My congressman is Mark Kirk (of IL), a Republican who is pro-illegal alien, pro-choice, pro-gun control, pro-gay marriage, pro-spending increases, and anti-Iraq surge. He first ran for an open seat, in 2000. 11 Republicans ran, in the primary, and the majority of them were conservative. The conservative vote split, helping him win the primary with 31%. The district has had republican congressmen for the past 30 years, so he won the general elections, five times.