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U.S. Rep. Hultgren wins in 14th

Congressman Randy Hultgren has won re-election to Congress in the 14th District.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting for ballots cast Tuesday, the Winfield Republican held 59 percent of the vote to Democratic challenger Dennis Anderson’s 41 percent. Late, absentee and provisional ballots will be counted and rolled into the total this morning.

“We worked hard and have a good level of support across the district from individuals and groups throughout,” Hultgren said. “We built relationships and are very grateful for the support we received.”

The 14th stretches from Wadsworth in the northeast to Minooka in the south, covering all or parts of Kane, DuPage, Lake, McHenry, Will, DeKalb and Kendall counties. Much of the district was redrawn after the 2010 Census. Hultgren said getting to know more of the district and its people are priorities for the next two years. Job growth and transportation will also remain top issues.

“Getting people working again in the 14th District and growing jobs here, we will continue to fight and work for that,” Hultgren said.

The incumbent added that despite rapid growth in recent years, the district has not seen equivalent investment in its infrastructure. Hultgren said he would work with local, state and federal governments to improve transportation in the district.

Hultgren was first elected to Congress in 2010, focused on two key topics important to Illinois: transportation and innovation. The incumbent, a member of transportation subcommittees for aviation and railroads, pipelines and hazardous materials, voiced a need for infrastructure repairs in Illinois and addressed specific transportation needs of the district such as improved roads and rail systems.

In addition, Hultgren is pushing for Illinois to lead the way in innovation and alternative energy. He said research laboratories and universities were already leading the way with two supercomputers in the state: one at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the other at the Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont.

Hultgren and Anderson, who is from Gurnee, had differing approaches to issues from improving the economy and extending tax breaks to fundraising for the campaign.

Hultgren said small-business owners have expressed their inability to grow their businesses and hire new employees because of government restrictions and regulations. Hultgren said small-business owners often complain about the complicated tax system that is constantly changing.

Anderson, however, said banks that are sitting on trillions of dollars need to free up some of it for small-business owners who require capital to grow.

The incumbent also said he would support tax reform that expands the tax base in order for the government to expand its revenue stream.

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