Foster Wins Re-Election, Defeats Challenger Stella

NAPERVILLE, IL --- Incumbent Rep. Bill Foster (D) is the projected winner in the Illinois 11th Congressional District after defending his seat against Republican Nick Stella. Foster, who has held the seat since 2012, previously served in the 14th District. Stella, a cardiologist from Darien, defeated Connor Vlakancic in the March primaries to earn the chance to vie for Foster's seat.

AP projected Foster as the victor with 61 of 468 precincts reporting and Foster having 50,380 votes to Stella's 24,200.

Big Wins For Democrats: Illinois 2018 Election Results

Both men bring backgrounds in science with them into Tuesday's race. Foster, a high-energy physicist who has worked at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, was endorsed by 31 Nobel Prize winners in his first run for Congress, according to his campaign website.

Though they both share a background that's rooted in science, Foster and Stella still take opposing views on many of the issues voters are considering in this year's election.

Election Results

Key Issues

See where Rep. Bill Foster and his opponent, Nick Stella, stand on some of the issues facing Americans in this election.

Health Care

Stella's campaign website says he supports repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act and implementing a "health care system that provides quality coverage options with affordable premiums." He is also in favor of either streamlining or replacing Medicare, which he refers to as a "third tier system." He says, "We must strive to improve the delivery of health care in order to assure no child wants for care, no worker is trapped in an unwanted job, and that the unemployed and elderly are provided affordable quality care."

During his time representing Districts 11 and 14, Foster has fought for affordable health care for all. In 2010, he voted for the Affordable Care Act. His campaign website states that he does support making changes to improve the Affordable Care Act as "no law is ever perfect." Foster is in favor of both parties working in "a bipartisan way to strengthen and improve the Affordable Care Act."

Immigration

Foster has staunchly opposed any efforts to build a wall at the U.S./Mexico border, along with changes to DACA that would "make DREAMers feel unsafe." He calls Trump's efforts to build a wall at the border "a waste of resources" and contends that those funds would be better used to improve infrastructure and help revitalize the American economy.

His website states, "We are a nation of immigrants, and I am proud of the heritage of inclusion that defines us all as Americans. Our country thrives on the innovation, culture, and diversity that immigrants from all walks of life bring to the United States. The United States has served as a beacon of hope and opportunity for people who seek a better life. History has not looked kindly on us when we have prevented people fleeing violence from seeking refuge in this country."

Stella supports "comprehensive immigration reform," according to his campaign site, with his top priority being to "secure the border to stop the flow of illegal traffic back and forth without challenge such as terrorist, kidnapped women and children, drugs, guns and money. " He's also in favor of reforms to the visa program "to protect our small businesses and their employees while providing legal status to documented immigrants to pay taxes and not allow dependency upon social programs."

Gun Control

Stella says he opposes "restrictive gun laws," according to his campaign site. Stella feels these types of laws "only serve to restrict access by law-abiding citizens." As a way to manage the ongoing crisis surrounding guns in the U.S., Stella is in favor of focusing instead on criminals who abuse existing gun laws. He says, "Criminals by definition do not abide by laws, and we need to be enforcing our current existing laws."

Foster has been vocally in favor of comprehensive reform to gun laws during his time in Congress. After the nationwide school walkouts to oppose the current gun laws, Foster said in a statement, "I support a ban on assault weapons, expanded background checks, and an end to the gun show loophole. Congress should also authorize the Centers for Disease Control to study gun violence as a public health crisis, so we can understand gun violence and its effects on our country. These students and all Americans deserve representatives in Congress who are ready to make the necessary changes to keep them safe.”

Image credit: Lisa Farver/Patch