Krishnamoorthi claims victory in 8th District

Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg declared victory Tuesday night in his second run to represent Illinois' 8th District in Congress.

"I'm just humbled and thrilled to fight for the issues we talked about all through the campaign, which is how to strengthen and grow the middle class," said Krishnamoorthi, who will succeed Democrat Tammy Duckworth as she moves on to the U.S. Senate.

With 82 percent of precincts reporting late Tuesday, Krishnamoorthi had 93,850 votes, about 59 percent of the total, according to unofficial results. Republican Pete DiCianni of Elmhurst had 64,663 votes.

Krishnamoorthi said he is delighted to have the chance to work with Duckworth in her new role on Capitol Hill. Krishnamoorthi, who previously served in the appointed positions of deputy treasurer of Illinois and special assistant in the Illinois Attorney General's public integrity unit, lost to Duckworth in the 8th District's Democratic primary in 2012.

DiCianni, a DuPage County Board member and the former mayor of Elmhurst, was making his first run for Congress.

In his campaign, DiCianni touted his experience as an elected official and cited his success in securing federal funding for flood relief in 2010 and 2013, helping draft four health care laws in Illinois and paving the way for a potentially lifesaving surgery for a 3-year-old Addison girl whose Medicaid funding was stalled by the state budget crisis.

Krishnamoorthi, meanwhile, said he's been an innovator in the tech industry as well as making positive contributions in his appointed government positions. In the treasurer's office he helped make the program that returns unclaimed property run more quickly and less costly.

The 8th District is roughly centered in Schaumburg and includes parts of northwest Cook, northeast Kane and northeast DuPage counties.