Election 2012: Voter's Guide
By Clayton Guse, Monica Macellari and Mike
Reilley
The Red Line
Project
@RedLineProject
Updated: Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012
Editor's note: Vote in our interactive
polls, review key races and use our interactive map to make informed decisions
on election day.
Key Races: National
President of the United States
Barack Obama (D, incumbent) vs. Mitt Romney (R)
Campaign issues: The economy, foreign relations, immigration, healthcare and global security
Key Races: Chicago
Interactive map: Click in
each shaded area to find information on that congressional district's race.
(Map by Clayton Guse)
Illinois 8th Congressional District, U.S. House of Representatives
Tammy Duckworth (D) vs. Joe Walsh (R, incumbent)
Campaign issues: Student loans, Medicare and jobs
Key cities in the district: The district was redrawn in 2011 and now includes Barrington, Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates, Palatine, Cook County side of Elgin. District map
District typically votes: Democrat, though Republican Melissa Bean held the seat 2005-11.
Noteworthy: This is considered to be one of the most hotly contested of the congressional seats in the Chicago area. Walsh took over the seat in the redistricting in 2011. Duckworth previously ran for the 6th district seat in 2006 but narrowly lost to Peter Roskam. Duckworth, who has worked with President Obama's campaign, is a former U.S. Army helicopter pilot who served in Iraq. She suffered combat injuries that cost her both legs and damaged her right arm.
Additional coverage: Chicago Tribune: Duckworth-Walsh Debate
Illinois 2nd Congressional District, U.S. House of Representatives
Jesse Jackson Jr. (D, incumbent) vs. Brian Woodworth (R)
Campaign issues: Jackson's health, the economy
Key cities and neighborhoods in the district: Harvey, Park Forest, Lansing, Chicago Heights, Burnham, Country Club Hills and Calumet City. District map
District typically votes: Democrat
Noteworthy: Jackson spent part of the summer at a treatment facility for a reported "mood disorder," and was later moved to the Mayo Clinic to treat a gastrointestinal disorder. Jackson Jr.'s silence during the ordea has many in his district wondering about his candidacy.
Additional coverage: USA Today: Jackson's move to Mayo Clinic may signal complications.
Illinois 1st Congressional District, U.S. House of Representatives
Bobby Rush (D-incumbent) vs. Donald Peloquin (R)
Campaign issues: Job creation was a big topic during the primaries and is expected to be again. Rush supports Obama's America Jobs Act that would create shovel-ready jobs. Peloquin, the mayor of Blue Island since 1985, supports the private sector creating jobs, not government. Health care and the federal deficit are other hot-button issues for the district.
Key cities and neighborhoods in the district: Parts of the South Side and Southwest suburbs, including Oak Forest, Tinley Park, Mokena and Crestwood. The district stretches from the inner-city through many blue-collar suburban neighborhoods. District map
District typically votes: Democrat. The last Republican to hold the seat was Oscar De Priest from 1929-35.
Noteworthy: Rush has held this seat since 1992 and is heavily favored to win.
Illinois 9th Congressional District, U.S. House of Representatives
Jan Schakowsky (D, incumbent) vs. Timothy Wolfe (R)
Campaign issues: Economy and health care.
Key cities in the district: Evanston, Skokie, Lincolnwood, Norridge, Niles, Lincolnwood, Park Ridge, Morton Grove, parts of Des Plaines and other north suburbs. District map
District typically votes: Democrat
Noteworthy: Schakowsky has held the seat since 1998 and is heavily favored to win.
Illinois 10th Congressional District, U.S. House of Representatives
Key cities in the district: Waukegan, North Chicago, Highland Park, Lake Villa, Northbrook, Glenview, Arlington Heights, and Buffalo Grove. District map
District typically votes: Democrat, although incumbent (Dold) is Republican.
Noteworthy: Illinois’' 10th District has been included in the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's "Red to Blue List," which identifies districts that the organization has specifically targeted to flip from Republican to Democratic control. The campaigns have been very aggressive in the final weeks, with both sides launch TV attack ads.
Illinois 11th Congressional District, U.S. House of Representatives
Illinois 7th Congressional District, U.S. House of Representatives
Danny Davis
(D-incumbent)
Note: Davis won the Democratic primary and the Republican
party fielded no candidate. The district covers downtown Chicago, the Near
North Side, parts of the South and West sides.
Sources for this page: Chicago Tribune, Chicago City Clerk's Office, The Journalist's Toolbox, Ballotpedia and candidate websites.
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