Will County Gazette

Illinois 11th District Congressional Republican candidate Catalina Lauf conceded to her opponent, incumbent Democrat Rep. Bill Foster (D-Aurora). 

Lauff, who pledged to work tirelessly for the district during the campaign, thanked her supporters and congratulated her opponent.

"Thank you to everyone who supported our campaign," Lauf said in a statement. "I am truly grateful to my family, friends, and all the volunteers who dedicated countless hours to our effort. I congratulate Bill Foster who I urge to represent the values of every hardworking American here in the 11th district. For those of us who stay here in Illinois, we have our work cut out for us. This state is always worth fighting for. This country is always worth fighting for. We may have lost, but the fight for the heart and soul of our country is not over. And it begins right here, in the Heartland.”

As of the last count, Lauf got 112,563 votes, or 44.3% of the vote, to Foster’s 141,473 votes, or 55.7% of the vote, according to The New York Times.

During the campaign, Lauf emphasized that the state’s “issues are not simply ‘Republican or Democrat’ anymore.” According to her, it is “about Freedom vs. Tyranny and preserving the very bedrock of our Nation. The future of the American Dream is at stake. As a free people we have a choice to make and a duty to preserve liberty for future generations. It’s here and it’s now.” 

Early in the campaign season, Republicans were expected to win the district, according to Lauf. The race had been targeted by the National Republican Congressional Committee as a potential flip. 

The cities of Aurora, Naperville, Woodridge, Darien, Bolingbrook, Burr Ridge, New Lenox and Joliet are all included in the new 11th Congressional District. The district spans eight counties – Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, DeKalb and Boone.

Lauf formerly served as a consultant for the U.S. Department of Commerce under the administration of former President Donald Trump.