11:36 p.m.:
Unofficial election results show incumbent U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert of Hinsdale, has defeated Democratic challenger Scott Harper of Lockport in a tight race Tuesday for the District 13 congressional seat.

Results at 11 p.m. indicated Biggert had received 175,809 votes compared to 143,780 votes for Harper and 9,168 votes for Green Party candidate Steve Alesch of Warrenville with 559 of 569 precincts reported.

“I'm really delighted,” Biggert said. “This is a very tough year, and I’m glad the voters have again put their confidence in me. I'm going to work hard to make sure that I can find the solutions to these challenges that we face.”

Biggert added that it shows a race can be won by staying positive and avoid the negative campaign strategy.

Biggert spent the day at Hinsdale Central High School talking to students about the election. She said it seems like the younger generation has been energized to be more engaged in the political process.

There has been an anti-incumbent mood across the nation that made this election more challenging, Biggert said. But with her re-election, she plans to pursue her goals of working on the financial crisis and helping to protect people’s retirement savings. She believes that means reducing spending and not raising taxes.

Early Tuesday, Harper spokesman Max Flessner said the candidate would not comment on the race until the results were in. Phone calls Tuesday night were not  returned.

Alesch said he has been against the Iraq war since before it started and was pushed to run for Congress by Biggert’s support of the Military Commission Act.

“It was just a horrendous law and for Judy to vote for that put me over the top,” Alesch said. “This has been a great experience; it’s gone very well and we have a lot of support. I’m very excited about the Green Party growing both in DuPage and Illinois.”

Alesch said he believes the party is making inroads between Democratic and Republican challengers, and they have several strong candidates — especially in southern Illinois. While he did not win, he said he would “absolutely” consider running again.

9 p.m.:

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert, R-13th District, of Hinsdale, was leading Democratic challenger Scott Harper of Lockport in votes Tuesday night, but the race is too close to call so far.

As of 9 p.m. Tuesday, unofficial election results showed 57,743 votes for Biggert, 53,143 votes for Harper and 2,864 votes for Green Party candidate Steve Alesch of Warrenville, with 155 of 569 precincts reporting.

“I think I ran a very positive campaign,” Biggert said, while waiting for results Tuesday night. “I hope it shows you can win by staying positive; I just don’t think the negativity adds anything to campaigns.”

Biggert said she spent the day at Hinsdale Central High School talking to students about the election, and that it seems like the young have been energized to be more engaged in the political process.

Biggert said there has been an anti-incumbent mood across the nation that made this election more challenging, but she hopes to be re-elected nevertheless so she can pursue her goals of working on the financial crisis and helping to protect people’s savings.

Harper spokesman Max Flessner said the candidate would not comment on the race until all results were in, after this paper’s press time.

Alesch said he’s been against the Iraq war since before it started, and was pushed to run for Congress by Biggert’s support of the Military Commission Act.

“It was just a horrendous law and for Judy to vote for that put me over the top,” Alesch said. “This has been a great experience; it’s gone very well and we have a lot of support. I’m very excited about the Green Party growing both in DuPage and Illinois.”

Alesch said he believes the party is making inroads between Democratic and Republican challengers, and they have several strong candidates — especially in southern Illinois. He said if he does not win, he would “absolutely” consider running again.

5 p.m. —

Scott Harper, the Democratic candidate for Congress in the 13th District, has provided the following schedule of activities for Election Day.

Harper voted with his daughter, Natasha, at 10:30 a.m. this morning at the Central Square Office Building on East 9th Street in Lockport.

Harper has been making polling location visits since 6 a.m., traveling from Naperville to Lisle to Downers Grove to Lockport.

He will be visiting Lockport polling locations until 1 p.m. before heading to Romeoville. From there he will visit with volunteers from 2:45 to 3:15 p.m. at the Bolingbrook Victory Center, 303 Quadrangle Drive. Harper will be at Bolingbrook polling locations from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. and in Orland Park from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Tonight Harper will join with supporters for a Victory Night rally at the IBEW Local 701 Hall, 28600 Bella Vista Parkway in Warrenville.