Dan Seals sews it up

Wilmette business consultant Dan Seals will get a second chance to unseat incumbent U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, easily taking the Democratic nomination Tuesday in the 10th Congressional District.

Seals crushed challenger Jay Footlik, a security consultant from Buffalo Grove who was making his first run for public office. Footlik conceded the race before all the results were reported.

Seals had overwhelming support in Cook County, which represents about 60 percent of the precincts in the 10th District, which covers eastern Lake and northeastern Cook.

Voters picked Seals over Footlik 39,155 to 7,913 with 314 of 331 precincts reporting in Cook.

In Lake County, Seals led 33,549 to 8,650 with 221 of 221 precincts reporting.

Results are unofficial.

Seals, 36, who had been cultivating his name recognition since losing to Kirk in a close race in 2006, gathered dozens of high-profile endorsements, including those of U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, and was well funded.

Footlik, 42, had previously worked in the Clinton administration as an adviser on the Middle East.

He could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.