Illinois Democrats defend US House seats across the state with 1 race too early to call

CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois Democrats in congressional races across the state worked to fend off challenges from Republicans, but one of the state's most competitive races remained too early to call Wednesday.

The most competitive races involved two first-term representatives seeking reelection. Rep. Eric Sorensen won over Republican Joe McGraw in the 17th Congressional District, while Rep. Nikki Budzinski was ahead of Republican Joshua Loyd in the 13th District.

Democrats had an advantage heading into the election, leading in fundraising and armed with a political map that favors incumbents. In hopes of boosting turnout, leaders in the blue state also put before voters three non-binding advisory questions on property tax relief, insurance coverage of in vitro fertilization and election worker interference.

While Republicans took the U.S. Senate majority on Tuesday, control of the House was still up for grabs with over 100 races yet to be called.

Here’s a closer look at Illinois' competitive U.S. House races.

The matchup in the sprawling “C-shaped” northwest Illinois district was among the most competitive in the state.

Covering union-heavy manufacturing areas and college towns, the territory leans Democratic. But it also features pockets of farmland, which trend conservative.

Sorensen, a former television meteorologist, was first elected to office in 2022. The 48-year-old had backing from unions and farmers and dominated in fundraising. According to Federal Election Commission data, he has more than $4.5 million in total contributions compared to McGraw's roughly $1.3 million.

Sorensen thanked supporters gathered in Moline late Tuesday.

“Over the past two years, I’ve set out to make sure our community has a trusted neighbor serving them in Congress,” Sorensen said in a statement. “Now, it’s about coming together to do what’s best for all of us and I am proud to be the good neighbor to represent you!”

McGraw’s campaign did not return messages seeking comment.

On the campaign trail, Sorensen tried to appeal to both Democrats and Republicans. Often touting his background in weather, he's advocated for green energy and ways to fight climate change. At the same time, he notes he was one of only four Democrats on the House Agriculture Committee who backed a new farm bill earlier this year.

A former judge and prosecutor from Rockford, McGraw said Sorensen wasn't the right fit for the district, calling out his views on climate change and his support for LGBTQ+ rights. Sorensen is openly gay. McGraw touted support from law enforcement groups and national Republican groups.

Budzinski, 47, was seeking a second term in the narrow, Democrat-leaning district that cuts through central Illinois from the St. Louis area to Champaign and includes college towns and agricultural communities.

She says one of her biggest accomplishments as a congresswoman was helping secure a $51 million federal grant for an agricultural tech hub run by the University of Illinois.

“People really want their elected officials to find solutions, not create more political noise,” said Budzinski, who was first elected in 2022.

Once a senior adviser to Gov. JB Pritzker and a labor union activist, Budzinksi has also vastly overtaken Loyd in fundraising. She's raised roughly $4 million in total contributions, compared to Loyd's about $76,000, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

But Budzinski's 26-year-old challenger said he only recently started fundraising and had started campaigning full time.

Loyd says Budzinski could do more to help constituents. A graduate of West Point military academy, he says he struggled to get veterans benefits after being medically discharged from the military and elected leaders didn't help him.

He says ensuring veterans get their entitled benefits is among his top priorities.

“I have continuously put myself out there for the community, for the state, for the country,” he said. “And I do not have any intentions to stop.”

Two other incumbent Democrats' races — both in the Chicago area — fended of spirited challenges from Republicans.

Rep. Sean Casten was reelected to a fourth term in the largely suburban 6th District after a spirited challenge from Republican Niki Conforti.

A scientist and businessman-turned politician, Casten first won office in 2018 when he flipped a longtime Republican territory and ousted a six-term incumbent. The redrawn district now leans Democrat and is comprised of communities southwest of Chicago along neighborhoods on its South Side.

Casten thanked supporters and said he felt hopeful about the future.

“No matter who you voted for in this election, who your neighbors or loved ones voted for, do not lose sight of the fact that we are one people – the American people – bound by these shared values," Casten said in a statement.

West of Chicago, U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood was reelected to a fourth term in the 14th District. Her opponent was Jim Marter, a software consultant and former chairman of the Republican Party of Kendall County.

Underwood was first elected in 2018, unseating a four-term Republican and becoming the youngest Black woman to join the U.S. House. She previously worked as a nurse.

Reproductive rights was one of the main issues in the district that includes western suburbs and rural communities. Underwood has said she fully supports abortion rights while Marter opposes abortion without exception.

Underwood said the seven counties that make up the district are diverse.

“Despite all our differences, we are a hopeful community,” she said in a post late Tuesday on the social media platform X. “And together we will move forward, with a commitment to freedom and justice for all.”

Judge Joe McGraw, the Republican challenger in the 17th district, poses for a photo during Homebuilders Association event at Lino's restaurant in Rockford, Ill., Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Congressman Eric Sorensen poses for a photo after he joined Rock Island County farmers and Illinois Farm Bureau leaders at a family farm in Taylor Ridge, Ill., Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. He discussed the status of the farm bill, the effects of severe weather on farms, and Sorensen's efforts on behalf of Illinois producers. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Joe McGraw, right, the Republican challenger in the 17th district, talks with Andrew Rogers, during Homebuilders Association event at Lino's restaurant in Rockford, Ill., Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Congressman Eric Sorensen, left, receives an award in recognition of the endorsement from Denny Van Daele during joining Rock Island County farmers and Illinois Farm Bureau leaders at a family farm in Taylor Ridge, Ill., Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. He discussed the status of the farm bill, the effects of severe weather on farms, and Sorensen's efforts on behalf of Illinois producers. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Judge Joe McGraw, left, the Republican challenger in the 17th district, talks with a member of Homebuilders Association, during Homebuilders Association event at Lino's restaurant in Rockford, Ill., Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Congressman Eric Sorensen, right, talks with Denny Van Daele as he joins Rock Island County farmers and Illinois Farm Bureau leaders at a family farm in Taylor Ridge, Ill., Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. They discussed the status of the farm bill, the effects of severe weather on farms, and Sorensen's efforts on behalf of Illinois producers. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

DETROIT (AP) — Between redistricting and incumbents forgoing reelection, four congressional seats in Michigan were key targets as the parties vied for control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Republicans sought to flip two open congressional seats in central Michigan as the GOP tries to broaden its majority. Both were redrawn in 2021, yielding Democratic victories in the midterm elections. Now this year's races have been true tossups, some of the most competitive in the country, with millions of dollars poured into the campaigns.

Incumbents easily won Michigan’s other congressional races. They include Republicans Jack Bergman, John Moolenaar, Bill Huizenga, Tim Walberg and Lisa McClain; and Democrats Debbie Dingell, Haley Stevens, Rashida Tlaib and Shri Thanedar.

After longtime Democrat Dan Kildee announced he would not seek reelection in Michigan's 8th District, Republicans saw the first opportunity in decades to flip the seat red. Kildee had served since 2012 when he succeeded his uncle Dale Kildee, who represented the area including the cities of Flint and Saginaw in Congress for 36 years.

For Republicans, former news anchor and Trump administration immigration official Paul Junge is making his third bid for Congress after losing to the younger Kildee in 2022 by about 10 points.

The race is too early to call.

Junge appealed to voters over economic and immigration concerns. He also attacked Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet over national security and sought to tie her to a Chinese-based battery manufacturing company looking to build in Michigan that has been a target for Republicans.

McDonald Rivet, a freshman state senator, painted Junge as a Californian outsider and cast herself as a middle class pragmatist. She focused her messaging on preserving reproductive rights and like her opponent, the economy.

Republican Tom Barrett won his bid for Michigan’s 7th congressional district, flipping the open seat in central Michigan away from Democrats. Barrett prevailed against Democrat Curtis Hertel Jr. in a competitive race for the seat that includes the state capital of Lansing.

Barrett is a former state representative and senator. He previously ran for the same seat in the 2022 midterms but lost to Democrat Elissa Slotkin, who vacated the seat to run for U.S. Senate.

Hertel is a former state senator who more recently served as Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s legislative director.

Their race was expected to be one of the closest in the country. Both candidates criticized the other over national issues such as reproductive rights and national security. Barrett tried to appeal to crossover voters with messaging on inflation, the economy and security at the southern border.

Hertel conceded to Barrett in a statement at 3 a.m. by wishing the Republican well and thanking his own supporters.

“To every single volunteer, supporter, and member of Team Hertel who helped our campaign—from building yard signs, to donating a few bucks, to knocking doors and making calls—I will forever be grateful, and I am sorry this election did not turn out differently," the statement said.

Democratic freshman U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten has secured her second term representing Michigan in Congress.

In 2022, Scholten became the first Democrat to represent the city of Grand Rapids in the U.S. House since the 1970s after the district was redrawn.

“I set out to build a new political home in West Michigan, and with this decisive victory, we’ve proven that what we made is built to last,” Scholten said in a statement posted to X.

However, the district in western Michigan is still seen as a Republican stronghold, especially in the populous Kent County. The Republicans targeted the county with multiple visits as former President Donald Trump campaigned to return to the White House.

The county went for Trump in 2016 and President Joe Biden in 2020.

Voters in Michigan's 10th congressional district — which includes the all-important suburbs of Macomb County north of Detroit — will decide a rematch between Republican incumbent Rep. John James and Democrat Carl Marlinga.

Marlinga lost by just 1,600 votes in 2022, and the district is now seen as competitive, drawing money and attention from Democratic national groups.

The race is too early to call.

Michigan Democratic House candidate Curtis Hertel speaks at a campaign rally for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris at Jenison Field House on the campus of Michigan State University, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Rep. John James, R-Mich., speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally at Macomb Community College Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Warren, Mich. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)