Even in the face of a massive Republican national wave, the state of Illinois remains split between the major parties.
Republican Mark Kirk’s capture of President Barack Obama’s former U.S. Senate seat is a feather in the GOP’s cap nationally, but Kirk’s victory also reflected the flaws in the Democratic candidate, state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias.
Republicans made gains in the Illinois General Assembly, but both chambers remain in Democratic hands.
But Tuesday’s race for the office that has the most day-to-day impact on the lives of Illinoisans – the governor – remained neck-and-neck late Tuesday.
No matter who emerges victorious, says a political scientist from the University of Illinois Springfield, he won’t have an easy job.
“Whatever happens, there’s bad times ahead,” said Chris Mooney of the U of I’s Institute of Government and Public Affairs.
Mooney's comments were featured in a November 3, 2010, article in The State Journal-Register.
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