Foster Takes 14th

Democrat Bill Foster acknowledges supporters prior to delivering his victory speech in Aurora after defeating Republican Jim Oberweis in the special election for the 14th Congressional District on Saturday. On the left are Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky of the Ninth Congressional District and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. DONNELL COLLINS | For the Chronicle News Group

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AURORA - “Fos-ter! Fos-ter! Fos-ter!” When the announcement came that Democrat Bill Foster defeated Republican Jim Oberweis by more than 5,000 votes in Saturday's special election to finish Dennis Hastert's term, the thunder of supporters rocked the Long Island Sound Banquets in Aurora. Supporters and political heavyweights - including Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-9th - alike whooped and cheered, clapped each other on the back, hugged and high-fived. “As I campaigned, I was even more encouraged and inspired with the strength and decentness of Democrats, Independents and Republicans alike,” Foster said. Nearly 99,000 people voted in Saturday's special election to determine who would fill the remainder of Hastert's unfinished final term. Voters will head back to the polls in November to choose a congressman for the next two years. Foster and Oberweis' campaigns were punctuated with barbs and aggressive advertising, especially on TV. Oberweis was supported by Hastert and Republican presidential candidate John McCain, while Foster was endorsed by Barack Obama, an Illinois senator and Democratic candidate for president. Foster said Oberweis ran a hard campaign and deserves thanks for participating in the race. Oberweis spokesman Bill Pascoe said their campaign did not expect to lose to Foster. “I think everybody was surprised. We did not see it coming,” Pascoe said. “We are going to take our time and analyze the voter returns. He's not going to change his policies or beliefs - he might change campaign strategy - hopefully something to get us 50 percent plus one in November.” Durbin praised Foster for facing Oberweis in what was often a tough, contentious campaign. Several Foster supporters looked at his victory as a change in a district that had been considered strongly Republican: Hastert, a Republican, had held the seat for more than two decades. When the first shout went out that Foster had won, nobody bellowed louder than Ken Christy, state president for letter carriers. Christy, whose union represents 17,000 letter carriers, said he worked phone banks all week for Foster and all day Saturday. “This is our day for middle class America,” Christy said. “Change starts now, in this county and across this nation. We're going to send the message everywhere now.” Foster supporter Tom Roach said Foster's win Saturday means he has a good chance to win in November for a full term. “It's not going to be easy,” Roach said. “It's still going to be tough to win just because it's a campaign. But if we can get Democrats out in a historically Republican district on a March Saturday, we can get Democrats out in November.”

Results Unofficial total results for the 14th Congressional District special election (568 of 568 precincts reporting) Bill Foster: 51,964 Jim Oberweis: 46,953

DeKalb County Unofficial results for DeKalb County for the 14th Congressional District special election (71 of 71 precincts reporting) Bill Foster: 5,937 Jim Oberweis: 4,640