REPUBLICAN MARK KIRK Wins US Senate Election in Illinois … Takes Obama’s Old Seat, GOP +5

Republican Mark Kirk has been declared the winner in the Illinois US Senate race. With 99% of the precincts reporting, Kirk has called the winner over Democrat Alexi Giannoulias. The former seat of President Barack Obama has been flipped Republican. This loss is going to leave a mark.

Republican Mark Kirk is NBC’s projected winner of the Illinois Senate race, snatching the seat that former Sen. Barack Obama held in Illinois.

Kirk defeated Obama ally Alexi Giannoulias. Giannoulias struggled to overcome reports that his family’s failed bank made loans to known criminals. The president and the first lady both made stops in the state to try to boost the Democrat.