Halvorson beats Ozinga to replace Weller

CHICAGO An influential state senator, Halvorson will replace exiting GOP Congressman Jerry Weller. Weller opted not to seek an eighth term amid ethics questions in Illinois' 11th District. The district stretches from Chicago's south suburbs to the farms of central Illinois.

With 71 percent of precincts reporting, Halvorson had 58 percent and Ozinga had 35 percent. Green Party candidate Jason Wallace had 7 percent.

Ozinga and Halvorson's race got nasty as the election neared, with both candidates trying to tie the other to Illinois' unpopular Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich through TV ads.