Casten Unseats Roskam To Flip Illinois District 6

GLEN ELLYN, IL — Democrat Sean Casten defeated incumbent Rep. Peter Roskam Tuesday night in the race for Illinois's 6th District Congressional seat, joining a host of Democrats who flipped control of the House of Representatives. Casten's victory itself was a major flip for the district, which hasn't elected a Democrat to represent them in Congress since George Collins in the early 1970s.

Casten began his victory speech by giving a nod to Collins, who was 47 when he was killed in a plane crash. The newly elected Casten noted that he'll be that same age when he "is sworn in in January."

The race promised to be among the most watched races in the country as Democrats like Casten hope to gain control of the House of Representatives.

Casten was declared the projected winner by AP with 53 points to Roskam's 47.

"I ran for this office because there's stuff to be fixed," Casten said during his victory speech, acknowledging the work of the "grass roots community" who he said has worked behind the rallying call to "Flip the 6th."

Casten was joined on stage by his wife, his daughters, and Rep. Bill Foster (D), who had just successfully defended his seat in the 11th District of Illinois.

The road to face off against Roskam was a long one for Casten, who defeated six other contenders to earn the Democratic nomination in the March primary elections. Casten, who is a fierce climate change activist, quickly gained support from many voters who have expressed frustration with Roskam's apparent reluctance to hold in-person town hall meetings and his siding with President Donald Trump on health care, taxes and gun laws.

When it comes to the issues, Casten and Roskam both tend to follow traditional party lines. Casten's campaign website refers to Roskam's "immoral tax plan" and promises to "fight for affordable health care" and for "every woman’s right to make her own reproductive health care decisions."

Election Results

Roskam's campaign website promises that he will work to "repeal and replace" the Affordable Care Act, which the website calls a "misguided and harmful law." Roskam is also described on the campaign site as being "unapologetically pro-life."

The race between Casten and Roskam has been tight, with Roskam initially having a slight edge over his challenger. A recent poll financed by Casten's team showed Casten having a lead over Roskam.

On the campaign trail, Casten invited Roskam to public town halls, but Roskam consistently declined. This increased the ire of many constituents, who have appealed to the incumbent representative for an in-person town hall for more than a year.

As the date of the election has inched ever closer, Casten and Roskam have exchanged heated words about the pressing issues facing local voters.

After the recent controversy surrounding emissions from Sterigenics International Inc. in Willowbrook, Casten challenged Roskam to respond. In a press release, Casten said, "Peter Roskam's silence over Sterigenics is astonishing. I'm a scientist who believes in facts, and the facts show ethylene oxide - the toxin emitted from Sterigenics - is giving people cancer in the Sixth Congressional District. Instead of protecting the EPA, Roskam voted to gut the board that reviews the very reports that showed ethylene oxide increases the risk of cancer 30-fold."

Roskam later responded by calling for the Environmental Protection Agency to do a study of the air quality in Willowbrook.

In a statement, Roskam said, "It is no small fear to think that the air where you live, where your kids play, where you work is harming your and your family’s health. Working closely with Mayor Trilla who has been such a faithful and dedicated advocate for his community, we have been able to impress upon the EPA the urgency of providing our community the answers they need. I am pleased that Acting Administrator Wheeler has pushed the EPA to conduct the follow up ambient air test in Willowbrook.”

Patch will post live updates on the race for the Illinois District 6 congressional seat as they come in.

Image credit: Lisa Farver/Patch