Endorsement: Foster for Congress Dist. 11

The U.S. House race in the 11th Congressional District is an interesting competition between incumbent Bill Foster, a pragmatic Democrat from Naperville who has long impressed us, and Jerry Evans, an engaging Republican from Warrenville with mainstream conservative values.

The district boundaries stretch from Will County up to Lake and McHenry counties in a long crescent around the western edge of the suburbs with a dogleg west to Belvidere through DeKalb and Boone counties. Among the suburbs at least partially in its path: Aurora, Batavia, Bolingbrook, Crystal Lake, Geneva, Huntley, Lake in the Hills, Naperville, St. Charles and Wauconda.

Both Foster and Evans strike us as good and capable candidates. Our endorsement goes to Foster, because, among other reasons, his background as a Ph.D. from Harvard in particle physics provides a valuable science attribute that is unique to Congress. That expertise becomes even more essential today during the embryonic House attempts to grapple with policy to address the coming age of artificial intelligence. The potential benefits, risks and vested interests of A.I. are enormous, and the House needs contributors like Foster who are neither compromised nor in over their heads.

Beyond all that, Foster brings a thoughtful approach to the issues generally. If you would doubt that, take a look at the exhaustively detailed position statements on his campaign website. He combines that scientific mentality with a passion for public service inspired in part by his father's involvement as a lawyer who contributed to many of the regulations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Evans, a music school entrepreneur, offers a solid candidacy, and his positions are well considered, consistent in philosophy and respectfully delivered. He represents what conservatism ought to be and used to be, and there is a lot to like in him. But Foster offers strengths that are hard to match.