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This is the place for stories about races for the U.S. House and the Illinois Senate and House from districts in the WNIJ listening area.As we have done in the past, WNIJ News staffers interviewed both candidates for Congress in the following districts:District 6: Peter Roskam (R,I) vs Leslie Coolidge (D) District 8: Joe Walsh (R,I) vs Tammy Duckworth (D)District 11: Judy Biggert (R, I13) vs Bill Foster (D)District 14: Randy Hultgren (R,I) vs Dennis Anderson (D)District 16: Adam Kinzinger (R,I11) vs Wanda Rohl (D)District 17: Bobby Schilling (R,I) vs Cheri Bustos (D)All candidates were asked to answer the following questions:Economy What do you see as the correct approach to handling the federal budget and deficit?Jobs What kinds of jobs would you like to see created in your district?What role should the federal government play in creating those jobs?Labor-management relations What is your position on right-to-work laws?What should the relationship be between governments and their employee unionsDomestic energy What course should the United States take on domestic energy?Social agenda How should the federal government deal with abortion rights?What role should the federal government have regarding marriage?Foreign policy What foreign policy issues do you see as paramount for the U.S.?Qualifications What sets you apart as the best choice for your district?Other What other issues do you see as important to the district, the state and the nation?

Uncontested Illinois House Races

All 108 seats in the Illinois State House – two for each Legislative (or Senate) District -- are up for election following the 2011 redistricting. In the WNIJ listening area, 11 candidates are running unopposed. Nine of them are Republican incumbents, and both Democrats are incumbents as well.

The 49th Illinois House District

In the 49th District, which includes parts of Montgomery, Christian, and Macoupin Counties, Mike Fortner (R) seeks to retain the seat he has held for the past three terms.

In addition to serving as a State Representative, Fortner works as a researcher at Fermilab and is an Associate Professor of Physics at NIU. In the past five years, Fortner has served as the Republican Spokesperson on the Committee for Bio-Technology and the Subcommittee for Tollway Oversight Review.

The 51st  Illinois House District

Incumbent Ed Sullivan, Jr. (R) is unopposed in the 51st District, which covers the Libertyville and Lake Zurich areas in Lake County.

Over the past nine years, Sullivan has served as the Republican Spokesperson for Consumer Protection and on several other committees, including Revenue and Finance, Labor, and Utilities.

The 63rd  Illinois House District

Incumbent Jack Franks (D) will retain his seat in the 63rd District, which serves the greater McHenry County area. 

Rep. Franks Chairs the State Government and Administration Committee and the Committee on International Trade and Commerce in addition to serving as Vice-Chair for the Committee on Bio-Technology. During his tenure, Franks called for the first audits of a sitting Illinois governor, a move that set the ball rolling for the eventual impeachment of former governor Rod Blagojevich. 

The 64th Illinois House District

In the newly redrawn 64th Legislative District, which includes portions of McHenry and Lake Counties, Barbara Wheeler (R) will fill the seat vacated by Mike Tryon, who has moved into the 66th District.

In 2002, Wheeler was elected to the McHenry County Board, where she has worked on initiatives involving environmental issues and economic development.

The 65th Illinois House District

Seven-term incumbent Timothy Schmitz will retain his seat in the 49th Legislative District, which runs from the Hampshire area to north of Batavia.

While in office, Schmitz has served as the Republican Spokesperson for the Committee on Rules and is currently the Ranking Minority Member in the House.

The 66th Illinois House District

Incumbent Michael W. Tryon (R) runs in the newly redrawn 66th Legislative District, which includes Algonquin, Lake in the Hills, and West Dundee.

Tryon is seeking a fourth term, after serving the 64th House District for the past seven years. During his tenure, Tryon has worked as the Republican Spokesperson on the Committees for Environment and Energy, Small Business Empowerment and Workforce, and Environmental Health, as well as several other committees.

The 67th Illinois House District

Incumbent Chuck Jefferson (D), an 11-year veteran of the Illinois House, once again is running in the 67th Legislative District, which includes southwestern Rockford.

Over the past decade Jefferson has served on the Committees on Aging, Labor, Public Utilities, Veterans’ Affairs, and Higher Education, among others.

The 69th Illinois House District

NIU Alum Joe Sosnowski (R) will renew his term in the 69th Legislative District, which serves eastern Winnebago, northern DeKalb, and portions of Boone County.

Since being elected to the Illinois State House in 2011, Sosnowski has served on the Committees on Aging, Elementary and Secondary Education, and Cities and Villages.

The 70th Illinois House District

Five-term incumbent Representative Robert Pritchard (R) retains his seat in the 70th Legislative District, which includes all of DeKalb County and parts of Ogle and LaSalle.

During his tenure, Pritchard has served as the Republican Spokesperson for Higher Education and has served on the Committees for Appropriations on Elementary and Secondary Education, and State Government Administration.

The 73rd Illinois House District

In the 73rd Legislative District, located just north of Peoria, incumbent David R. Leitch (R) runs opposed to retain the seat he has held since 1989.

Leitch was elected to the Illinois House after serving a short term in the State Senate from 1986-1987. Currently Leitch serves as the Assistant Minority Leader, the Republican Spokesperson on Housing , and the Subcommittee for Workers’ Compensation.

The 89th Illinois House District

Five-term incumbent Jim Sacia (R) will retain his seat in the 89th Legislative District, which includes parts of the Jo Daviess, Stevenson, Lee, Ogle DeKalb and Winnebago counties.

Over the past nine years, Sacia has served the State of Illinois by working as the Republican Spokesperson on Agriculture and Conservation in addition to serving on the Subcommittees for Animals, Firearms, Food Products, and Hunting.