Longtime incumbent McAuliffe re-elected in 20th House

Longtime state legislator Mike McAuliffe - the only elected Republican in Chicago - said Tuesday after winning another 2-year term to the state House that part of his staying power is connecting with voters.

"Part of the success of doing that is whether on Election Day, walking door to door, or in the grocery store or pumping gas, people walk up to me and say, 'Hi, Mike, you're doing a great job.' I think they're comfortable with me," said McAuliffe, who has faced contested elections during his 18-year tenure all but in 2000.

His latest challenge for the 20th state House District seat came from Democrat Mo Khan, a 29-year-old full-time law student from Park Ridge who has worked on the campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Alexi Giannoulias. With 98 percent of precincts reporting, McAuliffe defeated Khan 17,857 to 10,749 votes, according to unofficial returns.

McAuliffe has positioned himself as a moderate Republican in a traditionally blue-collar district, often voting with his party on fiscal and social issues, but he also has the support of a number of unions. The 20th House District includes portions of Des Plaines, Rosemont, Park Ridge, Niles and Chicago's Northwest Side.