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* From Congressman-elect Darin LaHood…
“First and foremost, I want to thank the voters of the 18th Congressional District for entrusting me to serve them in Washington. I’d also like to thank my opponent for a hard fought campaign and my wife, Kristen, and our three boys for standing by my side every step of the way over the last six months.
“Throughout this campaign, our volunteers and supporters worked tirelessly to spread our message of getting our economy back on track, reigning in government overspending, and fighting for term limits by knocking on more than 80,000 doors and making over 90,000 phone calls. For that, I cannot thank them enough.
“Six months ago I decided to run for Congress because of my three boys. I want to ensure that they have the same opportunities that I had. I’m going to go to Washington to fight for a better future for the kids and grandchildren of Central and West Central Illinois. Its time for reform in Washington. We must resolve our $18 trillion debt, create openness and transparency in government, fight for term limits, and repeal and replace ObamaCare.
“As I prepare to head to Washington, I am humbled and honored for the opportunity to serve the families of Central and West Central Illinois. I am excited to get to work and make sure that conservative common sense has a place in Washington.”
* PJStar…
The state senator led Democrat Rob Mellon by a tally of 34,907 to 15,840, according to final results compiled by The Associated Press. That’s a margin of 69 percent to 31 percent.
* National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Greg Walden…
“I’d like to congratulate Darin LaHood for his well-earned victory this evening. Darin will undoubtedly be an effective voice for 18th District families from his first day in Congress, and will continue to fight to bring good paying jobs back to central Illinois, balance the budget, and strengthen our national defense. I look forward to having Darin join our historic majority as we continue driving to strengthen America.”
* IL GOP Chairman Tim Schneider…
“I would like to congratulate Congressman-elect Darin LaHood on his victory in the special election for the 18th Congressional District. Darin will stand up for taxpayers in Central & West Central Illinois by fighting to create jobs, balance the budget, and ensure transparency in government. Darin has a proven record of reform in Springfield, and he will use that experience to push for conservative reforms in Washington, D.C.”
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:08 am
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Rauner gets to mint a new state Senator.
I guess I could pretend the district and the Senate GOP is going to help, but…
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:11 am
Geez, there were bigger turnouts at Illini games during the Beckman era.
Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:14 am
Barely Word, just barely
Comment by anon Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:16 am
I am sure he will serve some families in this area very well, others not so much. No big deal, he got the most votes as expected.
Comment by Bemused Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:22 am
Mellon got 31% compared to Darrell Miller’s 25% back in november 2014. Things are looking up for the Dems in Il-18.
Comment by train111 Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:23 am
===Things are looking up for the Dems in Il-18. ===
I truly hope that was written in jest.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:28 am
===I want to ensure that they have the same opportunities that I had.===
Literally, I guess! lol
Comment by A guy Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:29 am
I though it was sad that both the Trib and ST had the same AP story. Couldn’t have a paper reporter write up a state story?
Comment by a drop in Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:29 am
==Things are looking up for the Dems in Il-18.==
Wow, I guess you’re just a “glass 1/3 full” kinda guy. /s
Comment by A guy Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:31 am
Total voter turnout was less than half the size of Springfield alone.
Comment by A Jack Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:31 am
Rich, any idea what total voter turnout percentage was for this election? It was only 8.8% in Sangamon County.
Comment by Moby Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:33 am
So he knocked on 80,000 doors, made 90,000 calls, but only received 34,000 votes. I am not sure that would be a statistic I would share.
Comment by A Jack Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:33 am
Now the fight begins on who will take LaHoods Illinois Senate Seat, gonna be interesting to watch
Comment by Charles Wilkins Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:47 am
===Now the fight begins on who will take LaHoods Illinois Senate Seat, gonna be interesting to watch===
There will be no fight. It’s Rauner’s choice disguised as a “local” consensus. We’ve seen this movie already.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:52 am
Just curious, but what is the time frame for all this to happen in…resignation and assumption of office for LaHood. Just wondering. Thanks
Comment by Downstate GOP Faithless Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:57 am
Suddenly, Schock looks so much better…
Comment by D.P.Gumby Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 11:58 am
- A Jack -
“So he knocked on 80,000 doors, made 90,000 calls, but only received 34,000 votes. I am not sure that would be a statistic I would share.”
They contact the voters more than once silly.
Comment by PravdaOnThePrairie Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 12:04 pm
==- PravdaOnThePrairie - Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 12:04 pm:==
Also, these are probably puffed up numbers. Only making 10K more calls than doors knocked in district like that doesn’t make a ton of sense. Probably also includes some GOTV lit drop numbers in the doors knocked category.
Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 12:16 pm
Turns out the other guy got some votes too. Not everyone you knock on or call votes for you.
It’s reaching to criticize that statement. He’s thanking his supporters. Take a break dude.
Comment by A guy Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 12:18 pm
In McLean County, 4097 voted out of 44183 registered voters. That’s 9.3% voting. LaHood got 2804, 1286 for Mellon, and 16 write-in votes. And, how much was spent on this election??
Comment by Nearly Normal Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 12:40 pm
Oswego Willy had a better turn out when he ran for homecoming king. What a waste of taxpayer dollars.
Comment by pool boy Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 1:13 pm
LaHood is claiming that since he announced, he has knocked on 452 doors every day non-stop. That is just over 25% of voters in this district in 2012, which had the highest turnout total among recent elections in the 18th.
About 325,000 votes will be cast next year, based upon that 2012 figure.
LaHood’s vote total would be about 11% of the total 2012 vote.
The participation rate for this race is very low. Comparing it to the May 2015 Special Congressional election in Mississippi, (MS-1) which breaks down between parties almost exactly as the IL-18, LaHood received exactly half the number of votes cast to be elected as had the MS-1 Special Congressional Election winner, Trent Kelly.
So LaHood won, but it was definitely not a strong one, even when considering US Congressional Districts with similar voting patterns during a Special Election.
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 1:29 pm
Great to hear. Too bad more people can’t laugh in the face of adversary.
Comment by pool boy Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 1:30 pm
I would be interested to know if fewer voted this time than in the primary. In McLean County, about 12% voted in July in the primary. So, our new Congressman was selected by a minority of those eligible to vote. No mandate there, Darin, from your Republican majority district.
Comment by Nearly Normal Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 1:30 pm
To those trying to pick apart this victory of LaHood’s, for whatever strange reason: Just watch. In a real election, his margin will actually increase. Low turnout in this district helps the Democrat more than the Republican. He will be Congressman for a long time.
Comment by Anon Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 1:45 pm
This was a special election where everyone knew who the winner would be. I voted just to say I did. I am sure the knowledge that there was no way a Democrat could win this election held voter turnout down for everyone.
DUH!
If it was a close race (within 20 points) there would have been a lot more voters.
Comment by Dudeman Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 1:50 pm
Normal - come on. Give it a rest. Did a low turnout not guarantee a mandate for Rahm Emanuel, Mike Quigley and Robyn Kelly when they each won their respective special elections?
Comment by Team Sleep Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 1:55 pm
In a real election, his margin will actually increase.
These are considered real.
Compared to other 2015 Special Congressional elections - LaHood pulled in half as many voters as the GOP winner in a nearly identical US Congressional District, which just occurred in May. You can’t get as good a comparison between what happened in IL-18, as you can with MS-1.
It’s just facts. No imagined or conspiratorial strange reasons necessary. His win was weak, especially considering his family name and this particular constituency.
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 2:08 pm
A win is a win. LaHood is going to Congress, the other guy is not.
Comment by Bigger Fish Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 3:26 pm
===I want to ensure that they have the same opportunities that I had.===
That’s a line I would have removed from that speech. It’s a good speech, but when I read that line it just reminds me how much of a cynic I am.
Comment by Anon Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 3:34 pm
Illinois elects an Appointed Senator son of a Congressman. Shameful
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 3:39 pm
Political inheritance used to be called monarchy.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 3:40 pm
Anon 3:39 & 3:40 - a lot of good candidates could’ve run. Why didn’t they? Just because support mollified behind Senator LaHood doesn’t mean others couldn’t have made the effort.
Comment by Team Sleep Friday, Sep 11, 15 @ 3:47 pm