Senate Dist. 27 race leaning to Murphy

Democrats saw the rematch between freshman state Sen. Matt Murphy and challenger Peter Gutzmer as an opportunity to take a seat long-held by the GOP.

But with 162 of 187 precincts reporting late Tuesday in 27th State Senate District, unofficial results showed a resounding victory for Murphy. The Palatine attorney held 59 percent of the vote compared to 41 percent for the Democratic Gutzmer.

"It looks like I'll be back in Springfield and I'm excited to have that chance," said the 38-year-old Murphy.

Gutzmer, a 43-year-old firefighter in Elk Grove Village, called Murphy and thanked him for a "relatively clean race about policies, not politics."

In 2006, the pair faced off in a hotly contested race to replace Republican Sen. Wendell Jones, who held the seat for eight years and was retiring. Murphy, then a Harper College trustee, captured 53 percent of the vote to win the two-year term.

Despite a steady stream of Democrats filtering into the district, Murphy made it a close race with Gutzmer in Lake County, where Murphy was "absolutely crushed last time."

Murphy's campaign had comparatively deep pockets. He ran 30-second cable TV spots, while Gutzmer stuck to mailers and intense canvassing.