Congresswoman Duckworth Visits Northwest Suburbs to Award Winning Art Submissions

The Congressional Art Competition is a nationwide high school arts competition sponsored by the U.S. House of Representatives. The winner, a Palatine High School senior, will have her artwork displayed in the U.S. capitol.

On Saturday, May 18, Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth announced the winners of the 8th Congressional District Art Competition at a Reception in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The competition was open to all high school students living in the 8th congressional district, and students were made aware of the contest by their art teachers.  The theme was to depict "nature in the modern world." "I was interested in showcasing how we can have both nature and progress-if we approach the two in a responsible way," Duckworth said during the presentation ceremony Saturday.  The first place winner was Alyssa Froehling, a Palatine High School senior, with her submission of “Symbiosis”. Froehling's art work will be displayed in the Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (14)

Tammy Duckworth Sworn in to Congress

On Thursday, January 3, Duckworth was sworn in as the new representative for the 8th congressional district.

After a stealth win over incumbent Congressman Joe Walsh, Tammy Duckworth was sworn in Thursday, January 3 in Washington D.C. as the new representative for the 8th congressional district.  The ceremony was held at the Disabled American Veterans office.  “I want to thank the people of the 8th Congressional District for giving me the great honor of serving them in Congress," Duckworth said in a press release. The press release went on to say, "I am eager to get to work on behalf of my constituents. There are many issues facing our nation and I will work with anyone who loves this country as much as I do to get her moving again." Duckworth was victorious with more than a ten-point win over Walsh in the November 6, 2012 general election.  …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Walsh Continues to Talk Illinois Governor Run

In his last Town Hall meeting Saturday, Joe Walsh did not back away from previous statements regarding his interest in running for Illinois governor in 2014, the Huffington Post reports.

In Wauconda Saturday for his last Town Hall meeting before his last term in congress ends, Congressman Joe Walsh said he still will not rule-out a run against Illinois Governor Pat Quinn in the 2014 election, according to The Huffington Post.  Walsh was defeated by Tammy Duckworth in the November election for Illinois' 8th congressional seat. Duckworth will take over the seat in January. Soon after he was defeated, Walsh made statements angling himself for a possible gubernatorial run.  The Illinois Review blog quoted Walsh as saying he didn't want another Illinois GOP establishment candidate to run for the governor's mansion.  When asked directly if he would run again, The Huffington Post reports Walsh said "We're losing America," and he …

•  8 Comments
• Photos (1)

Election 2012 is Finally Here

The polls are open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. Are you going to make your vote count this year?

From the presidential race, to congressional and state house seats, to a park district referendum, residents of Arlington Heights and Palatine have some serious choices to make this election day.  A round-up of the federal races, and local decisions affecting Palatine and/or Arlington Heights: The polls opened up at 6 a.m. and will be closing at 7 p.m. If you aren't sure where your polling place is, click here. The Village of Arlington Heights reported a substantial increase in early voting this year, while Village of Palatine clerk Margaret Duer reported nearly 8,000 votes have already been cast early for this election. 

• Photos (1)

Money, Effort Spent for 8th Congressional District Seat

Democratic challenger Tammy Duckworth (D) and freshman Republican Joe Walsh (R) each have received substantial financial support to reach out to voters, in addition to other area candidates, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Thousands of dollars have been donated, and thousands of phone calls made to help clinch the 8th Congressional District seat currently held by freshman republican Joe Walsh, the Chicago Tribune reports.  Both democratic challenger, Tammy Duckworth and Walsh each have received substantial support from their party's Super PAC's, but the Chicago Tribune reports Walsh has outspent Duckworth by thousands.  

•  2 Comments
• Photos (2)

Accusations Fly Between Walsh, Duckworth

With the election just four days away, Congressman Joe Walsh and his opponent Tammy Duckworth are doing all they can to discredit each other.

With the November 6 election just days away, the barbs between incumbent Congressman Joe Walsh and his opponent Tammy Duckworth appear to be at a fever pitch. Walsh has called into question Duckworth's firing of two state employees when she ran the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, CBS reports. Duckworth has commented little as she has said the case is still in litigation.  Duckworth has pointed the finger as well. In a press release from her campaign office Thursday, Duckworth criticized Walsh for his alleged association with the group Now or Never, for spending $1 million against her campaign.  She referred the group as a "Super PAC completely funded by the far-right wing organization Americans for Limited Government," according …

•  6 Comments
• Photos (3)

Duckworth on Romney's 47 Percent Remarks

Congressional Candidate Tammy Duckworth Responds to Romney's 47 Percent Remarks

2012 Palatine Election Central

We want to make sure you've got everything you need before hitting the voting booth Nov. 6. Check back here for information on the upcoming election and a breakdown of every race with links to candidate profiles and all Patch political coverage.

Patch will provide coverage of each of the races that's important to Palatine readers on the race page listed above. Patch editors will also be liveblogging the presidential candidate debates. Check back here for live links to our liveblogs during the Oct. 3 presidential debate on domestic policy, the Oct. 16 presidential town hall and the Oct. 22 debate on foreign policy. A list of Palatine Patch's full election coverage is available. A political page is also available. Join the conversation: Read Patch's political polls to see how your neighbors feel about regional and national politics.

• Photos (1)

Letters to the Editor

Walsh's Comments were 'Wrong and Demeaning'

Letter to the editor

Congressman Joe Walsh hit a new low this week when he attacked Sandra Fluke for testifying before Congress on access to affordable birth control. He said, “Think about this, a 31-32 year old law student who has been a student for life, who gets up there in front of a national audience and tells the American people, ‘I want America to pay for my contraceptives.’ You’re kidding me. Go get a job. Go get a job, Sandra Fluke.” Rep. Walsh’s attacks were wrong and demeaning. Sandra Fluke is a young woman who stood up for a friend who lost an ovary when she couldn’t afford the very expensive contraception she needed to treat her polycystic ovarian syndrome. It is disappointing to see a sitting Member of Congress attack a young woman who was so …

•  28 Comments
• Photos (1)

8th Congressional District: Duckworth Addresses DNC

8th Congressional District candidate Tammy Duckworth addressed the Democratic National Convention Tuesday.

Tammy Duckworth, candidate in the 8th Congressional District, addressed the Democratic National Convention Tuesday. Duckworth began by talking about her background and her service as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot in the Iraq War. Duckworth lost both of her legs when she was shot down in 2004. She then served as director of Illinois' Department of Veterans' Affairs and was assistant secretary of Veterans Affairs under President Barack Obama. Duckworth's opponent in the November election is incumbent Republican Joe Walsh. Walsh did not attend the Republican National Convention last week. "Last week Joe skipped his party's convention to spend time in the 8th district listening to the concerns of voters, meeting with small business owners and …

•  14 Comments
• Videos (1)