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Christianity Today has identified four key races to follow on Election Night. These contests feature debates about issues of special concern to evangelicals.

The popularity and longevity of retiring pro-life Congressman Henry Hyde may have masked the demographic changes in this district in Chicago's western suburbs. The shift became more apparent in 2004 when an under-funded Democratic challenger garnered 44 percent of the vote. An influx of immigrants and educated professionals has turned many similar red districts purple.

Suburban "evangelicals haven't really abandoned conservative social issues, though they've developed a broader agenda," Green explained. "But their neighbors around have become a bit more moderate if not more liberal."

Democrats hope Tammy Duckworth will become the face of this trend. Duckworth, who lost her legs in the Iraq War, has run an outsider campaign against evangelical Peter Roskam, a state senator and former chief of staff for Hyde. Duckworth has criticized Roskam for not supporting increased federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research.

"Even the fact that we talk about this as the 'stem-cell issue' is a sign that supporters of expanded funding are winning the debate of framing the issue," said Amy Black, associate professor of politics at Wheaton College. "There is a lot of promise with embryonic stem cells, a lot of hope, but the bottom line is that the only medical advances … have been with adult stem cells."

That's the message Roskam hopes voters will hear, even as he denies stem cells will play a significant role in the campaign. "I've knocked on about 5,000 doors, and no one has asked about my position on stem-cell research," Roskam told CT.

But in a race this close, any issue could make a difference. And this race could determine control of the House. According to the Cook Political Report, 44 of the 435 House seats are up for grabs. Republicans hold 35 of them and will lose control of the House if they lose 15. With Democrats eager to use House committees to investigate the Bush administration, the nation will be focused on Illinois.

"If Duckworth wins, I think that's a sign we're going to have a Democratic takeover of the House," Black said.

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For information endorsed by the candidates, go to Tammy Duckworth's and Sen. Peter Roskam's websites.

NPR's All Things Considered has an audio story on the race.

Recorded debates (also audio) are available from Chicago Public Radio.

The Daily Herald reports on McCain's support of Roskam here.

The Washington Post reports on Tammy Duckworth's campaign here.

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November 2006, Vol. 50, No. 11