illinois 1st congressional district election united_states house_of_representatives election 1st district illinois took place november elect representative illinois 1st congressional district congress incumbent democratic representative faced primary challenge barack_obama rush defeated obama percent percent candidates combining remaining percent rush defeated republican opponent percent percent ensuring reelection subsequent election obama elected united_states senate elected president united_states elected district illinois 1st congressional district minority majority district time election percent constituents african american district extended suburbs time years majority districts residents lived chicago strongly democratic district twice republican candidate received vote background rush involved 1960s member member founder illinois chapter coordinating medical clinic treated cell rush served elected represent illinois 1st district rush ran mayor chicago lost receiving vote making appear vulnerable obama age lecturer university_of_chicago term state senator friends including colleague illinois senate warned obama challenging rush obvious reason displace voters obama ran frustration claimed republican illinois legislature feeling rush representing district challenging rush state senator police officer perennial candidate worked clown ran unopposed republican nomination campaign obama entered race late september months primary stating rush represented politics rooted past politics isn good coming concrete solutions promised build consensus lead involving people outside black community reduce crime improve health care coverage promote economic development expand educational opportunities early polling showed rush recognition started percent obama percent rush percent approval obama percent approval head head matchup seven percent people polled favored rush percent favored obama percent supported african american obama support came white americans mid october rush son murdered leading obama campaign hold governor called special session enact package gun safety bills pet issue rush overturned obama supported package session dragged christmas obama annually spent christmas vacation hawaii family visiting grandmother raised obama left illinois expecting session continue january crucial vote took place earlier expected failing votes obama absent obama came fire missing vote said flown sooner month old daughter sick rush received sympathy aided campaign obama lived affluent neighborhood higher percentage white voters rest district narrative race black professor obama frequently came rush criticized obama barack_obama went harvard educated fool impressed folks eastern elite degrees person read civil rights protests thinks knows said viewed white man community chicago_tribune endorsed obama including local officials president bill_clinton vice president democratic_party nominee president endorsed rush obama raised money remain competitive rush connected working class african americans district provided convincing reason vote rush obama later wrote halfway campaign knew bones going lose morning point forward vague sense realizing spend day smiling shaking hands pretending going according plan results primary election rush defeated obama primary election held march margin won republican_party nomination general election rush defeated general election aftermath obama later said got rear end handed loss rush acknowledged analysts believe obama loss helped learn mistakes enabled run successful campaigns obama seen stiff policy experience ability connect voters according member early obama supporter obama took hard look campaign better ease campaign trail effort campaign hiring chief political obama increased focus improving legislative accomplishments obama speaker speech political speculated future possible presidential candidate elected united_states senate year amid speculation media future plans obama announced seek democratic presidential nomination february went defeat hillary_clinton closest presidential nomination races american history defeated fellow senator john_mccain general election president united_states
Illinois's 1st congressional district election, 2000