Republican Joe Walsh declared victory over Democrat incumbent Melissa Bean on election night, but absentee ballots are still being counted.
Bean picked up 188 votes in Cook County Thursday to slice Walsh's lead to 365 votes. Walsh says he expects to maintain and grow his advantage when absentee votes in Lake and McHenry counties are counted. The final votes are expected to be counted by November 16th.
Walsh says he is preparing to go to Washington.
