"I thought, no way would, IL voters settle for a Far Left Marxist."
Where the hell have you been? Illinois elected Dickbrain Durbin, Carol Mosely Brainless, Jesse "The Shaker's Son" Jackson, Jr., and that far-left banshee (whose name escapes me at the moment) whom the media trots out on a regular basis to tow the liberal line. Illinois has a history of electing far-left extremists, Marxists all.
Dennis Hastert is from Illinois but he represents a downstate district. If it weren't for Chicago, Illinois would be a Red State like neigboring Indiana.
Don't forget about former black panther Bobby Rush...my "representative" in Congress.