U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin has defeated Republican state Sen. Jim Oberweis to win a fourth term.
The U.S. Senate’s second-ranking Democrat had been expected to keep the seat he’s held since 1997. During the campaign he pushed for a higher minimum wage and tax breaks for companies that keep jobs in the country. He’s said he helped bring billions of dollars in federal funds back to Illinois.
A spokesman says he’d address supporters later Tuesday.
During the campaign, Oberweis called Durbin a career politician and accused him of losing touch with voters. The Sugar Grove dairy entrepreneur said he had the business background to create jobs.
He told supporters Tuesday it was difficult to beat an incumbent in Democrat-heavy Illinois and he’d continue working for Republicans in the state Senate.