Polls are now closed in Illinois, where voters are casting ballots both in the Republican presidential primary and in downballot races throughout the state. We'll be liveblogging the results as they come in, with a heavy emphasis on the congressional contests.
Results: AP: House | House (by county) | Pres | Pres (by county)
CNN | Google | Politico (House) | Politico (Pres) | County Election Boards (PDF)
Tue Mar 20, 2012 at 10:02 PM PT (Steve Singiser): For the benefit of those just checking in on the late shift, here is a quick recap of all of the electoral goings-on tonight. First, in the great state of Illinois:
- In the lone presidential contest tonight, it was a comfortable win for Mitt Romney in the Land of Lincoln. Romney wins the primary with 47 percent of the vote, well ahead of Rick Santorum's 35 percent total. On the delegate front, it was even more lopsided, as Romney has notched no less than 41 of the state's 54 delegates tonight.
- In IL-02 (D), incumbent Jesse Jackson Jr. annihilated former Rep. Debbie Halvorson tonight (71-29) in what once appeared to be a competitive race. He'll be overwhelmingly favored over Republican Brian Woodworth in November.
- In IL-08 (D), veteran Tammy Duckworth scored a decisive win (67-33) over Raja Krishnamoorthi. She will now take on Republican incumbent Rep. Joe Walsh, in a race where Duckworth is probably a slight favorite.
- In IL-10 (D), businessman Brad Schneider scored a narrow victory (47-39) over young activist Ilya Sheyman. Schneider will now challenge freshman Republican Rep. Bob Dold (!) in what will be a marquee race in November.
- In IL-11 (D), a win by former Rep. Bill Foster (who lost in the former IL-14 in 2010) solidified a matchup between two Congressional veterans. Republican veteran Judy Biggert was unopposed, and will challenge Foster in a district that gives Biggert the toughest test in her decade-plus in Congress.
- In the open IL-12, a pair of decisive primary wins solidified the field in what may be a competitive Democratic-held open seat. Democrats went with Brad Harriman, while Republicans countered with Jason Plummer.
- The one race we are still waiting on is the Democratic primary for the right to take on veteran Republican Rep. Tim Johnson in IL-13. With only Macoupin County left to report, perennial candidate David Gill has a lead of about 1200 votes over Greene County state's attorney Matt Goetten.
- In the highest-profile House race of the night (IL-16's Republican primary), a nasty incumbent-on-incumbent battle did not create the photo finish some had prognosticated. Freshman Rep. Adam Kinzinger scored a 56-44 win over veteran Rep. Donald Manzullo, who had refused to concede at last check. No Democrat filed, meaning Kinzinger's primary win is tantamount to re-election, unless Democrats decide to file someone here.
- Finally, in another potential November tossup, Cheri Bustos won easily (as expected) in the Democratic primary in IL-17. She will face freshman Rep. Bobby Schilling in the general election.
Tue Mar 20, 2012 at 10:03 PM PT (Steve Singiser): No sooner did I hit "post" than this came across the wire on the Twitters:
Tue Mar 20, 2012 at 10:06 PM PT (Steve Singiser): For the math junkies out there, a bit of history about Macoupin County, Illinois:
Total # of D Pri ballots cast in Macoupin: 2010-4,888; 2008-7,215; 2006-7,815; 2004-7,612; 2002-5,071; 2000-4,457; 1998-7,422
— @ScottTKennedy via web
Tue Mar 20, 2012 at 10:11 PM PT (Steve Singiser): Could be a very late night in IL-13:
Gill says Macoupin County ballots are being hand-counted, could take til 1 a.m. or later. "We're keeping our fingers crossed." #dechr
— @allison0512 via web
Tue Mar 20, 2012 at 10:26 PM PT (Steve Singiser): This is when you know you are an elections junkie. When you are hitting refresh on the board of elections site for a county that you could not have identified on a map six hours earlier...
Tue Mar 20, 2012 at 10:38 PM PT (Steve Singiser): A former loser on the Congressional level is seeking a second act of his own, and he may well get it. Tonight, in Illinois' SD-25, one-time Congressional hopeful (IL-14) Jim Oberweis took 49 percent in a three-candidate primary. 22,000 Republicans voted today in SD-25, versus just 4200 Democrats. Oberweis, one would presume, likes those odds.
Tue Mar 20, 2012 at 10:39 PM PT (Steve Singiser): Here is a headline you don't see that often: "Indicated state representative cruises to primary victory".
Tue Mar 20, 2012 at 10:58 PM PT (Steve Singiser): Any time, Macoupin County ... any time, guys.
Tue Mar 20, 2012 at 11:11 PM PT (Steve Singiser): Interesting, and perhaps telling, comment: a spokesman for physician and current IL-13 Democratic frontrunner David Gill says that they expect to trail by "several hundred, maybe even a thousand votes" in Macoupin county if when they report their votes. That would mean that this primary, no matter what Macoupin County eventually tells us, is likely to be far from resolved tonight or tomorrow.
Tue Mar 20, 2012 at 11:27 PM PT (Steve Singiser): Alright, Macoupin County. You win. You have successfully waited us out. The intrepid James L. will keep the fires lit for another 20-30 minutes or so, but we are starting to think that it will be tomorrow before we know who won the Democratic primary in IL-13. So, that (tentatively) makes it good night and good luck from DKE headquarters. Until next time!
Tue Mar 20, 2012 at 11:38 PM PT (James L): I think the election gods are telling me to go to bed:
Due to ballots too large to fit inside the boxes, election officials have been performing a recount into the wee hours of the morning. As of 1:15 a-m, the county clerk’s office stated that they were still several hours away from having the final numbers.
The crop in Macoupin must be particularly potent, because this is one of most epic of all ganja breaks that I've witnessed. See you folks in the morning!
5:32 AM PT (jeffmd): A quick check of the Macoupin County clerk's office shows that they finally got their results up at...4:34AM, Central time. Goetten got 2,144 votes here to Gill's 1,262 (or 63% to Gill's 34%). This brings the final margin to Gill by 143 votes.