[2] State law requires the governor to set a date for a congressional special election within five days of a vacancy being created.

Pulido, a Mexican-American and director of the Illinois Minuteman Project, won the Republican Party's primary with 25% of the vote.

She defeated a handful of local businessmen, including Tom Hanson, David Anderson, Gregory Bedell, Daniel S. Kay, and Jon Stewart.

Reichel's margin of victory over fellow Green Party nominee Deb Gordils was extremely small—only 11 votes.

[5] The election did not receive a great deal of coverage, due to the district's heavy Democratic lean.