Race for Illinois 11th District tightens

Incumbent Democrat Bill Foster is being challenged by Republican State Rep. Darlene Senger in the Nov. 4 election for the 11th congressional district, which covers parts of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will counties in the west and southwest suburbs.

The two candidates will debate Saturday on ABC7.

With pre-election polls varying widely, Foster is working as hard as ever.

"Some of the polling that's been reported has been very tight and you never take these races for granted," Foster said.

The democratic incumbent won the 14th District congressional seat in 2008 but lost it in 2010.

In 2012, he won the re-drawn 11th District, which includes all or parts of Aurora, Naperville and Joliet.

"These are extremely swing areas," Senger said.

Senger was in Chicago recently to attend a party fundraiser. She says despite the re-drawn map, she can win the 11th in this year's non-presidential election.

"You've got a whole different genre of voter that comes out for a governor's race versus a presidential race, and that's what we're seeing again here," Senger said.

Senger's TV ad tries to link Foster to alleged increased government spending and higher taxes. But the incumbent notes an improving economy and blames Senger's party for what he calls the problem in Congress.

"It's the gridlock driven by Republican leadership," Foster said.

And Foster cited a major difference between himself and Senger.

"I support raising the minimum wage, my opponent does not," he said.

Senger said she'll support a minimum wage increase under certain conditions. And the three-term state representative promises to work to end the gridlock in Washington, citing her active role in successful bipartisan efforts to reform the Illinois pension, Medicaid and education systems.

"I also know that if you want to get something done, you have to sit and talk with each other and establish trust," Senger said.

While polls suggest the race is close, the campaign has been relatively low-key so far. Both camps hinted that very soon they'll unleash TV ad blitzes to deliver their message.