Hultgren upends Hastert

Illinois state Sen. Randy Hultgren has defeated attorney Ethan Hastert in the race to face Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.).

Hultgren’s win Tuesday came at the expense of the Hastert legacy. Ethan Hastert is the son of former House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), who resigned the seat in 2008 before Foster won it in a special election. He was favored heading into Tuesday.

Hultgren led the younger Hastert 54-46 with 90 percent of precincts reporting. Hastert has conceded.

The primary threatened to tear the GOP apart in much the same way it did before Foster’s win in 2008. Republicans formed similar battle lines, but while Hastert-backed Jim Oberweis won the GOP nod in 2008, the insurgent candidate won this time.

Republicans have already scheduled a unity breakfast for Wednesday in hopes of bringing the party together. Foster is a top GOP target this year.