CQ Risk Rating: Safe Republican 
| GENERAL ELECTION: NOVEMBER 7, 2000 |
|
| John Shimkus (R) | 161,393 | 63% |
| Jeffrey Cooper (D) | 94,382 | 37% |
| PRIMARY ELECTION: MARCH 21, 2000 |
|
| | Votes | Percentage | | Democratic |
| Jeffrey Cooper | 24,876 | 100% |
| | Republican |
| John Shimkus | 23,943 | 100% |
Source: Congressional Quarterly. To suggest updates and corrections: politics.feedback@cq.com
Major Industry | Population | Cities | People | Race | Median Household Income | Unusual Features
ILLINOIS 20
:
West Central - Part of Springfield; Collinsville
In the Land of Lincoln, the 20th is hallowed ground - the district where
"Honest Abe" Lincoln was appointed postmaster, elected to the Illinois
General Assembly and admitted to practice law in the 8th Circuit Court. The
western edge of the district runs along the Mississippi River, and the
district extends east into the center of the state.
The 20th also includes the state's modest, Republican capital, which has
the highest concentration of people in the 20th and is steeped in historical
memorabilia from Lincoln's tenure in Illinois and his presidency.
Springfield's state government and health care centers drive the economy of
this otherwise rural district. The rest of the 20th's population is
dispersed over 18 counties of family farms and tiny towns.
Social conservatism prevails throughout the 20th. Democrats, including
state government workers in Springfield and blue-collar workers in highly
unionized manufacturing towns east of St. Louis and mining towns to the
south, used to carry the district. The GOP, however, has a stronghold in the
farming counties in the northern part of the district and recently has
carried congressional races.
Major Industry
State government, agriculture, manufacturing, mining
Population
571,138 (1990)
Cities
Springfield (pt.), 69,933 (1990); Collinsville, 23,057; Mount Vernon, 18,522
(1996)
People
48% rural; 16% age 65+ (ranks fifth of 20 in state; top third nationally);
60% married couples, 27% married couples with children; 13% college educated
(ranks 15 of 20 in state; bottom third nationally); 52% white collar (ranks
17 of 20 in state; bottom third nationally), 28% blue collar (ranks eighth
of 20 in state; middle third nationally) (1990)
Race
95% white, 4% black, 0% Asian; 1% Hispanic origin (1990)
Median Household Income
$26,173 (ranks 14 of 20 in state; middle third nationally) (1990)
Unusual Features
World's largest ketchup bottle (water tower) in Collinsville; Frank Lloyd
Wright's Dana-Thomas House; Two smallest incorporated towns in Illinois:
Valley City, population 23, and Time, population 36; Principia College, the
only Christian Science college in the nation.
Source: Congressional Quarterly (Updated April 1999)
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District 20
