Incumbent Tim Johnson, R-Urbana, was re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for the 15th District, defeating Democrat Steve Cox Tuesday.

Johnson has served in the House since 2000.

Democrat Dick Durbin is thanking Illinoisans for a third term in the U.S. Senate and for their support after the recent death of his daughter.

Cash, experience and pro-Democrat sentiment helped Durbin beat Republican challenger Steve Sauerberg on Tuesday.

With 72 percent of precincts reporting, Durbin had 2,408,775 votes, or 67 percent, and Sauerberg had 1,056,380 votes, or 29 percent.

Durbin canceled his election night party because of the death of his daughter, Christine Durbin, but issued a statement saying he looks forward to “representing our great state in the Senate and working with our new President (Barack Obama) to face our historic challenges.”

With 29 of 35 Senate races called, Democrats were guaranteed at least a 55-45 majority, including two holdover independents that vote with Democrats.

But they were hoping for even greater gains in a political environment that clearly favored Democrats.

Democrats fattened their majority control of the Senate, ousting Republican Sens. Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina and John Sununu of New Hampshire and capturing seats held by retiring GOP senators in Virginia, New Mexico and Colorado.

North Carolina state Sen. Kay Hagan, little known politically before her run, defeated Dole – a former Cabinet member in two Republican administrations and 2000 presidential hopeful.