He wasn't even on the ballot, but Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was among the big winners in Tuesday's election.
Madigan was the architect of the redistricting that changed the legislative boundaries to favor Democrats.
At the Republican National Convention, Illinois Republicans sported "Fire Madigan" buttons and created a website where memorabillia with the "Fire Madigan" phrase could be purchased.
But in the end, Republicans lost five of six Congressional seats they wanted to hold. In the Illinois Statehouse, Madigan and Illinois Senate President John Cullerton were equally victorious.
Four Illinois House Republicans were booted, giving Democrats a net gain of seven seats and Madigan a 71-47 veto-proof majority. Cullerton gained five seats in the Senate, giving him a 40-19 veto proof majority in that body.
