No longer deep blue: Republicans shine in Illinois US House races

Results are still trickling in, but there is already some very good news for Illinois Republicans this evening. In the west-suburban-rural Illinois 14th congressional district, Randy Hultgren has defeated incumbent Bill Foster. This is Denny Hastert's old district. In the southwest-suburban rural 11th district, Republican Adam Kinzinger forces another Democrat, Rep. Debbie Halvorson, to pack her bags.

In the far-western  and southern 17th district, Republican pizzeria owner Bobby Schilling has stuffed incumbent Rep. Phil Hare into a doggie bag.

In the Chicago North Shore 10th, which is Mark Kirk's district, the Democrats appeared to be poised to flip that seat. But as of this writing, Republican Robert Dold holds a narrow lead over three-time candidate Dan Seals.

And in another surprise, this one is also too close to call, but Republican Joe Walsh, a weak candidate in my opinion, just might topple Democrat Melissa Bean in the northwest-suburban 8th.

It could mean four House pick ups in Illinois--we are no longer a deep-blue state.

Technorati tags: elections Politics Republican Illinois Politics 2010 politics news Mark Kirk phil hare bobby schilling quad cities