hiː wʌz ᵻlˈɛktᵻd tə kˈɑːŋɡɹəs ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti ˈeɪt fɹʌm ˌɪlənˈɔɪᵻz nˈaɪntiːnθ kəŋɡɹˈɛʃənəl dˈɪstɹɪkt ˈæftɚ tˈɛnjˈɪɹ ɪŋkˈʌmbənt ɡlˈɛn pˈɑːʃɑːɹd mˌeɪd ɐn ʌnsəksˈɛsfəl ɹˈʌn fɔːɹ ɡˈʌvɚnɚ.
He was elected to Congress in 1998 from Illinois's 19th congressional district after 10-year incumbent Glenn Poshard made an unsuccessful run for governor.