Akashic EdgeAKASHIC EDGE
ElectionsCandidates
HistorianCartographer2026 ForecastArticlesAPIPricing

Latest Articles

    View all articles →

    Browse by Category

      Data Tools

      • Elections
      • Candidates
      • The Historian
      • The Cartographer
      • American Nations
      • States & Counties
      • Congressional Districts

      About

      Akashic HQ provides deep political data analysis covering 165 years of U.S. elections.

      • Data Sources & Methodology
      • Pricing
      • API Documentation
      • Contact

      © 2026 Akashic HQ. All rights reserved.

      Data: MIT Election Lab, VEST, Census Bureau
      Home/Elections/1978/US House/Illinois/IL-17
      1978·US House·Illinois·District profile →

      Illinois District 17 US House

      Winner
      REP
      George M O'Brien
      70.6%94,375 votes
      Runner-up
      DEM
      Clifford J Sinclair
      29.4%39,260 votes
      Margin
      R+41.2
      133,635 total votes
      2 candidates133,635 total votes
      CandidatePartyVotes ▼%Vote Share
      George M O'BrienREP✓
      REP94,37570.6%
      Clifford J SinclairDEM
      DEM39,26029.4%

      Presidential Vote by District

      5 elections · 2008–2024 · 118th Congress boundaries
      Latest (2024)D+4.8
      Shift vs 2020↓ R+3.0
      R+20EvenD+2020082012201620202024
      YearDem %Rep %MarginTurnout
      202451.5%46.6%D+4.8316,773
      202052.7%44.9%D+7.8331,627
      201649.6%42.9%D+6.6319,863
      201258.8%41.2%D+17.6312,084
      200859.8%38.2%D+21.6341,741

      Seat History

      US House in Illinois

      2024
      Eric SorensenDEM
      D+8.8
      2022
      Eric SorensenDEM
      D+4.0
      Redistricted
      2020
      Cheri BustosDEM
      D+4.0
      2018
      Cheri BustosDEM
      D+24.2
      2016
      Cheri BustosDEM
      D+20.6
      2014
      Cheri BustosDEM
      D+10.9
      2012
      Cheri BustosDEM
      D+6.6
      Redistricted
      2010
      Robert T SchillingREP
      R+9.6
      2008
      Phil HareDEM
      D+99.8
      2006
      Phil HareDEM
      D+14.3
      2004
      Lane EvansDEM
      D+21.4
      2002
      Lane EvansDEM
      D+24.8
      Redistricted
      2000
      Lane EvansDEM
      D+9.8
      1998
      Lane EvansDEM
      D+3.1
      1996
      Lane EvansDEM
      D+4.7
      View all US House history for Illinois →

      Candidates

      George M O'BrienREP
      Record5W-0L
      Avg Margin---
      Career1976-1984
      US House
      Full profile →
      Clifford J SinclairDEM
      Record0W-2L
      Avg MarginR+4.0
      Career1974-1978
      US House / State House
      Full profile →

      Also in Illinois, 1978

      US Senate1 contest →Governor1 contest →
      ← All 1978 US House races1978 overviewIllinois profileAll elections