher with the City Colleges of Chicago
Primary results
Republican primary Héctor Concepción, a former director of the Puerto Rican chamber of commerce, had been removed from the ballot by the Illinois Board of Elections in January 2012, but subsequently refiled and challenged Gutiérrez as the Republican nominee in the general election.
Candidates Nominee Héctor Concepción, former director of the Puerto Rican chamber of commerce
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 5
The 5th district, which had been represented by Democrat Mike Quigley since 2009, was redrawn to include Franklin Park, Elmwood Park, Hinsdale, Oak Brook, River Grove, Schiller Park and parts of Melrose Park, Stone Park and the North Side of Chicago. Quigley sought re-election.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Mike Quigley, incumbent U.S. representative
Primary results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Dan Schmitt, self-employed
Primary results
Green primary Candidates Nominee Nancy Wade, community activist
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 6
The 6th district, a DuPage Republican Votesink, which had been represented by Republican Peter Roskam since 2007, is one of two Chicagoland districts which were expected to remain strongly favorable to Republicans, although it has been redrawn to include Algonquin, Barrington, Cary, Downers Grove, Glen Ellyn, Lake in the Hills, Lake Zurich, Palatine, South Elgin, West Chicago, Westmont and Wheaton.Illinois Congressional District 6, Illinois Board of Elections
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Peter Roskam, incumbent U.S. representative
Primary results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Leslie Coolidge, certified public accountant and former partner at KPMG
Eliminated in primary Geoffrey Petzel, small business owner Maureen E. Yates, retired businesswoman
Disqualified Tim Ritter, graduate student at the University of Illinois at Chicago
Endorsements
Primary results
Independents Khizar Jafri, a traffic analyst, ran as an Independent.
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 7
The 7th district, which had been represented by Democrat Danny K. Davis since 1997, was redrawn to include parts of LaGrange Park and Westchester. Davis sought re-election.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Danny Davis, incumbent U.S. representative
Eliminated in primary Jacques A. Conway, pastor and retired police officer
Endorsements
Primary results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Rita Zak
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 8
Republican Joe Walsh, who was first elected to represent the 8th district in 2010, ran for re-election despite no longer living within the redrawn boundaries of the district. Walsh had initially decided to run in the redrawn 14th district.
Republican primary Walsh defeated write-in candidate Robert Canfield, a business owner who had planned to challenge him in the Republican primary before being removed from the ballot by the Illinois Board of Elections.
Candidates Nominee Joe Walsh, incumbent U.S. representative
Eliminated in primary Robert Canfield, business owner
Withdrawn Rick Veenstra, DuPage County assistant state attorney
Disqualified Rich Evans, accountant
Declined David Harris, state representative Craig Johnson, mayor of Elk Grove Village Andrew Palomo, businessman Darlene Ruscitti, DuPage County superintendent of Education
Primary results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Tammy Duckworth, Iraq veteran, former official in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and nominee for the 6th district in 2006
Eliminated in primary Raja Krishnamoorthi, former deputy state treasurer and candidate for Illinois Comptroller in 2010
Declined Melissa Bean, former U.S. representative (endorsed Krishnamoorthi)
Endorsements
Primary results
General election Campaign Walsh and Duckworth scheduled four debates. The first was held on May 12, 2012, on CLTV, the second on September 14 in West Dundee at Heritage Fest, and the third on October 9 on WCPT and WIND at the Meadows Club in Rolling Meadows, open to 8th district residents. The fourth was held on October 18 on WTTW's Chicago Tonight.
Endorsements
Debates Complete video of debate, October 18, 2012
Polling