11th Congressional District: Bill Foster Wins Over Rick Laib

This story was updated at 10:35 a.m.

BOLINGBROOK, IL — Bill Foster wins over Rick Laib with a total of 62.27 percent of the votes.

In March, incumbent Foster earned the Democratic nomination and will now face Republican Laib, who beat fellow Republican Krishna Bansal for their party's nomination in the Illinois District 11 primary.

Foster, who has served as representative for the 11th Congressional District since 2013, was the projected winner against Rachel Ventura, leading 58. 7 percent to 41.3 percent. Laib had the edge over Bansal, and with all precincts reporting, Laib led 53.9 percent to 46.1 percent. Illinois' 11th Congressional District includes portions of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, and Will counties.

Patch will bring you election results as they roll in.

Foster vs. Laib results

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In a statement to Patch, Foster said he is focused on continuing his work to build an economy that offers opportunities for everyone and prepares them for the jobs of the future.

"It's an honor to win the trust of the people of the 11th Congressional District for another term in Congress. I am committed to working hard each and every day to represent all the people who call our communities home," he said. "I will continue to stand up for them and the issues they care about, and advocate for science-based solutions to the challenges our nation faces, from combating the coronavirus pandemic to expanding quality health care coverage, reforming our immigration system, fighting climate change, and promoting common sense gun reform."

Bill Foster

Foster, a resident of Naperville, describes himself as a scientist and businessman, "a combination we need more of in Congress to deal with the challenges we are facing today and the numerous technological and economic developments our country will face in the coming decades," he told Patch in his candidate questionnaire.

Reforming the immigration system is very important for the district, he said, adding that he supports comprehensive immigration reform that secures the borders, improves the legal immigration system, unites families, and provides an earned path to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants who currently live in fear of deportation.

He has also vowed to fight the opioid crisis in the district and has proposed policies that would expand the availability of naloxone and improve access to medical treatment for opioid dependency.

Foster is also committed to fighting for infrastructure funding in the district. Illinois loses $40 billion each year to other states because "we pay far more in federal dollars than we get back in federal spending," he said.

"We need to repair our roads and bridges that people use every day to get to work and school. We also need to widen I-80, a major thoroughfare for transnational shipping. This issue has become more important as Will County has developed into the largest inland port in the country," Foster said.

Rick Laib

A Joliet resident, Laib, calls himself a pro-life, pro-2nd Amendment, pro-free market candidate. He has worked as a police sergeant with the Will County Sheriff's Office. According to his Patch candidate questionnaire, Laib wants to continue to entertain budget changes that reduce spending, reduce the size and scope of the federal government, and employ sound fiscal principles.

"Largely, we should turn our focus to reducing or eliminating programs that are underperforming, shift responsibilities that could better be handled by the individual States to the States, and look to see what services the federal government is currently providing that could be provided by private market," he said.

According to him, Foster has not made "recognizing the sanctity of human life a priority" and has not taken a "strong stance against the farcical impeachment hearings."

Related

• District 11: Rep. Bill Foster Candidate Questionnaire
  
• Bill Foster Sworn in to Represent 11th Congressional District
  
• 11th Congressional District: Foster Wins, Will Take On Laib
  
• District 11 Primary: Rick Laib's Candidate Questionnaire

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