Dupage Policy Journal

Republican Seth Lewis defeated Democrat House Rep. Diane Pappas in the 45th District this week.

Lewis said in a statement that he was thankful for his supporters. 

“THANK YOU! This journey started over 7 years ago with a passion and desire to Improve and Serve Illinois,” Lewis said in the statement. “At that time, it was just my family and me. Grateful to everyone who voted, supported, volunteered, listened and saw through the $10 million dollars of LIES - My Hearfelt Appreciation...this is a victory for ALL of us who VOTED and BELIEVE that ILLINOIS is a place that people want to live and raise their families! On behalf of my family- to all of you, my sincerest gratitude.”

State Sen. Jim Oberweis, who narrowly unseated U.S. House Rep. Lauren Underwood in the 14th District, said he was glad to see voters voice their concerns with how Democrats are running things.

“Here in Illinois, Democrats have total control of state government,” Oberweis said in a statement. “Many voters in Illinois are very concerned about what is happening in Springfield. They are tired of the high taxes and the lack of fiscal discipline at the state level. Voters voiced their displeasure with how Democrats have run Illinois by flipping four Democrat House seats to Republican and by resoundingly rejecting the governor’s progressive income tax amendment and voting to not retain Democrat Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride.”

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider said President Donald Trump’s smaller-than- expected margin of defeat helped turn out voters for state races and helping in contested races for the state’s General Assembly.

“It was widely expected that House Republicans were set to lose upwards of 5 members, particularly in the Chicago suburbs,” Schneider said in a statement. “After getting outspent 5-1, House Republicans were instead able to net 2 new members after beating 4 incumbent Democrats. Challengers that were successful include David Friess and Amy Elik in the metro-east and Chris Bos and Seth Lewis in the Chicago suburbs.”