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17th Congressional District Goes Red
The 17th Congressional District will have a Republican representing it for the first time in almost 30 years.

That's because Colona Republican Bobby Schilling defeated incumbent Phil Hare, with all 100% of precincts in the district in, by about 20,000 votes -- or, a 53% to 42% margin.

Schilling says items he harped on a lot during the campaign helped propel him to victory.

"I think the biggest things were the out of control spending," Schilling said. "Of course, they were also looking at increasing taxes in January of 2011. And then, I think the biggest thing that really resonated with the people, is that the Congressman [Hare] just was not listening to them when it came to the health care and financial regulation reforms."

Hare's campaign did not return WGIL's calls for comment, but the Rock Island Democrat is believed to have said during a concession speech in Rock Island that while he enjoys political life, he won't run for his current office again.

Schilling will be joined by Aaron Schock in the next-door 18th Congressional District. The Peoria Republican handily defeated Democrat "DK" Hirner.


(Bobby Schilling,meets with supporters in September at Lake Storey in Galesburg. WGIL News File Photo by Will Stevenson. Contributing to story: WTAX-AM, Springfield.)
11 03 10 by Newsroom
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