"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."
Well, Hastert actually represents Yorkvill, which is about 50 miles or so west of Chicago (and a little south). But virtually the entire, six-county metropolitan area is stauchly Democrat, except for portions of Dupage County, which used to be a Republican fortress, but has lately become rather liberal due to the influx of immigrants and Chicagoans. Springfield is Democratic, as is Champaign-Urbana. Southern Illinois is more conservative (aside from St. Clair and Madison Counties), but the population numbers just aren't there to make any real impact.
Are Tampico and Dixon NOT in Hastert's district? I read once that he represented those towns, but maybe the district has changed its boundaries in the past two redistricting cycles. Who does represent Dixon now? I once heard Michael Reagan say that he had never been to Dixon but planned to visit the town in the future.