Bill Foster wins re-election in 11th Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville, was re-elected Nov. 6 in the 11th Congressional District.

The district consists of all or parts of Joliet, Shorewood, Plainfield, Bolingbrook, Naperville and Aurora.

Foster was up against Republican candidate Nick Stella, garnering 60.8 percent of the vote, or 48,355 votes, in DuPage County to Stella's 39.2 percent, or 31,173 votes, according to unofficial election results.

This will be Foster’s sixth term in Congress. He hinged his re-election campaign on affordable and accessible health care and policies that would help grow the economy.

Foster also has said he is a member of the moderate, pro-business wing of the Democratic Party, including a group called the “New Democrats,” who are concerned about the future of work in America, particularly as more jobs once performed by people are delegated to machines. He lays claim to the title of the only scientist in Congress.

Locally, Foster is engaged in the Army Corps of Engineers’ efforts to keep Asian carp from reaching Lake Michigan via the Brandon Road Lock and Dam, and he said his scientific background will help him assess the feasibility of a Corps plan to install barriers that should be ready in February.

Stella, a Darien cardiologist, has said the most important issue facing the country is the economy. He also said he supported repealing the Affordable Care Act.

Stella favored simplifying the tax code by replacing the income tax with a flat tax, fair tax on consumption or a combination of both.