How Illinois Democrats won a statewide sweep and 2 pivotal congressional seats in the midterm elections

Nov. 07--The blue wave hit Illinois in the midterm elections as Democrats were vaulted to a statewide sweep and the party defeated veteran Republicans in the Chicago suburbs to pick up two congressional seats.

J.B. Pritzker, who toppled first-term Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner in the governor race, played a significant funding role and boosted campaigns down the ballot.

All told, Illinois Republicans faced their biggest electoral wipeout since after the 2006 election.

The Chicago Board of Election Commissioners announced an unofficial turnout rate of 55.6 percent as of about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, the highest midterm turnout in 32 years. In suburban Cook County, officials reported that more than 850,000 voters cast ballots -- well above the roughly 696,000 ballots cast in the 2014 gubernatorial election.

ILLINOIS RACE RESULTS: Get real-time results here -- Governor: Pritzker vs. Rauner -- Attorney general: Raoul vs. Harold -- Comptroller: Mendoza vs. Senger -- 6th congressional district: Casten vs. Roskam -- 14th congressional district: Underwood vs. Hultgren -- 3rd congressional district: Lipinski vs. Jones -- More local coverage -- National live blog

10:30 p.m.: Hultgren concedes to challenger Underwood

Republican Congressman Randy Hultgren has conceded defeat to his Democratic challenger Lauren Underwood in the keenly anticipated and close election for Illinois' 14th Congressional District.

With nearly all of the ballots counted, Underwood garnered about 52 percent of the vote, with the Republican picking up about 48 percent in unofficial tallies.

"We did everything we possibly could," Hultgren told supporters in his concession speech. "And I feel good about that.. I feel so good about the race we ran. I would have loved to have won the race. We didn't do that but again I'm so grateful."

At Underwood's campaign party at the Kane County Fairgrounds, the crowded roared and broke into a chant of "Lauren! Lauren! Lauren!" as cable news declared that Underwood appeared to be the winner.

The contest to represent the traditionally Republican-leaning district that spans suburban and semirural areas of seven northeast Illinois counties took on national importance as Democrats sought to assume control of the House of Representatives, and both parties went all out to claim the seat.

But in the end, Underwood helped the Democrats take control of the U.S. House. --John Keilman, Christy Gutowski and Robert McCoppin

10:25 p.m.: Casten declares victory over Roskam in pivotal 6th Congressional District

In one of the nation's most closely watched campaigns of the midterm elections, political newcomer Sean Casten declared victory over incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam in the suburban 6th Congressional District, turning a longtime-GOP stronghold into a critical win for Democrats as they worked to take control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

"I never thought that the second coolest thing to happen this week was meeting President Obama," Casten said to cheering supporters at the IBEW Local 701 Union Hall in west suburban Warrenville. Former president Barack Obama campaigned for Casten and other Illinois Democrats during an appearance over the weekend at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

With more than half of precincts reporting, Casten had 53 percent compared with 47 percent for Roskam, according to unofficial vote totals. The results may not include all early voting tallies.

--Patrick M. O'Connell, Ted Gregory and Michael Hawthorne

9:35 p.m.: Illinois takes deep blue dive

Democrats nationally saw ripples develop Tuesday night in their efforts for a wave election, but Illinois took a deep blue dive as J.B. Pritzker handily defeated first-term Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and led the statewide Democratic ticket to a sweep.

Early returns also had Illinois potentially contributing as many as three congressional seats to the 23 that Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi needed to gain to take back the U.S. House.

In the west and northwest suburban 6th Congressional District, the Associated Press projected that six-term Republican U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam of Wheaton would lose to Democrat Sean Casten of Downers Grove, but the race was close and ballots were still being counted. And in the far west suburban 14th District, Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren of Plano was narrowly losing to Democrat Lauren Underwood of Naperville. --Rick Pearson

8:50 p.m.: Chicago voter turnout hits 55.6 percent, highest for midterm election in 32 years

The Chicago Board of Election Commissioners announced unofficial turnout of 55.6 percent as of about 8:30 pm Tuesday, the highest midterm turnout in 32 years. --Juan Perez Jr.

8:35 p.m.: Raoul cruises to easy win in Illinois attorney general race

Obliterating concerns from some Democrats that the race had tightened in the final days, Kwame Raoul cruised to an easy victory Tuesday over Republican Erika Harold to become Illinois' first new attorney general in 16 years.

Top party officials reported that late polling showed Raoul with a much smaller lead over Harold than the double-digit advantages enjoyed by other statewide Democratic candidates, including governor front-runner J.B. Pritzker.

But in the end, Raoul romped to a double-digit win over Harold, a result that tracked closely with major wins piled up by Pritzker and the rest of the party's statewide candidates.

"All the way to the end, people were saying this was a nail-biter," Raoul said with a laugh during his victory speech at a downtown hotel. "But numbers don't lie."

With 86 percent of the state's precincts reporting, Raoul had won 54 percent of the vote to Harold's 43 percent and 2 percent for Libertarian Bubba Harsy of Du Quoin, according to unofficial results. --Bill Ruthhart

8:30 p.m.: Underwood takes early lead over Hultgren but U.S. House race remains close

Democratic challenger Lauren Underwood has taken an early lead against incumbent Rep. Randy Hultgren in the keenly anticipated and still close election for Illinois' 14th Congressional District.

With about a third of the votes reported, Underwood has garnered about 52 percent of the vote, with the Republican incumbent picking up about 48 percent, in unofficial tallies.

The challenger appears to have done particularly well in the small slice of DuPage County included in the district, picking up more than 70 percent of the votes there, though Hultgren was polling strongly in McHenry County.

The contest to represent the large, traditionally Republican-leaning district that spans suburban and semi-rural areas of seven northeast Illinois counties has taken on national importance as Democrats seek to assume control of the House of Representatives, and both parties have gone all out to claim the seat. --John Keilman, Christy Gutowski and Robert McCoppin

8:30 p.m.: Lipinski wins re-election, beating Holocaust denier

Incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski won re-election in Illinois' 3rd Congressional District, The Associated Press reported, taking 75 percent of the vote so far over his opponent, a Holocaust denier with ties to neo-Nazism, according to unofficial vote totals.

With about two-thirds of the precincts reporting, Republican challenger Arthur Jones, however, garnered nearly 35,000 votes at the polls in Cook, DuPage and Will counties despite a coalition of religious and political leaders that urged voters not to support him.

The results may not include all early voting tallies.

Jones, a 70-year-old from Lyons, had run for office several times before but never advanced to the general election. Jones earned 20,681 votes when he ran unopposed in the Republican primary in March.

8:25 p.m.: Mendoza breezes to re-election as state comptroller

Democrat Susana Mendoza breezed to re-election as state comptroller Tuesday, declaring victory over her Republican challenger Darlene Senger.

Mendoza took the stage at Democratic governor candidate J.B. Pritzker's election night party after her spokesman said Senger called her to concede.

"Thank you for re-electing me," Mendoza said in a speech to a crowd at the Marriott hotel near McCormick Place. She didn't discuss her next move, instead talking up other statewide elected Democrats. "I'm truly honored to be a part of this great dream team," Mendoza said. It remains to be seen whether she stays on the team in coming weeks.

With the win, Mendoza simultaneously started the clock on further speculation over whether she will jump into the crowded field for Chicago mayor.

Mendoza was facing a challenge from Senger and Libertarian Claire Ball. For weeks, much of the attention on the race has focused on what she'll do next -- win or lose.

As supporters keep on gathering signatures to potentially get her name on the mayoral ballot, Mendoza continued to play coy about her plans.

8:15 p.m.: Quigley and Garica win congressional races, AP says

Democratic Rep. Mike Quigley has won re-election in the Illinois 5th Congressional District, according to the Associated Press.

The AP has also called the Illinois 4th Congressional District, declaring Chuy Garcia the winner.

7:45 p.m.: Pritzker wins Illinois governor race after Rauner concedes

Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has conceded his re-election bid to billionaire Democrat J.B. Pritzker, according to Rauner's campaign, the Hyatt hotel heir's victory putting his party in near total control of state government by limiting the governor to a single term.

Rauner's concession call to Pritzker came about 30 minutes after polls closed, campaign spokesman Will Allison said. Barely any votes had been counted in the bitter race in which the two candidates broke national campaign spending records by tapping their personal fortunes for hundreds of millions of dollars.

7:42 p.m.: Chicago voter turnout hits 53.4 percent

More than 802,000 Chicago voters had submitted ballots through Tuesday evening, according to the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. Latest pollbook data: 53.4% turnout (802,334) with people still in line and voting, and not including late-arriving Vote By Mail ballots likely to arrive in the coming days, and not including provisional ballots.

These include Early Voting and already-arrived Vote By Mail and Election Day, but are NOT final Election Day turnout numbers:

18-24: 51,760

25-34: 162,042

35-44: 138,843

45-54: 131,470

55-64: 142,146

65-74: 106,169

75 and up: 67,090

--Juan Perez Jr.

7:40 p.m.: Voters hit Pilsen polls just before closing time

It started drizzling a little again in Pilsen an hour before the polls closed, but it stopped quickly. Rush hour traffic came indoors at Rudy Lozano Library Branch, where a small line formed as voters stopped in to cast their ballots after work.

Gene Munger, 24, said he cast a vote for Hillary Clinton at the same library on a November evening two years ago, which was a little "strange and surreal."

"Probably like a lot of people who are here, I was pretty shocked about Donald Trump being elected," he said.

A few minutes before 7 p.m. rolled around, a few stragglers scrambled to cast the final votes of the day. John Rivas, a 23-year-old, rushed into the library wearing a black baseball cap and windbreaker. It was his first time voting, he said, something he did because of all the buzz surrounding this year's midterms.

"I felt like I had to come out here and vote," he said. --Katie Galioto

7:40 p.m.: Voters in South Shore complain of long lines and lack of paper ballots

Voters at the Montgomery Place Retirement Community in South Shore complained of long lines and a lack of paper ballots throughout Tuesday afternoon -- a situation that persisted for hours until minutes before the polling place was scheduled to close.

Ballots arrived at the site a few minutes prior to 7 p.m., city election officials said. Election officials had received persistent complaints about long lines and a lack of paper ballots at the polling place for several hours prior to that point. An election judge told the city that voters who were waiting were given numbers while in line.

City officials said people who had continued to wait in line would be allowed to vote, but that they would not request extended voting hours at the site. --Juan Perez Jr.

5:45 p.m.: Chicago voter turnout may be highest for midterms since 1998

Voter turnout in the city of Chicago is expected to reach a level not seen during any recent midterm election, according to preliminary statistics from the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.

Slightly more than 48 percent of registered voters had cast ballots as of 5 p.m., or some 723,000 voters. Polling places are beginning to pick up the evening rush, to a point where an estimated 45,000 voters were casting ballots each hour at around 4 p.m.

"I think it's safe to say we're going to get another 90,000 voters, which will put us over 800,000. So we're looking at anywhere from 800,000 to 830,000 voters. That's kind of the strong turnout that we expected," city board spokesman Jim Allen said. That total does not include provisional ballots and late-arriving mail ballots.

"I think it's very likely that we're easily going to cross 53 percent and perhaps hit and cross 54 (percent)."

According to the city election board, voter turnout in the 1998 midterm election hit 55 percent. But hundreds of thousands of additional voters are registered this year.High voting totals were recorded in suburban Cook County, as well.

Roughly 753,000 ballots had been cast in the Chicago suburbs by 4:30 p.m., according to Cook County Clerk David Orr's office.

That number surpassed the number of ballots cast in every gubernatorial election in nearly three decades, Orr said. --Juan Perez Jr.

5:25 p.m.: 'Only one drink. I still have to vote.'

By late afternoon, a few Wicker Park neighbors took seats at the bar of Club Lucky, a tavern and Italian restaurant that's doubled as the block's polling place for years.

Inside the dimly lit bar, Nicole Coleman mixed up cocktails for customers, most regulars at the establishment at Wabansia Avenue and Honore Street. In honor of Election Day, she offered "the independent," a white sangria, and "the blue donkey," a cocktail with blue curacao.

"Only one drink," a man joked with Coleman as he came in. "I still have to vote."

Customers trickled into the bar throughout the later afternoon, some with confused faces. "Voting's in the back," Coleman said, pointing them towards the extra dining room where eight voting booths were squeezed together.

"At one time, taverns and bowling alleys and funeral homes are where the community would talk about politics," Club Lucky's owner, Jim Higgins, said. That still happens at his tavern, he added, a joint that's popular among the locals for watching results stream in on election night.

Joe Shadid and Lauren Powell have lived next door to Club Lucky for 10 years. They stopped in the restaurant's back room to vote, then came to the front bar to say hi to Coleman and grab a drink -- their Election Day tradition.

"We have our democracy cocktails. These days the joke is they're democracy on the rocks," Shadid, 31, said with a grin. When voting, his primary concern was picking candidates who would fight for equality in all senses, he said -- gender, race, income. --Katie Galioto

4:55 p.m.: Suburban Cook County ballot update

4:40 p.m.: Election officials plan to extend voting hours past 7 p.m. in 5 Chicago precincts after technical problems led to delays

Chicago election officials reported problems in some precincts related to election judges who didn't give voters both pages of the paper ballot Tuesday, and separately announced they were expecting to ask a Cook County judge to extend voting hours in five precincts after problems there.

Despite reminders that election judges were to distribute both a ballot that lists candidates up for election and a second ballot that lists judges up for retention and non-binding referendums, the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners received reports from at least a dozen precincts that poll workers failed to hand out the second paper ballot.

That left voters with few options if they were intent on casting their votes on judges or on those issues.

4:24 p.m.: Here's what ex-Illinois governors Edgar, Quinn will be watching for today

They are grizzled veterans of Illinois politics.

One's not quite declaring an end to politics while banging the drum about Chicago mayoral term limits. The other is out of state on this Election Day, missing his role as TV pundit but OK to keep an eye on election result via his iPad and CNN.

"Ah, never say never," ex-Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn said Tuesday.

As he talks, flashes of the politician who used to walk into news conferences clutching files bulging with reams of paper come to mind. He voted early -- on Saturday with his college-age son -- so he could use his time today to collect signatures to get a referendum question on the February municipal ballot about a community mental health services program.

And he'll be tuning in to catch the results on Tuesday night. There's the tight suburban congressional races that could help shift the balance of power in Washington. And the referendum question in Chicago he shepherded onto the ballot to limit the mayor to two consecutive terms. And, of course, who will get his old job -- Quinn is backing fellow Democrat JB Pritzker over incumbent Bruce Rauner, a Republican, in the governor's race.

Telling the Tribune he isn't nursing a grudge over Rauner besting him in the 2014 gubernatorial race, Quinn says of the sitting governor: "I think the guy who's in now needs to be replaced."

"There's some irony here. Last election, when I lost the run for governor, Rauner outspent us 2-to-1. The ironic thing now is listening to Rauner complain about how much money (was) spent on the race," said Quinn who made an unsuccessful bid this election cycle for Illinois Attorney General.

Just last week, USA Today reported that Rauner had complained to other Republicans that Pritzker had dumped nearly $100 million more into his campaign than the sitting governor and his backers had.

Indeed, Rauner, a wealthy equity investor, and Pritzker, a billionaire heir to the Hyatt Hotel fortune, have spent a combined $200-plus million in their bids for the state's top office.

Two-term Republican governor Jim Edgar, who resides in Springfield but is out of state, said by phone that given the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allows candidates to pour an unlimited amount of money into their campaigns, it's "no surprise."

"I don't think we should be surprised it was most expensive -- you have two rich guys running. I do think it's unfortunate party leaders now just want to sign not just millionaires, but multi-millionaires" as candidates.

While the candidates in today's governors race will end up spending north of $200 million, Edgar's run against then Attorney General and Democrat Neil Hartigan was one of the most expensive governor's races in the state's history, though the tally would be under $10 million.

"We had the same amount of money, the same name recognition -- and both of the parties were supporting us -- we didn't have any splits on Election Day," Edgar recalled. "It was nip/tuck until Election Day it went back and forsth. We didn't know until 1:30 the next morning for sure who won. "

He remembers coming down the escalator to cheers and the sheer joy he felt "after a hardfought campaign. Everyone was so excited."

"Of course the next day, reality sunk in" as his administration had to grapple with state's budget woes, something he's felt criticism over, too.

Some things never change. --Lisa Donovan

4:10 p.m.: Higher than normal turnout appears to be driven by young voters

City election officials were confident by Tuesday afternoon that more than 50 percent of registered voters would turn out for the midterm election. It was just a question of how much more.

Slightly more than 40 percent of registered city voters had turned out by just after 2 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.

That number included ballots cast on Election Day, early voting numbers and mail-in ballots that had been delivered so far.

"Now it's going to be, do we reach 53, 56 (percent)? Let's see what happens in the evening rush," election board spokesman Jim Allen told reporters.

There also was evidence that much of the turnout so far has been driven by younger voters.

"The 18- to 34-year-olds, as well as 35- and 44-year-olds, they're performing better than 65- to 74-year-olds, which is something that we thought we were starting to see with early voting and vote by mail. It's definitely picked up with in-person voting today," Allen said.

City voter turnout in a midterm election reached just under 53 percent in 2010, and surpassed 53 percent in 2002.

"What's remarkable about that is we're doing this even though we have 140,000 more voters on the rolls," Allen said. "Even with our much larger voter registrations, which are our highest for a midterm since 1982 ... We're beating the average for midterm turnouts." --Juan Perez

4:04 p.m.: The 'blue wave' washes over Half Acre

Mary Stoppert, 77, and Carmen Perez-Stoppert, 57, haven't missed an election in 22 years --"even a small one," Stoppert said. The spouses came to cast their ballots at Half Acre Beer Co.'s Balmoral brewery, 2050 W Balmoral Ave., to be "part of the women's blue wave," she added.

Both women are retired and said they kept a few issues in mind as they selected their candidates, things that affect their everyday life -- particularly pensions and social security.

Head brewer O'Doherty was hosing down barrels just beyond the polls. It's not much work to host a polling site, he said, because employees are there to watch the beer from early in the morning until late at night."We're proud to do it," he said. "And happy to be a part of the neighborhood."

The voting booths were surrounded by a yellow rope tied to stacks of kegs at Half Acre Beer Co.'s Balmoral brewery, 2050 W Balmoral Ave., a polling site for one precinct in North Center.

As voters trickled in and out, Ryan O'Doherty and his crew were brewing GoneAway, a popular Half Acre IPA, and Pony, a pilsner that won't be ready for consumption for six to eight weeks -- long after Tuesday's election results are finalized.

Adara Towler, 28, waited near a stack of wooden barrels full of sour mash bourbon whiskey while her husband Max Hosmer finished voting. She said she's become more politically aware in the last few years and has been hearing more chatter about the midterm this election cycle.

"In Chicago and the state of Illinois, a lot of my personal beliefs tend to coincide with a lot of the officials in this area," Towler said. "But I still felt my voice needed to be heard." Hosmer finished his ballot and the couple left to walk back to their house a few blocks away. --Katie Galioto

3:37 p.m: A 90-minute line at Loyola: 'Worth it.'

Two long lines of Loyola University Chicago students slowly trickled into the 48th Ward's 27th Precinct polling place at the Sovereign Apartments at Edgewater Beach.

Monica Contractor, a junior studying psychology, waited with her younger sister for about an hour before she got her hands on a ballot. But she stayed and posted on Snapchat encouraging her friends to join her in voting.

"I think that right now is a time when our vote matters the most," Contractor said. "Especially because of the political climate and a lot of the decisions being made for us, and there's clearly not a lot of representation for a lot of minorities, lower-income communities and also for people of color."

Aimen Shah, 18, a Loyola freshman, said it's important to vote because many eligible voters don't take advantage of their right.

"Creating change in the country, it starts with an individual so that's why I'm here," Shah said.

She estimates she waited an hour and half to vote."Worth it," she said. --Elvia Malagon

3:30 p.m.: Election officials to ask judge to extend voting hours in some precincts after problems emerge

Chicago election officials will ask a judge to extend voting hours in five precincts, following a series of problems with equipment or late openings.

--After election supplies were mistakenly sent to the wrong polling place, city officials want to keep the 9th Ward's 20th and 31st precincts open until 8 p.m.

--Short-staffed election judges led to a roughly hour-long voting delay at the 46th precinct of the 2nd Ward on Tuesday morning. Officials also want to extend voting at that site until 8 p.m.

--A brief absence of election judges led to another hourlong delay in the 22nd precinct of the 20th Ward, so the city election commission will ask to keep that polling place open until 8 p.m.

--Ballot problems also led to extended delays at a polling place located at Murphy's Windows in the Mount Greenwood neighborhood. The city will ask for those voting booths, in the 12th precinct of the 19th Ward, to stay open until 9 p.m. "Because there were more than 100 people who left and potentially people who are on shifts that are rather long, we're going to seek especially extended hours at that location," city election board spokesman Jim Allen said.

--No other Chicago polling places will stay open past 7 p.m. --Juan Perez Jr.

3:00 p.m.: Some precincts failed to hand out second ballots; turnout at 42% at 2:50 p.m.

Despite consistent reminders that election judges were to distribute both a ballot that lists candidates up for election and a second ballot that lists judges up for retention and non-binding referenda, the city saw widespread reports that poll workers failed to hand out the second paper ballot.

That leaves voters with few options if they were intent on casting their vote on those issues.

"In theory, they could go back to their polling place and demand to vote a provisional, retention-only (ballot)," election board spokesman Jim Allen told reporters.

"If someone really wanted to, they could go back and demand that they vote a provisional, 'B' ballot. We'd have to determine at some point, 14 days from now, whether or not we could actually count that ballot."

Officials said they did not know the extent of the problem, though election commission records showed staff members received a number of voter complaints about the issue through Tuesday afternoon.

"I think we've answered enough tweets and Facebook inquiries and emails where we feel confident that it was a dozen or more precincts at a minimum," Allen said.

The essential problem, Allen said, was poll judges who did not follow training. --Juan Perez Jr.

2:58 p.m.: Near U. of C. Law School, a woman turns out to 'vote the corrupt judges out'

At the polling place closest to the University of Chicago Law School, the gymnasium at Cornerstone Baptist Church on 63rd Street and Woodlawn Avenue, some voters said Tuesday afternoon that they were most looking forward to changes in the legal system.

"I'm here to vote the corrupt judges out of their positions," said Darcy Fangi, who arrived at the church around 2:30 p.m.

Inside, dozens of voters bustled about. Volunteers, clipboards at their hips, check and double-checked addresses and other information. The gym was the site of multiple precincts.

Fangi was one of a few there with a child in tow. She said voting was especially important to her Tuesday because the direction the country has been going worries her.

"I'm irritated in general about the state of America," she said. --Ese Olumhense

2:45 p.m.: Oh, so that's why

More on why Chicago doesn't have "I voted" stickers, but does give out wristbands.

1:56 p.m.: Trump backs Hultgren on Twitter

President Donald Trump sent an Election Day tweet in support of Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren in his suburban congressional campaign against Democratic challenger Lauren Underwood. "Congressman Randy Hultgren (R) of Illinois is doing a great job. Get out and Vote for Randy -- Total Endorsement!" Trump tweeted at about 2 p.m.

Hultgren appeared with Trump at a southern Illinois rally two weekends ago 300 miles south of his far west and north suburban 14th Congressional District.

1:26 p.m.: 'I see the grain silos being built because we have a president named Trump'

In the shadow of the Willowbrook water tower, voters encountered wait times just under a half hour during the lunch rush, which some said rivaled the 2016 presidential election.

Craig Parks, 64, was among the group of enthusiastic voters who didn't mind the wait. Parks planned to cast his vote to maintain GOP majorities in both chambers of Congress to support President Donald Trump's economic agenda.

"I'm out in the corn field. I see what's going on. I see the grain silos being built because we have a president named Trump," he said. "The economy is moving. All of this in two years! It's not because the people who want to be in play are doing it. It's because of the president we have right now." --Tony Briscoe

1:24 p.m.: First-time voter, 26, on the Far North Side: 'To be honest, I do feel nervous'

Alfred Emerson sat in the corner of a bustling coffee shop on the Far North Side early Tuesday afternoon as he closely scanned his two-page paper ballot.

It was the first time Emerson, 26, of Edgewater Beach, cast a ballot in any election."To be honest, I do feel nervous but I do feel good, actually," Emerson said. "I actually came out and did something for a change, you know."

He voted inside Metropolis Coffee Company, 1039 W. Granville Ave., a polling location for the city's 48th Ward. Emerson, who was headed to his job in River North after voting, said one of the issues he's concerned about is funding for public schools, particularly for those on the city's South Side so that students there have more opportunities to advance to college.

But he was also motivated because his friends tease him about never having cast a vote."I guess I wanted my voice to be heard," Emerson said. "My friends say oh, you can't really have any opinion if you don't vote."

And while he said he wished he was more educated on all of the candidates that appeared on his ballot, Emerson said the experience will help him in future elections.

"It gives me an idea for the next time when I come in to vote," Emerson said. --Elvia Malagon

1:10 p.m: Negative ads prove a turn-off

"I'm not happy," Eurydice Moore said as she tugged on her hat and prepared to exit the Chicago Police Station on W. Addison Street in Lakeview. The 62-year-old consultant said it took her about 50 minutes to cast her ballot because she was confused and election judges were too busy to help.

The line to vote at two precincts in Chicago's 44th Ward shrank later in the morning Tuesday. Not long after Moore left, Richard Elliott said it only took him 30 minutes to cast his ballot for J. B. Pritzker for governor -- a choice he said was spurred by his aversion to Bruce Rauner's ads.

"Some of his negative ads really turned me the opposite way," the 42-year-old bar manager said. "That was kind of the deciding factor." --Katie Galioto

1:07 p.m.: Voting in Ricobene's in Bridgeport

Just after noon at Ricobene's pizza parlor, 252 W. 26th St., as dozens of patrons came to dine during the lunch rush, others in the community had civic participation, not pizza, on their minds.

The restaurant doubled as a polling place Tuesday, the enticing scents of the kitchen wafting through to the poll stations, which stood in a room adjacent to the dining area.

Matt Dalzell, 27, was one of around 70 Chicagoans who had voted at the restaurant by early afternoon."It's Election Day, right?" the software engineer said. He makes sure to vote in each election, something he knows is not the norm for many other Americans.

"As long as I'm able to, I generally will go vote," he said.

Dalzell, who works from home, came out on Tuesday to support candidates who will "make Illinois a good place to live in the future." He's especially interested in a strong economy and in jobs.

With his civic duty done, Dalzell turned his focus to another need -- lunch.

"I always thought it was kind of unique that we had Ricobene's," as the precinct's polling place, he said. He recommends the pizza, too. --Ese Olumhense

12:50 p.m.: Marijuana on the brain in Lakeview

David Johnson's company let employees work from home for the day so they could vote, but he still came to his Lakeview polling place at the Chicago Police Station on W. Addison Street wearing a gray suit.

One of the top issues on Johnson's mind was the legalization of marijuana, which affected both his vote for governor and on a referendum question. The 40-year-old said he thinks regulating the sale and use of cannabis could benefit Chicago financially.

"I think that is one of the options to help dig us out," he said.

A few minutes later, Daniel Leahy walked out of the polls and voiced similar thoughts.

"I don't think people should be allowed to be incarcerated for small offenses," the 23-year-old actor said. "I think that money can be put to better use." --Katie Galioto

12:20 p.m.: Tell us why you're voting

Healthcare? Immigration? Trump? Take our poll and tell us why you're getting out and casting a ballot this fall. Click here.

11:53 a.m.: Regretting a vote for Trump

Xiu Qiong Wu voted for President Donald Trump in 2016 -- a decision she said she now regrets. On Tuesday, she voted for Democrats at the polling place in the Chinatown Elderly Apartments in the 25th Ward.

Wu, 72, said she voted for Trump because she liked the idea of America being the best country in the world, but as an immigrant she has been increasingly concerned while reading the newspaper every day.

"Ever since the president came into office, there were a lot of policies that were not good for the middle class and for the general community," Wu said in Cantonese, which was translated to English through Ada Tong and State Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago.

Tong, who volunteers for Mah's campaign, helped get Wu, who is wheelchair bound, from her apartment in Chinatown to the polling location after word spread that Wu wanted to vote but had trouble getting out of her home. --Elvia Malagon

11:23 a.m.: Translating ballots in Chinatown

Yuping Chen hopped from voter to voter Tuesday morning, translating the lengthy ballot for residents inside the 25th Ward's polling place in the Chinatown Elderly Apartments. It was the first time Chen, 32, worked as a translator on Election Day.

"Most of the people want to vote but they don't know who can help them," Chen said. "They want someone to help them and that's why I'm here."

More than 100 people had cast a ballot Tuesday morning at the polling place located in the 300 block of West 23rd Street.

Among the voters Chen helped was 83-year-old Qu Xiang Chen, who said she voted because she's a citizen. --Elvia Malagon

11:21 a.m.: A Gold Coast 73-year-old who has 'never missed a vote'

Rebecca Janowitz tugged her blue scarf tighter around her neck as she exited her polling place at Moody Church and walked down the steps onto N. Clark Street. The 65-year-old Gold Coast resident knows firsthand the ramifications of elections -- she's running for alderman in the 43rd Ward this winter.

"It would look bad if I didn't vote," she said. "You can't really expect other people to do stuff you don't do."

Julie Paradise knew what to expect when she showed up to cast her ballot.

"I'm 73, and I've never missed a vote," the Gold Coast resident said.

Paradise described herself as "a hardcore Democrat," who voted for candidates who shares her beliefs on social justice issues like healthcare and educations. She was surprised to see some of the city referendums and that there wasn't more of a line at the poll.

By 10 a.m., about 100 people had voted at each of the three Ward 2 precincts polling there. --Katie Galioto

11:20 a.m.: Extended hours for some polling places?

Chicago election officials expect to ask a judge to extend voting hours at a handful of polling places, citing "rather significant issues" and delays that kept voters from casting ballots.

Chicago Board of Election Commissioners spokesman Jim Allen declined to identify the specific polling sites that could have their hours extended, saying that some of the problems were still under investigation late Tuesday morning. But Allen did say the city would ask a court to extend hours for at least two and as many as five sites.

The problems were "egregious in the delay and the length of the delay," Allen said. Poll workers at some of the affected sites also failed to collect contact information from voters who were turned away. --Juan Perez

10:52 a.m.: 'I'm afraid of the Democratic Party'

Despite dreary weather, voters poured into a V.F.W. hall along the Fox River in Montgomery Tuesday morning. Among them were Jerry and Becky Davis, 69 and 62, of Aurora.

Becky Davis: "I'm afraid of the Democratic Party right now and what they're trying to do. We've lost the ability to discuss without getting emotional. I'm hoping it'll get turned around."

Jerry Davis: "If you don't get along with them, you get condemned. I think that's how Trump got elected because the average person gets so tired of the B.S. that goes on in Washington, because the established politicians are doing the same things they have always done. But they don't realize we're not going to put up with it any more.

"When I grew up you didn't care who the president was, he was the president and you honored the office. You might not like the guy, you may not care what he has to say, but you get behind the country." --Tony Briscoe

10:17 a.m.: The scene in Bridgeport

9:51 a.m.: Governor's race is picking 'lesser of two evils'

Kyle Johnson, 34, said he voted locally but is keeping watch nationally.

He said he voted for Democrats and will be keeping a close eye on results from Texas, Florida and Missouri to see if Democrats make gains in Congress.

Johnson said he felt like the Illinois governor's race was the "lesser of two evils," so he focused on researching the long list of judges who were up for retention.

"I went through the list and made some decisions," said Johnson, of the Canaryville neighborhood in Chicago. "There are a few that seem like real bad apples. They just sit there forever if you don't vote them out." --Elvia Malagon

Not sure who to pick for governor?

Here are links the Tribune's coverage of the race: Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner and billionaire Democratic challenger J.B. Pritzker broke all spending records for a governor's race here. Our reporters have been covering the race closely. Other statewide races include attorney general and comptroller.

9:27 a.m.: Sick of the ads in Canaryville

Voter Kelly Reed, 49, of the Canaryville neighborhood, said she is fed up with the onslaught of advertisements from candidates.

"Everyone's just bashing everyone, you know," Reed said. "Instead of just saying what you are going to do, they are just saying why the other person is bad. It's driving me nuts."

Reed said she made time to vote at Chicago's Taylor-Lauridsen Park between dropping off her children at school and going to work because she wanted to make sure to "get the Democratic votes in," adding that she is not happy with the way Republicans, including Gov. Bruce Rauner, are handling the government.

In 2016, nearly 40 percent of the 538 residents who voted in this precinct cast a vote for President Donald Trump, according to data from the Chicago Board of Elections. --Elvia Malagon

9:22 a.m.: Two trips to the polls for South Side 7-year-old

In the Canaryville neighborhood, 65 residents had cast their ballots by 9 a.m. Among the early morning voters was Deonna Hart, 39, who felt the weight of her grandparents as she stepped into the polling place.

"I have to," Hart said about voting. "It's a part of my legacy. If I don't, I'm not honoring my ancestors."

She voted at Taylor-Lauridsen Park at 704 W. 42nd Street with her 7-year-old son before dropping him off at school. It would be the first of two trips the boy would be making to the polling site. Hart said her husband would be bringing him along to vote in the afternoon.

Though they hadn't talked to their son about the election, he instantly recognized gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker's name on the ballot from all of the television advertisements. --Elvia Malagon

8:18 a.m.: 'I don't like the way our country is going. I hate the fact that we are starting to hate each other'

Pam Dandrige of Naperville said the primary motivation for her vote on Tuesday was her disgust with the lack of civility and increase in political vitriol in recent years. She arrived 5 minutes before the polls opened at Naperville's Safety Town and was voter No. 14 at the precinct."I don't like the way our country is going," she said. "I hate the fact that we are starting to hate each other and that's an OK thing. It's not OK! Hate is never OK.

"I want us to get back to where we were ... Where this country was going for however many years, and we've reversed. Where it was OK to take care of the poor, where it was OK for everyone to get health care. But we have to take care of each other." --Tony Briscoe

7:54 a.m.: An irregular voter shows up early in Naperville: 'This is the first midterm I've ever voted in'

Before daylight there was a line of voters at a precinct at Naperville's Safety Town, a miniaturized town with tiny buildings and street signs. Several dozen voters shuffled in and out within the first hour, including Elizabeth Dubiel.

"I'm trying to change the momentum of the way things are right now. This is the first midterm I've ever voted in. In my whole, I've probably voted like three times."

Her first time voting was for former President Barack Obama. Since then, Dubiel said, she became uninspired with the lack of diversity on the ballot.

"In the past there wasn't too many women on the ballot. I felt like my vote wasn't heard, like my vote didn't count."

But Dubiel said her motivation to vote changed following the 2016 presidential election. This, she said, wasn't a typical midterm election. --Tony Briscoe

National spotlight on the Chicago 'burbs

Two U.S. House seats held by suburban Republicans have been targeted by Democrats as part of their effort to take the majority in the House. Suburban areas, especially DuPage County, were once the bulwark against the Democratic Party's lock on Chicago voters, but that's no longer the case.

7:05 a.m., Nov. 6: Pilsen early voter brushes off morning rain to weigh-in on judges

In Pilsen, the polling place inside the Rudy Lozano Branch Library opened just after 6 a.m. with a handful of voters huddled inside the vestibule to dodge the rain.

Johnny Buse, 29, of Pilsen, was among a group of people who huddled in a vestibule in the Rudy Lozano Branch Library, shielding themselves from the morning rain just after 6 a.m.

The polling location inside the library, at the intersection of Loomis and 18th Streets, is used by two precincts in the 25th Ward. Once the polls opened, a line quickly formed for voters who still had to register or change their address.

Buse was the first voter to cast a ballot at the Pilsen polling place. He made the trek before sunrise because he worried there might be long lines if he waited until after work. Early morning voting also allowed him to make it in time to Gage Park, where he works as an English teacher.

While this year's election includes a heated governor's race, Buse focused on the list of judges who were up for retention. While the long list of judges can seem daunting, Buse said he did his research because he's concerned about incarceration rates. And he thinks the legal system can be confusing and vague.

"I think the governor's race -- you're often going to really end up getting similar things regardless of who is there -- but judges, on a daily level, they have a much bigger impact on people's lived lives," he said. --Elvia Malagon

The Nov. 6 election weather forecast from Tom Skilling

Clouds linger as low pressure makes its way across the Great Lakes region. Election day opens cloudy and rather raw. Patchy light rain or drizzle possible through the morning. Blustery. West winds of 20-30 mph gust to near 40 mph at times. Clouds break during the afternoon. Despite emerging sunshine, temps near 50 early, slowly fall through the day. Dry overnight, but winds remain elevated. Colder, with lows dipping to the low-mid 30s. (Live updates from the Tribune weather page) --Tom Skilling

3:47 p.m., Nov. 5: Chicago, Cook officials say voter turnout likely to hit or exceed 50 percent on Election Day

On Monday, city and county election officials voiced cautious optimism that overall Election Day voter turnout will be higher than normal for a midterm contest, thanks in part to a surge in voter registration and early voting numbers.

Officials in suburbs surrounding Chicago said their unofficial count of roughly 1.6 million registered voters was a new record for a gubernatorial election. Early voting turnout was also sharply higher compared with the 2014 governor's race, Cook County Clerk David Orr's office said.

Chicago has so far recorded an additional 1.5 million voter registrations for this midterm election. That's the highest recorded number in the city since the 1982 midterms, according to the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.

City voter turnout for midterm contests has hovered in the high 40 percent to mid-50 percent range since the 1980s, according to the city election board. Those percentages are similar to those recorded by the suburbs in nonpresidential general elections since the 1990s.

___

(c)2018 Chicago Tribune

Visit the Chicago Tribune at www.chicagotribune.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.