Biggert Wins Big in 13th District Race

Judy Biggert will be returning to Washington D.C. for her seventh term as U.S. Representative for the 13^th District.

Biggert, 73, won with 72 percent of the vote in Cook County, 67 percent in DuPage and about 58 percent in Will against Democrat challenger Scott Harper, 49, for the predominantly Republican district, which includes Orland Park, Hinsdale, Burr Ridge, Naperville, Lisle and other southwestern suburbs.

"This election wasn't about one race or one person," Biggert said after late numbers came through in her favor. "People want a new direction and the Republicans can take that path. It will be a challenge, but we're going to have to govern well. I think we can get this country back on track."

Drew Pusateri, Scott Harper's spokeman, said despite the loss, Harper feels strongly about growth in the Democratic voice and strength in a longtime Republican district.

"It's obviously a tough result," Pusateri said, noting Harper was no longer taking calls Tuesday evening. "Even when results don't go your way, political activity is about building. We left the Democrat organization here better than when we found it. That's the take away for us."

Pusateri said it was too soon to say with certainty whether Harper would be entering any future political foray.

Upon returning to D.C. on Nov. 15, Biggert said she will get back to work on committees to bring a boost to small business owners, and also will push to extend the Bush tax cuts.

"We left in September without doing that, and (business owners) need help," Biggert said. "We have to get to work right away. I hope the president will work with us."

Biggert said she will work to repeal the federal health care bill, because of the potential costs it will carry.

"I think the American people are tired of the leaders who didn't listen to them," Biggert said. "American people didn't want Obamacare. But I think we'll find common sense solutions."

Biggert and Harper faced off for the seat in 2008. Harper gave the incumbent a formidable challenge, winning 44 percent of the vote. But Biggert pulled through in the end, with 54 percent of voters choosing her.

As of Oct. 13, Biggert had raised more than $1.5 million compared to Harper's $605,000, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Biggert also outspent Harper by $100,000.

Biggert received significant portions of her campaign contributions from real estate and insurance industries, while Harper received most of his campaign money — about 90 percent — from individual contributions. The largest industry contributions to Harper's campaign came from labor unions.

Biggert now sits on the House Committee of Education and Labor, as well as the Financial Services and Science and Technology committees. She was an Illinois State Representative from 1992-98 and was president of the Hinsdale High School District 86 Board of Education.

Biggert campaigned to extend tax cuts and credits and sponsored the Small Business Assistance and Relief Act (H.R. 5554). Biggert is pro-choice, in favor of offshore drilling and voted in favor of the resolution that started the Iraq War in 2002. She voted against the Affordable Health Care Act, but does support finding an economical way to increase access to health care.

Harper, a former small business owner, campaigned to lower taxes for small and medium-sized businesses as well as create jobs through developing green technology. While he said the Affordable Health Care Act is imperfect, he also said health care is a right, not a privilege. Harper also is pro-choice and said he would not have voted in favor of the Iraq War. Harper is a Naperville native and adjunct professor at North Central College, also in Naperville.