Making history for better or worse

Illinois politics reached the highest of highs in November, when Illinoisan Barack Obama became the nation's first African-American president. They reached the lowest of lows barely a month later when the state's governor was arrested and charged with trying to sell Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat to the highest bidder. In between, it was a tumultuous year for both major parties, as suburban congressional races produced high-profile national contests, the state legislature reached a state of near-paralysis and indictments of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's friends and fundraisers continued at a steady pace.

Obama rises

The ascension of Sen. Barack Obama to the pinnacle of the nation's government started on a frigid February day on the steps of the Old State Capitol in Springfield, where he told thousands of supporters, "Few obstacles can withstand the power of millions of voices calling for change" and then used that theme to consistently beat more-seasoned political opponents in primary after primary until even onetime front-runner Hillary Clinton had to step aside. In November, he completed the victory after a spirited campaign over Republican John McCain, then began elevating a cast of Illinoisans to top positions of power in federal government - notably Arne Duncan for education secretary, Ray LaHood for transportation, David Axelrod as chief adviser, Valerie Jarrett as adviser and Rahm Emanuel for chief of staff.

Blagojevich charged

The specter of a federal indictment had been looming over the head of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich since before his bid for a second term in 2006. U.S. attorney Patrick Fitzgerald could be seen working carefully up the ladder of Blagojevich's fundraising machine, first with a conviction of Stuart Levin in 2007, then the 2008 trial and conviction of Antoin "Tony" Rezko this year, and later the indictments of powerbrokers Chris Kelly and Bill Cellini. But he finally targeted the governor himself after a series of wiretapped phone conversations appeared to show Blagojevich trying to parlay the appointment of a senator to replace Obama into wads of campaign cash or a high-paying appointment for himself, to use a children's hospital as a bargaining chip for campaign funds and to pressure Tribune Co. to fire an editorial writer in order to win favor in its efforts to upgrade Wrigley Field. Blagojevich was arrested a day before his 52nd birthday, and calls for his resignation resounded from local newspapers up to Obama himself. Impeachment proceedings began shortly before Christmas. The governor steadfastly maintains his innocence, however, and, in one of his few public statements on the case since his arrest, vowed to fight "to my last breath" to see himself vindicated.

Capital spending clash

Until the governor's arrest, the biggest story in Illinois state politics appeared to be the inability of the governor and legislature to get almost anything substantial done - this despite the Democratic Party being in control of every top executive and legislative seat in government. Schools, municipalities and highway drivers across the state waited fruitlessly for critical capital projects to get funding, while Blagojevich and House Speaker Michael Madigan famously feuded over how to fund them. Even a traveling road show featuring former Republican U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert and former Democratic governor candidate Glenn Poshard failed to generate support for a $32 billion capital projects proposal by Blagovich, who eventually reduced the scope of his plan to $25 billion. Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. managed to lure Blagojevich and Madigan into a famous conciliatory hug at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, but that wasn't enough to soften the two foes' political differences. At whatever price, the issue of capital projects remained deadlocked at the end of the legislative session and, with impeachment proceedings dominating the activities of the legislature, appeared unlikely to move anytime soon.

Heated congressional battles

At least two suburban congressional races attracted attention - and considerable campaign funding - from national political parties throughout the year. After former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert announced his resignation from Congress at the end of 2007, a pitched battle ensued for the right to replace him in the 14th District. Perennial candidate Jim Oberweis emerged as the GOP's hope, but, focusing on dissatisfaction with the economy and the Bush administration, newcomer Democrat Bill Foster mounted a strong challenge, eventually winning the seat in a close contest in the spring and then holding onto it in the November elections. Farther to the east, political watchers saw a similar fate looming for incumbent Republican 10th District U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, who faced a November rematch against Democrat Dan Seals. Kirk narrowly bested Seals in a high-profile race two years earlier that focused on dissatisfaction with the Iraq war and the Bush administration, and the same themes dominated the 2008 campaign. Kirk, however, avoided the fate of many Republicans and held on to win a fifth term with about 53 percent of the vote.

Democrats gain ground

Considering all the expectations for Barack Obama's coattails to carry in a new wave of Democratic leadership in local and state races, the outcome of the November election left political experts a bit puzzled. Time and again, incumbent Republican lawmakers fended off record Democratic turnout in the region and won re-election, but there were notable signs of change. Three Democrats won seats on the DuPage County Board while in Lake County four Democrats captured GOP seats on that board. In congressional and state legislative races, incumbent Republicans held their own against strong Democratic challenges from Naperville to Zion, including the heated Kirk-Seals battle in the 10th Congressional District. In DuPage County, U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, who narrowly won his seat in 2006, easily dispatched Democrat Jill Morganthaler even as Obama won the county with 55 percent of the vote. Farther down the ballot, Republicans managed to keep control of several races that Democrats targeted, including the seats held by state Reps. Rosemary Mulligan and Sid Mathias, though Democrat Mark Walker did pick up the state seat that had been held by Republican Carolyn Krause. Naperville was the site of two open Illinois House seats previously held by Republicans who chose to retire. Republicans won both seats, but narrowly, and Democratic gains elsewhere remained a key political story in the suburbs.

Corruption convictions

While the case against Gov. Rod Blagojevich put an exclamation point on the theme of corruption in Illinois politics, the issue itself reappeared constantly throughout the year with the conviction of the governor's top fundraiser, Antoin Rezko and the indictments of two top Democratic fundraisers tied to the governor, Chris Kelly and Bill Cellini. Rezko was convicted in June of mail and wire fraud, extortion, soliciting bribes and money laundering, following a trial in which previously convicted Blagojevich fundraiser Stuart Levine and other witnesses described a variety of situations in which Rezko used his influence with state government in exchange for personal profit and the benefit of friends, and to solicit campaign donations for Blagojevich. Cellini was charged with conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, conspiracy to commit extortion, attempted extortion, and solicitation of bribes. Meanwhile, less than a week after Blagojevich's arrest, Kelly, once the governor's point man on casino matters for the state, moved to plead guilty to federal charges he used money from his personal business to cover large illegal gambling debts.

Ryan seeks release

Finally, in a sort of coda to the corruption theme, the Illinois governor sitting behind bars for his conviction on corruption charges, Republican George Ryan, got a boost when Democratic Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin sent a letter to President Bush seeking to have Ryan's sentence commuted. Commutation wouldn't erase the conviction, Durbin argued, but would allow the elderly disgraced governor to return home to his wife, whose health is reportedly fragile. Reaction to Durbin's letter from political leaders in both parties, as well as the public in general, was swift and negative. Ryan did issue a written apology for the acts that led to his incarceration, but coming as it did in the midst of the Blagojevich firestorm, it didn't appear to do much to sway opinions to his side.