Congress. He also attempted to tie Kirk to national Republicans, claiming that he voted with the Republican majority 80% of the time. Kirk focused on local issues and argued that he broke from the Republican Party on several issues such as gun control, stem cell research and abortion. Seals came closer than the Democratic candidates in 2002 and 2004, but ultimately lost to Kirk 53% to 47%. After his 2006 loss to Kirk, Seals listed his occupation as "business consultant". He also taught a course in public policy at Northwestern University school for continuing education in the spring of 2008. 2008 Seals announced in June 2007 that he would be running for Congress in the 10th district again. In the primary election he faced Jay Footlik, a former Clinton administration official. Seals was endorsed by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. Footlik raised the residency issue again during a Chicago Tribune editorial board interview, to which Seals replied: "If I was a millionaire I could certainly just pick up and buy a new home, [but] I'm not a millionaire, and if you want more millionaires in Congress, I'm not your man." The United States Constitution requires that candidates for Congress be residents of the state from which they are elected, but does not require district residency. Seals' home lies 0.3 miles outside of the 10th district, in the 9th which is represented by Jan Schakowsky. Footlik contended that Seals didn't deserve another chance because he lost to Kirk by six points in a good Democratic year, while Seals argued he had superior name recognition. On February 5, 2008 Seals won the primary with 81% of the vote. Kirk and Seals both raised large sums of money. The race was considered one of the most competitive in the country; Illinois Senator Barack Obama was the Democratic nominee for president and was expected to carry the district easily. In the general election, Seals once again lost to Kirk 53% to 47%, despite Obama winning the district by over 20 points. Following the 2008 general election, it was reported that Seals was being considered by Illinois Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn to replace Obama in the United States Senate if Governor Rod Blagojevich were to be removed from office. However, Blagojevich made the appointment, and chose former State Attorney General Roland Burris. 2010 In July 2009, Seals announced that he would be running a third time