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Who's in, who's out in congressional primaries

Two years after Republican contests at the top of the ballot dominated primaries, suburban Democrats are going to have big choices to make in March about who will face off in November for some of the area's key congressional races.

Monday's final day to get on the March ballot officially added state Sen. Napoleon Harris of Harvey to the Democratic U.S. Senate primary with U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth of Hoffman Estates and former Chicago Urban League CEO Andrea Zopp of Chicago.

The three are competing to face U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk of Highland Park, who Monday avoided a challenge from radio host and former U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh. Walsh had said he considered running for the Senate and House, but he didn't file an intent to do either.

Oswego consultant James Marter has filed to run against Kirk, and political unknown Elizabeth Pahlke of Arlington Heights has done the same.

They'll be running statewide in one of the biggest Senate contests in the country.

Here's a look at where the local primary contests for Congress are. Candidates could get kicked off the ballot in the coming weeks if their petition signature counts come up short.

10th District

Republican U.S. Rep. Bob Dold of Kenilworth won't have a primary opponent, but Democrat Brad Schneider of Deerfield will have to win in March to get a rematch for the north suburban 10th Congressional District seat he lost to Dold in 2014.

Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering is running against Schneider, and Lauren Beth Gash of the Tenth Congressional District Democrats says the group won't endorse in the race.

"We can't go wrong," she said.

The district will be in play nationally in November.

8th District

Duckworth's decision to leave the seat to run for Senate leaves it open to hopefuls.

Democrats Mike Noland of Elgin and Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg have been campaigning for months, and Villa Park Mayor Deborah Bullwinkel officially became a candidate Monday.

In the Republican primary, DuPage County Board member Pete DiCianni jumped into the race last week. GOP candidates Joseph Hantsch of Wood Dale and Andrew Straw of Streamwood filed Monday, though Straw's candidacy could be challenged. He told the Daily Herald last week he turned in fewer petition signatures than required.

5th District

U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, a Chicago Democrat, is unopposed in the primary, but the district has drawn three Green Party candidates.

Rob Sherman of Buffalo Grove, Warren Grimsley of Chicago and Richard Mayers of Chicago all filed to run as Greens.

6th District

U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, a Wheaton Republican, has two primary challengers in Gordon Kinzler of Glen Ellyn and Gerald Drabik of Glen Ellyn.

On the Democrats' side, Amanda Howland of Lake Zurich and Robert Marshall of Burr Ridge filed to run.

9th District

Democratic Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Evanston won't have a primary opponent, but three Republicans filed to run against her.

Susanne Atanus of Niles and David Earl Williams III of Chicago have signed up to repeat their 2014 runs. Joan McCarthy Lasonde of Wilmette will run and has the backing of Cook County Republican leaders.

11th District

Republican DuPage County Board member Tonia Khouri of Aurora will run for the nomination against Herman White of Naperville and Nick Stella of Darien. All want to take on Democrat Bill Foster of Naperville, who is unopposed in the primary.

14th District

Three Democrats - Jim Walz of Gurnee, John Hosta of Spring Grove and Jesse Maggitt of Plainfield - have filed to attempt a run against Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren of Plano.

Walsh had considered a run against Hultgren, but didn't file to get on the ballot.

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