Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin turned back a challenge from Republican state Sen. Jim Oberweis in a race that was called relatively early in the evening of Nov. 4, ensuring that Durbin will represent Illinois for another six years.
Oberweis conceded shortly before 8:45 p.m., saying competing in a heavily Democratic state was difficult, the Chicago Tribune reported. Before making his run this year, Oberweis had lost five tries for top political posts, including failed U.S. Senate primaries in 2002 and 2004.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement, "The City of Chicago could not ask for a better partner in the U.S. Senate than [Durbin]. On everything from rebuilding the CTA to making Chicago a center for research and innovation, Senator Durbin works tirelessly to ensure that we have the federal resources we need to bring economic opportunity to every one of our neighborhoods."
Regarding U.S. House races, Democrat Jan Schakowsky easily held off a challenge from Republican Susanne Atanus. At last report, Schakowsky was leading 69 percent to 31 percent.
In a tightly contested race that saw negative TV ads from both sides, Republican Bob Dold was leading Democrat Brad Schneider 53 percent to 47 percent, with 70 percent of precincts reporting. Dold was trying to win back the seat he held for one term before losing to Schneider, the incumbent. Schneider later conceded defeat, saying, "I'll rest easy knowing we did everything we could."
Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, a staunch LGBT ally, easily defeated Republican Vince Kolber and Green Party candidate Nancy Wade. Democratic U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth also won re-election.
All of this happened on a night when Republicans retained control of the U.S. House and won control of the U.S. Senate. The question now is what the impact will be regarding Congressional dynamics as well as interaction with President Obama, who still has two years left in his term.
National landscape
It was a mixed bag for LGBTA candidates across the nation—with most losing or engaged in very tight races.
Former American Idol finalist Clay Aiken was a runner-up again, losing his initial bid to represent Congress in North Carolina, as he succumbed to incumbent Renee Ellmers in a primarily Republican district. ( It did not help that his tour bus broke down earlier after a stop at the polls in Cary on Election Day, according to WTVD. )
The Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) congratulated Maura Healey on her historic victory in the race to be the next Massachusetts attorney general. HRC President Chad Griffin said, "As the nation's first openly gay attorney general, she is an inspirational trailblazer and will fight to guarantee civil rights and legal equality for all people of Massachusetts."
With 80 percent of votes in, Healey led John Miller 62 percent to 38 percent, according to MassLive.com .
In New York, first-term U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney was in a tight race with Republican opponent Nan Hayworth. With 26 percent of precincts reporting, Maloney was clinging to a lead of 50 percent to 48 percent.
However, news seemed much more dire for Sean Eldridge, whose husband is Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes. With half of precincts reporting, incumbent Chris Gibson led Eldridge 66 percent to 34 percent.
In Wisconsin, openly gay Democratic U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan has won a second term in the U.S. House seat, defeating Republican Peter Theron. Gay U.S. Rep. David Cicilline ( D-R.I. ) was re-elected, defeating Republican Cormick Lynch.
In Arizona, bisexual U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema was also re-elected.
Gay Republican Richard Tisei lost to Democratic Iraq War veteran Seth Moulton. Moulton outdistanced Tisei 56 percent to 39 percent, with 79 percent of the precincts reporting.
Over in California, Carl DeMaio is the second person vying to become the first openly gay Republican elected to Congress, but his effort was losing traction—in part because of two separate sexual-harassment suits against him. Congressional District 52 ( DeMaio's area ) is said to be evenly split between Democrats and Republicans.
In Indiana, out candidate Thad Gerardot fell to GOP incumbent Martin Carbaugh 60 percent to 40 percent in a race for state representative of the 81st District. Openly gay congressional candidate Al McAffrey has lost in Oklahoma.
Elsewhere, LGBT ally Cory Booker—the Newark, New Jersey, mayor-turned U.S. senator—won another six years in the Senate, defeating Republican challenger Jeff Bell.
Guide to the Illinois gays
Gay and lesbian candidates running for office in Illinois fared well.
—Kelly Cassidy
Race: Illinois state Representative ( 14th District )
The result: Democratic incumbent Cassidy took on Republican candidate Denis Detzel, a consultant—and won handily. At last report, she had secured 85 percent of the vote.
—Sam Yingling
Race: Illinois state Representative ( 62nd District )
The result: Incumbent Democrat Yingling, the first openly gay House member from outside metropolitan Chicago, faced Republican Rod Drobinski of Wauconda. Yingling won, 52 percent to 48 percent.
—Greg Harris
Race: Illinois state Representative ( 13th District )
The result: Harris—chief co-sponsor of SB10, the legislation that brought about marriage equality in Illinois—ran unopposed, ensuring his re-election.
—Judy Rice
Race: Cook County Circuit Court Judge ( 7th Subcircuit, W. Taylor vacancy )
The result: Rice ran unopposed.
—Bill Downs Jr.
Race: Illinois state Representative ( 52nd District )
The result: Downs—who has resided in Cary, Illinois, for more than two decades—lost to Republican incumbent David McSweeney. With 97 percent of precincts reporting, McSweeney garnered 70 percent of the vote.
—Sebastian Patti
Race: Cook County Circuit Court ( retention )
The result: Patti was retained.
Results were as of 10:30 p.m. CT on Nov. 4. Be sure to visit www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com for updated results.
