SPRINGFIELD - Republican Aaron Schock on Tuesday won his bid to succeed U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood in Congress, carrying on the longtime tradition of Republican control of Central Illinois' 18th Congressional District. | Halvorson turns 11th District blue | Johnson cruises to re-election | Dems fall short of 60 in U.S. Senate

With about 89 percent of precincts reporting, the Republican state lawmaker from Peoria led Democrat Colleen Callahan of Kickapoo by a 59 percent to 38 percent margin.

Green Party candidate Sheldon Schafer was pulling about 3 percent.

Schock, 27, will become the youngest member of Congress. He has never lost an election, starting with his write-in campaign for Peoria school board as a 19-year-old. He's now finishing his second term in the General Assembly.

"The country's facing a series of challenges," Schock said. "I look forward to going out there an offering some serious proposals."

In his latest campaign, Schock used a well-funded effort emphasizing his brief political career to overcome Callahan's attempts to question his judgment.

Callahan repeatedly criticized the Republican for comments about selling nuclear weapons to Taiwan and reports that Schock illegally backdated tax documents for his father while working as a notary.

Back in February, Schock easily defeated two opponents primary election, taking more than 70 percent of the vote.

Callahan, a communications consultant and longtime farm broadcaster, proved to be a tougher opponent after being drafted into the contest after the primary election.

"I never once felt it was it was an effort in futility," she said. "And I still don't."

Schafer, a Peoria museum executive and Bradley University teacher, ran his first campaign for office.

The 18th Congressional District covers a wide area of Central Illinois, including Logan County, parts of Decatur and Macon County and parts of Tazewell and Woodford counties.

According to early returns, Schock won 68 percent of the vote in Logan County - better than his overall numbers. He took 71 percent in Woodford County, 63 percent in Tazewell and 57 percent in Macon, according to early preliminary returns.