Last-minute filings make races more competitive
PRIMARIES | More seeking seats of Biggert, Hastert
Candidates piled on as the 5 p.m. primary filing deadline approached Monday, making some formerly sleepy races into hotly contested elections.
Instead of having to choose between delegates for just Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in the Democratic presidential primary, Illinois voters in most districts also will have to choose among delegates for John Edwards and Bill Richardson. Dennis Kucinich's and Chris Dodd's names also will be on the ballot.
(AP)
Democratic hopes to capture U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller's far south suburban seat got a boost when the day ended without a primary challenge for state Sen. Debbie Halvorson. Tim Balderman, Jimmy Lee and Terry Heenan face off in the Republican primary. Green Party hopeful Jason Wallace is unopposed.
U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert started the day unopposed and finished it with a Republican primary challenge from Sean O'Kane. Scott Harper, an entrepreneur, re-filed as a Democrat. Green Party candidate Steve Alesch also filed.
A fourth Democrat entered the race for former House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert's west suburban seat. Republican voters will also have four candidates to choose from in that race.
Dan Seals, whose underfunded campaign against U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk two years ago gave him a scare, faces a Democratic primary challenge from Democratic fund-raiser Jay Footlik. In the Green Party race, David Kalbfleisch also filed.
On the Southwest Side, three Democrats will take on U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski. Three Republicans and two Green Party members, both from Berwyn, also filed.
Melissa Bean faces a primary challenge from two Democrats.
In Cook County, six Democrats and two Republicans hope to succeed State's Attorney Dick Devine.
