Democrats Biden And Durbin Win In Illinois As Polls Close
CHICAGO (CBS/AP) — Former Vice President Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump in Illinois and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin won reelection on Tuesday, continuing a pattern of Democratic dominance in the state.
Late Tuesday, Durbin addressed both his supporters and those who did not support him.
"I, of course, thank everyone who supported me. But I want to say to those who did not support me and voted for another candidate, thanks for participating," he said.
He added, "We've got to find things that we do agree on as Americans and as people who are living in the same state and the same communities."
Durbin is 75 and served in the Senate with Barack Obama.
The 44th president has been on television endorsing his old friend.
Durbin was first elected to the Senate in 1996, succeeding the late Sen. Paul Simon.
Republican Mark Curran, the former sheriff of Lake County, challenged Durbin. Businessman and former mayoral and presidential candidate Willie Wilson was also in the race, along with Green Party candidate David Black and Libertarian Danny Malouf.
More than 3.5 million people cast their ballots ahead of Election Day.
Voters also weighed in on competitive U.S. House races, legislative contests, a proposed constitutional amendment on income taxes and more.
Here's a look at the election:
ILLINOIS VOTERS
Votes cast before Election Day hit record levels. Roughly half were by mail, which could slow down when some results are available.
Mail ballots have to be postmarked on or before Nov. 3 and must arrive by Nov. 17 to be tallied.
This year, new legislation required mail applications be sent to anyone who recently voted in elections. Roughly 6.5 million applications were sent.
TAX QUESTION
At the top of the ballot was a proposed Illinois constitutional amendment changing the state's flat income tax to a graduated income tax that takes a larger percentage from wealthy residents. The change allows first-term Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the state's Democratic-controlled Legislature to address the state's billions of dollars in debt.
The state's flat tax is currently 4.95% for individual payers. Approving an amendment to the Illinois Constitution requires three-fifths majority approval, or 60%, of all who vote on the question.
U.S. SENATE
Durbin, the Senate's No. 2 Democrat, handily won reelection to a fifth term. The candidates vying to replace him in Illinois' only statewide race were Republican former Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran; wealthy Chicago businessman Willie Wilson, running under his own party; Green Party candidate David Black; and Libertarian Danny Malouf.
13TH DISTRICT
Republican Rep. Rodney Davis was seeking a fifth term and faced a strong challenge from Democrat Betsy Dirksen Londrigan.
It was the second matchup for the candidates after Davis narrowly won over Londrigan in 2018 by less than 1 percentage point. The GOP-heavy territory covers a swath of central and southwest Illinois, including farmland, universities and Illinois suburbs of St. Louis.
Davis, who first took office in 2013, has tried to portray himself as someone who can work with Democrats, touting his efforts on farm bills and transportation projects. Londrigan, of Springfield, has targeted Davis' opposition to the Affordable Care Act.
6TH DISTRICT
Democratic Rep. Sean Casten was seeking a second term with a challenge from Republican Jeanne Ives in historically GOP territory outside Chicago.
Casten, a Downers Grove businessman and scientist, flipped the seat two years ago. Casten has touted his background as a scientist in addressing the coronavirus pandemic.
A former state lawmaker, Ives is a social and fiscal conservative from Wheaton. She argues Casten isn't a good fit for the district spanning suburbs north and northwest of Chicago.
3RD DISTRICT
Democrat Marie Newman and Republican Mike Fricilone were running to replace Rep. Dan Lipinski, an eight-term Democrat ousted in the primary.
It's the first time in more than three decades that there won't be a Lipinski in the seat. The outgoing congressman, considered among the most conservative in the House, was preceded in office by his father, Bill Lipinski.
The Democrat-heavy district covers parts of Chicago's southwest side and suburbs.
Newman, of La Grange, has vastly outraised Fricilone and has name recognition built on an unsuccessful attempt for the seat in 2018. Fricilone, who works in sales and lives in Homer Glen, is on the Will County Board.
OTHER RACES
14TH DISTRICT: Rep. Lauren Underwood, a Democrat, was seeking a second term against GOP state Sen. Jim Oberweis in the longtime Republican Chicago-area district.
15TH DISTRICT: Republican Mary Miller and Democrat Erika Weaver were facing off for the seat left open by retiring Republican Rep. John Shimkus. The district covers much of southeastern Illinois, running along a section of the border with Indiana.
17TH DISTRICT: Rep. Cheri Bustos, the chairwoman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, faced a lively challenge from Esther Joy King, an attorney and Army Reserve captain from East Moline. Bustos, of Moline, sought a fifth term in the northwestern Illinois territory.
ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT: While judicial retention votes aren't often contentious, an effort to boot Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride drew millions of dollars. He's part of the court's Democratic majority. Voters in north-central Illinois were deciding if he should get a third 10-year term.
(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
