Illinois 2010 Election Results

Illinois held its general election on November 2, 2010, deciding 139 legislative seats and 6 statewide offices led by the governorship. No chamber changed party control.

Highlights

• Republicans gained seats in both chambers, but fewer than some expected, and Gov. Pat Quinn (D) held on, keeping the Democratic trifecta that would draw the 2011 maps. "If Quinn remains as governor, the Democrats will be able to redistrict so as to maintain their majorities," a University of Illinois political scientist said the day after the election.
• Quinn beat Bill Brady (R) by less than 1 point, about 32,000 votes, and Brady conceded three days later. Quinn had been lieutenant governor and took over after Rod Blagojevich's removal. Scott Lee Cohen (I), who won the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor but withdrew at the party's urging, ran for governor as an independent and drew about 4%.
• House Democrats slipped from 70-48 to 64-54 and Senate Democrats from 37-22 to 35-24, losing their three-fifths Senate supermajority. Two Democratic senators lost. Suzi Schmidt (R) beat Sen. Michael Bond (D) in Senate District 31, retaking a seat long held by Republican Adeline Geo-Karis. Sam McCann (R) beat Sen. Deanna Demuzio (D) in Senate District 49.
• In all, 10 legislative seats changed party, all but one toward Republicans. Five House Democratic incumbents lost:
  • Adam Brown (R) beat Rep. Bob Flider (D) by about 600 votes in House District 101.
  • Dwight Kay (R) beat Rep. Jay Hoffman (D), a ten-term incumbent, by about 1,200 votes in House District 112.
  • David Harris (R) beat Rep. Mark Walker (D) by about 8 points in House District 66.
  • Michael Unes (R) beat Rep. Michael Smith (D), an eight-term incumbent, by about 9 points in House District 91.
  • Sue Rezin (R) beat Rep. Careen Gordon (D) by about 14 points in House District 75.
• Republicans also won two open Democratic House seats, with Richard Morthland (R) in House District 71 and Wayne Rosenthal (R) in House District 98, each by double digits. Democrats' only pickup was House District 17, where Daniel Biss (D) beat Hamilton Chang (R) for a retiring Republican's seat. In the Senate, Sen. Michael Noland (D) held Senate District 22 by about 590 votes over Steven Rauschenberger (R), a former senator trying to retake his seat.
• Republicans returned to statewide executive office with two wins. Former Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka (R) beat David Miller (D) for comptroller by nearly 12 points, and state Sen. Dan Rutherford (R) beat Robin Kelly (D) for the open treasurer's office by about 5 points. Attorney General Lisa Madigan (D) and Secretary of State Jesse White (D) won easily.
• Voters approved the Governor Recall Amendment with about 66% of the vote, giving the public limited power to recall unpopular governors; a recall needs backing from at least 20 House members and 10 senators before petitions can circulate.

Legislature

• House (118 seats): 70 D, 48 R before the election, 64 D, 54 R after; control stayed with Democrats.
• Senate (59 seats): 37 D, 22 R before the election, 35 D, 24 R after; control stayed with Democrats.

Statewide races

Legislative races

Ballot measures