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Bustos Defeats Schilling in 17th Congressional District

Jenna Dooley

There was a lot of money put into this race, but ultimately Democrat Cheri Bustos claimed the seat.  She used the opportunity before supporters to acknowledge constituents she met on the campaign trail including a soon-to-be laid off Sensata worker in Freeport.

Bustos told supporters she wants make sure social security is not privatized and the rights of seniors are protected.

Bobby Schilling also spoke to supporters, but with the humbled tone of defeat.  He says he is proud of his accomplishments in Congress.  He says the democratically-drawn district did not help his campaign.  He says he will pass along constituent casework to Bustos to aid in the transition.

Schilling also had some advice for his successor in Congress:

"I hope she will come a little bit more to the middle of the road...be a uniter." - Bobby Schilling

Bustos says there will be plenty of opportunity to work across the aisle.

"We've got two Republicans that border the district. We've got to work together for what's good for Illinois." -Cheri Bustos

Bustos is a former city council member and will represent the district which covers Rockford and Freeport west to the Quad-Cities and east to Peoria. 

Jenna Dooley has spent her professional career in public radio. She is a graduate of Northern Illinois University and the Public Affairs Reporting Program at the University of Illinois - Springfield. She returned to Northern Public Radio in DeKalb after several years hosting Morning Edition at WUIS-FM in Springfield. She is a former "Newsfinder of the Year" from the Illinois Associated Press and recipient of NIU's Donald R. Grubb Journalism Alumni Award. She is an active member of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association and an adjunct instructor at NIU.