Schneider Beats Dold in 10th District Race

(Update at 11:30 p.m.) Rep. Elect Brad Schneider (D-Deerfield) told a crowd of cheering supporters the victory was theirs not his as he promised them he would cast aside partisanship and do his best to end gridlock in Washington.

“We sent a message to this Congress we deserve better,” Schneider said. “Better than putting politics and partisanship above people. We sent a message we should expect more from our leaders in Washington. We know we can’t pass along a better future than we inherited if we do don’t put partisanship behind us.

Schneider made it clear his victory was one for middle class values where people would not have to wait for things to “trickle down.” He pledged to work to ensure the promises government owes to its citizens.

“The promises of this country are at risk,” Schneider said. “The promise to our seniors is at risk that they can have a secure retirement. We can no longer ignore the (fact) gridlock in Washington is having an impact on our economy and our future.”

Schneider had no false illusions about the task ahead. “Tomorrow the real work begins,” he said. “I fundamentally believe we can make a difference.”

Meanwhile, at Viper Alley, Dold thanked his staff, supporters and family during his concession speech. He also encouraged attendees to remain engaged in politics even after Dold hands his position off to Brad Schneider.

"There's too much at stake to grow disheartened," Dold told the crowd. "I hope you all continue to stay in touch, stay engaged."

When Dold announced that he had called Schneider to concede the race to represent the 10th Congressional District, a supporter yelled out, "Say it ain't so!"

One supporter had tears welling in his eyes and falling past his glasses. The mood was quiet and somber, a jarring change from the hour earlier when Dold had been leading by more than six thousand votes.

"It's about the next generation," Dold said as he closed out his remarks. He then used an oft-repeated line from his campaign. "I'm confident America's best days are in front of us."

(Update at 10:55) Rep. Robert Dold (R-Kenilworth) conceded the election to Democratic challenger Brad Schneider, according to Schneider Campaign Manager Reed Adamson.

(Update at 10:40 p.m.) Tenth Congressional District Democrats Chairman Lauren Beth Gash, who barely lost to now Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Highland Park) 12 years ago, is thrilled with the results so far.

“Looks great for Brad right now and I’m very excited,” Gash said. “I’ve been working on the race for many years and building infrastructure. Tonight looks to me like a great night for Democrats.”

Her group has been working tirelessly to win the seat for the Democrats since 2004.

Update 10:11 p.m.: Schneider now leads in Cook County by 879 votes, with 105 of 110 precincts reporting, putting his overall lead at 2,434 votes.

"I'm surprised," said Jeff Kaminsky, a 41-year-old Northbrook resident sporting a "Jews for Romney" pin. "I think [Dold] has done a great job... he's everything this district represents."

Paul and Liz Vanlieshout were also surprised to hear Dold had lost his sizable lead.

"I don't know how this is happening," Liz said.

The Vernon Hills residents have a daughter working as a legislative aide for Dold.

"He's a better candidate," Paul said. "If he loses it's just because Schneider got swept up in Obama's coattails."

Scott Greenberg blamed the results on the gerrymandering of the 10th District.

"This is a function of gerrymandering but our democratically controlled state legislature," Greenberg said. "This election is brought to you by those people."

Update 9:43 p.m.: Deerfield's Brad Schneider's lead in this election has grown to 2,232 votes, with 103 of 110 precincts in Cook County reporting and all of Lake County reporting.

Lake County results:

Candidate

Percentage

Total Vote

Precincts Reporting

Brad Schneider (D)

All 309 (Lake County only)

Robert Dold (R)

All 309 (Lake County only)

Cook County results:

Candidate

Percentage

Total Vote

Precincts Reporting

Brad Schneider (D)

103 of 110 (Cook County only)

Robert Dold (R)

103 of 110 (Cook County only)

Update at 9:30 p.m.: With 14 precincts out in Cook Coiunty, Schneider's supporters are hovering around the Patch computer waiting for the rest of the results.

Update 9:15 p.m.: Brad Schneider has taken the lead in this election.

As of 9 p.m., the Lake County website read that all 309 precincts had reported, with Dold holding a six thousand vote lead over Schneider. Now, the Lake County website has reported that lead is gone. Schneider now leads in Lake County by 1,555 votes.

In Cook County, with 96 precincts reporting, Schneider leads by 394 votes. There are till 14 precincts remaining to be counted.

Update 9:08 p.m.: As returns continue to come in, Dold supporters continue to feel optimistic that the current congressman will be able to serve another term.

"He's the logical heir to Mark Kirk," Libertyville resident John De Reu said. "He's honest, able, forthright and capable."

De Reu said he felt sure that Dold would pull a victory, but he was less certain about the Presidential race.

"I wish I were as positive about Mitt Romney," he said.

De Reu didn't have much to say about Dold's opponent, Deerfield resident Brad Schneider.

"I voted for Dold, I'm not voting against Schneider," he said.

Howard Sippe has worked with Dold for six years at Rose Pest Control. He taught the congressman how to play platform tennis.

"It's not the politics, it's him as a person" Sippe said about his support for Dold. "If he was a Democrat, I'd still support him."

Update 8:56 p.m.: All of Lake County's precincts are in, and Dold still has his cushy six thousand vote lead.

Lake County results:

Candidate

Percentage

Total Vote

Precincts Reporting

Brad Schneider (D)

All 309 (Lake County only)

Robert Dold (R)

All 309 (Lake County only)

Update 8:43 p.m.: We've almost got everything counted.

Schneider is maintaining his lead in Cook County by a little less than 700 votes with 88 of 110 precincts reporting.

In Lake County, Dold leads by about 6,000 votes with 301 of 309 precincts reporting.

Also, a gaggle of the youngest Republicans I've ever seen have just arrived. Pictures to come.

Update 8:35 p.m.: Schneider's Cook County lead has grown to about 700 votes with 82 of the 110 precincts reporting.

Meanwhile, Dold still has a wide lead in Lake County. He's up by about 6,000 votes with 295 of the 309 precincts reporting.

Update 8 p.m.: Almost all of Lake County's precincts have reported, and Dold still has about a 5 point lead over opponent Brad Schneider.

Lake County results:

Candidate

Percentage

Total Vote

Precincts Reporting

Brad Schneider (D)

276 of 309 (Lake County only)

Robert Dold (R)

276 of 309 (Lake County only)

Over half of Cook County's 100 precincts have reported, giving Schneider about a 200 vote lead.

Cook County results:

Candidate

Percentage

Total Vote

Precincts Reporting

Brad Schneider (D)

67 of 110 (Cook County only)

Robert Dold (R)

67 of 110 (Cook County only)

Update 7:51 p.m.: Cook County results have begun to come in. Schneider has a small lead with 34 of the 110 precincts reporting.

Cook County results:

Candidate

Percentage

Total Vote

Precincts Reporting

Brad Schneider (D)

34 of 110 (Cook County only)

Robert Dold (R)

34 of 110 (Cook County only)

Update 7:48 p.m.: Dold remains in the lead, but Schneider is beginning to gain on him.

With 243 Lake County precincts reporting, Dold leads with 52.77 percent of the vote to Schneider's 47.23 percent.

Candidate

Percentage

Total Vote

Precincts Reporting

Brad Schneider (D)

243 of 309 (Lake County only)

Robert Dold (R)

243 of 309 (Lake County only)

Update 7:22 p.m.: The returns are beginning to trickle in. Fifty-three of Lake County's 309 precincts have reported their ballots, giving Rep. Robert Dold about a 10 point lead on opponent Brad Schneider.

Candidate

Percentage

Total Vote

Precincts Reporting

Brad Schneider (D)

53 of 309 (Lake County only)

Robert Dold (R)

53 of 309 (Lake County only)

Update 7:06 p.m.: So far, Rep. Robert Dold's (R-Kenilworth) election night event in Lincolnshire has drawn a sizable crowd of... journalists. The parking lot is filled with broadcast news vans.

Supporters are beginning to trickle in, and Dold is expected to arrive at around 8 p.m. Stay tuned for more updates from Dold's event and his opponent Brad Schneider's event.

Earlier: The contest for the nationally prominent 10th Congressional District race pits Rep. Robert Dold (R-Kenilworth) against Democratic challenger Brad Schneider of Deerfield.

Patch will continue to update election results until there is a winner.

Candidate

Percentage

Total Vote

Precincts Reporting

Brad Schneider (D)

xxx of xxx

Robert Dold (R)

xxx of xxx

GO BACK TO THE ILLINOIS ELECTION CENTRAL 

Earlier: Voters Decide 10th District Race Today

Before the polls opened at 6 a.m. today, more than 75,000 people had cast ballots either through in-person early voting or by mail. With a turnout of between 275,000 and 280,000 forecast by campaign officials, that is more than a quarter of the vote.

As votes come in through the night, the totals in the table above will not include the early votes cast in the Lake County portion of the district, which makes up just over 60 percent of the district, until 100 percent of the precincts are reporting.

Once all election day votes are counted, the early votes will be added to the total, according to Lake County Clerk Willard Helander.

The campaign actually began before Dold was sworn into office in January, 2011, when the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee targeted him for defeat. A few months later, Emily’s List, a group which tries to help elect women to office, did the same thing.

Emily’s List’s attack on Dold was rebuffed by Planned Parenthood. Dold used the support he received from that group to distinguish himself from the far right Tea Party branding himself as a moderate. He continued to do it through the campaign.

Nevertheless, Schneider kept trying to tie Dold to the right-wing Republican agenda criticizing his two votes for the House Republican Budget authored by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), the Republican vice presidential nominee.

When House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) came into the District to campaign for Dold last month, Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston) used the opportunity to brand Bold a Tea Party sympathizer and calling Cantor its ideological leader in Congress.