Congressional Candidates File for Illinois Primary

After a caused by an ongoing lawsuit over Democrats’ new legislative maps, the filing period for congressional candidates ended Tuesday.

Republicans challenged the new maps, saying they disenfranchise minority groups and violate the state constitution. Earlier this month, three federal judges against the maps, which were .

Under the new maps, Burr Ridge has moved from the 13th District to the newly formed 11th Congressional District that spans from New Lenox and Joliet north, through Bolingbrook and includes Burr Ridge on the northeast and Aurora on the northwest.

The new 11th District covers portions of Burr Ridge, Romeoville, Bolingbrook, Plainfield, Woodridge, Darien, Channahon, Shorewood, Joliet, Naperville, Oswego and Montgomery, among other communities. The former 11th District was represented by freshman Republican Adam Kinzinger, who is now seeking the 16th District seat.

Congresswoman Judy Biggert, who currently represents Burr Ridge in the 13th District, is seeking election once again, in the new 11th District. She faces off against fellow Republicans John “Jack” Cunningham of Aurora and former Joliet mayoral candidate Diane Harris.

The 3rd District, which included Western Springs, La Grange, La Grange Park, and parts of Burr Ridge) has shifted west to include Palos Park, Homer Glen, Lockport, Romeoville and Crest Hill. The district is represented by Democratic incumbent Daniel Lipinski, a resident of Western Springs who is seeking re-election.

, who was planning to challenge Lipinski for his seat in the 3rd District. John Atkinson had raised $535,000 for the race, but decided not to run after the new political boundaries drew him into the 11th District. Challenging Lipinski for the Democratic nomination now is Chicago resident Farah Baqai, who currently works as a Chicago police officer.

On the Republican side, the March 20 ballot will feature Richard L. Grabowski of Hometown, a materials supervisor at a manufacturing company; Arthur J. Jones of Lyons, an insurance representative; and attorney Jim Falvey of Western Springs.

Seventy-eight people are running for Illinois' 18 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Candidate petitions may be challenged until Jan. 4.