House GOP Outperforming Expectations Following Election Day
House GOP Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savana) speaks at Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair in August. (Photo: Chicago Tribune)
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The prognostications from many observers headed into Tuesday projected that it wasn’t “if” House Democrats were going to pick up seats, but “how many?”
Buoyed by gerrymandered maps and a gigantic financial advantage, Democrats were supremely confident.
But all through the summer and fall, House Republican Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savana) projected confidence. She said the House GOP would hold its 40 seats and potentially win a couple of others.
So far, her wall is holding.
In House District 52, Rep. Marty McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) leads Democrat Maria Peterson by 969 votes with 100% of precincts reporting. (That’s 28,532 to 27,563).
In House District 47, Rep. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) leads Democrat Jackie Williamson by exactly 500 votes with 100% of precincts reporting. (That’s 29,531 to 29,031).
In House District 104, Rep. Brandun Schweizer (R-Danville) leads Democrat Jarrett Clem by 771 votes with 100% of precincts reporting. (A difference of 23,163 to 22,392).
In House District 114, Rep. Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) leads Democrat LaToya Greenwood by 1,844 votes with 100% of precincts reporting. (22,669 to 20,825).
The McLaughlin, Grant, and Schweizer districts could still be swayed by late arriving mail-in ballots, but all are still in contention and have survived millions in collective spending against them.
“If they hold on, it’s practically a win for House Republicans,” one GOP consultant texted early Wednesday morning.
The GOP even appeared to put some Democrat-held seats in play with mail-in ballots still outstanding.
In House District 76, Democrat Amy Murri-Briel leads Republican Liz Bishop by 505 votes, though mail-in ballots are expected to benefit the Democrat.
And in other districts, like the 45th, 66th, 97th, or 112th, severely underfunded GOP candidates held their own against a mountain of Democratic cash.
“If Tony can figure out how to raise some money, we can make a big dent in things in two years,” the GOP consultant said. “But raising money seems to be our kryptonite.”